In upstream reaches, epilithic algae are one of the major primary producers and their biomass may alter the energy flow of food webs in stream ecosystems. However, the overgrowth of epilithic algae may deteriorate water quality. In this study, the effects of environmental variables on epilithic algal biomass were examined at 5 monitoring sites in mountain streams of the Wuling basin of subtropical Taiwan over a 5-year period (2006–2011) by using a generalized additive model (GAM). Epilithic algal biomass and some variables observed at pristine sites obviously differed from those at the channelized stream with intensive agricultural activity. The results of the optimal GAM showed that water temperature, turbidity, current velocity, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and ammonium–N (NH4–N) were the main factors explaining seasonal variations of epilithic algal biomass in the streams. The change points of smoothing curves for velocity, DO, NH4–N, pH, turbidity, and water temperature were approximately 0.40 m s-1, 8.0 mg L-1, 0.01 mg L-1, 8.5, 0.60 NTU, and 15°C, respectively. When aforementioned variables were greater than relevant change points, epilithic algal biomass was increased with pH and water temperature, and decreased with water velocity, DO, turbidity, and NH4–N. These change points may serve as a framework for managing the growth of epilithic algae. Understanding the relationship between environmental variables and epilithic algal biomass can provide a useful approach for maintaining the functioning in stream ecosystems.
Laboratory of Basin Hydrology and Wetland Eco-restoration, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430074 Wuhan, China;Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan;Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei City 24301, Taiwan;Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan;Department of Life Sciences and Research Center for Global Change Biology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan;Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
Recommended Citation:
Yi-Ming Kuo,Hwa-Lung Yu,Wen-Hui Kuan,et al. Factors Controlling Changes in Epilithic Algal Biomass in the Mountain Streams of Subtropical Taiwan[J]. PLOS ONE,2016-01-01,11(11)