Development of an epiphyte indicator of nutrient enrichment: a critical evaluation of observational and experimental studies.

ABSTRACT: An extensive review of the literature describing epiphytes on submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), especially seagrasses, was conducted in order to evaluate the evidence for response of epiphyte metrics to increased nutrients. Evidence from field observational studies, together with laboratory and field mesocosm experiments, was assembled from the literature and evaluated for a hypothesized positive response to nutrient addition. There was general consistency in the results to confirm that elevated nutrients tended to increase the load of epiphytes on the surface of SAV, in the absence of other limiting factors. In spite of multiple sources of uncontrolled variation, positive relationships of epiphyte load to nutrient concentration or load (either nitrogen or phosphorus) often were observed

SUBMITTER: Nelson WG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6134867 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature