Assessing the importance of a self-generated detachment process in river biofilm models

Summary 1. Epilithic biofilm biomass was measured for 14 months in two sites, located up‐ and downstream of the city of Toulouse in the Garonne River (south‐west France). Periodical sampling provided a biomass data set to compare with simulations from the model of Uehlinger, Bürher and Reichert (199...

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Published in:Freshwater biology 2006-05, Vol.51 (5), p.901-912
Main Authors: BOULÊTREAU, STÉPHANIE, GARABÉTIAN, FRÉDÉRIC, SAUVAGE, SABINE, SÁNCHEZ-PÉREZ, JOSÉ-MIGUEL
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
autogenic sloughing
Biological and medical sciences
biomass dynamics
detachment
Environmental Sciences
epilithic biofilm
Fresh water ecosystems
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
river model
Synecology
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Summary:Summary 1. Epilithic biofilm biomass was measured for 14 months in two sites, located up‐ and downstream of the city of Toulouse in the Garonne River (south‐west France). Periodical sampling provided a biomass data set to compare with simulations from the model of Uehlinger, Bürher and Reichert (1996: Freshwater Biology, 36, 249–263.), in order to evaluate the impact of hydraulic disturbance. 2. Despite differences in application conditions (e.g. river size, discharge, frequency of disturbance), the base equation satisfactorily predicted biomass between low and high water periods of the year, suggesting that the flood disturbance regime may be considered a universal mechanism controlling periphyton biomass. 3. However modelling gave no agreement with biomass dynamics during the 7‐month long low water period that the river experienced. The influence of other biomass‐regulating factors (temperature, light and soluble reactive phosphorus) on temporal biomass dynamics was weak. 4. Implementing a supplementary mechanism corresponding to a temperature‐dependent self‐generated loss because of heterotrophic processes allowed us to accurately reproduce the observed pattern: a succession of two peaks. This case study suggests that during typical summer low water periods (flow stability and favourable temperature) river biofilm modelling requires self‐generated detachment to be considered.
ISSN:0046-5070
1365-2427
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2427.2006.01541.x