@article {KNZ00888,
	title = {The role of periphyton in phosphorus retention in shallow freshwater aquatic systems},
	journal = {Journal of Phycology},
	volume = {39},
	year = {2003},
	pages = {830 -849},
	abstract = {<p>Eutrophication caused by phosphorus (P) leads to water quality problems in aquatic systems, particularly freshwaters, worldwide. Processing of nutrients in shallow habitats removes P from water naturally and periphyton influences P removal from the water column in flowing waters and wetlands. Periphyton plays several roles in removing P from the water column, including P uptake and deposition, filtering particulate P from the water, and attenuating flow, which decreases advective transport of particulate and dissolved P from sediments. Furthermore, periphyton photosynthesis locally increases pH by up to 1 unit, which can lead to increased precipitation of calcium phosphate, concurrent deposition of carbonate-phosphate complexes, and long-term burial of P. Actively photosynthesizing periphyton can cause super-saturated O2 concentrations near the sediment surface encouraging deposition of metal phosphates. However, anoxia associated with periphyton respiration at night may offset this effect. Linking the small-scale functional role of periphyton to ecosystem-level P retention will require more detailed studies in a variety of ecosystems or large mesocosms. A case study from the Everglades illustrates the importance of considering the role of periphyton in P removal from wetlands. In general, periphyton tends to increase P retention and deposition. In pilot-scale constructed periphyton-dominated wetlands in South Florida, about half of the inflowing total P was removed.</p>},
	keywords = {LTER-KNZ, eutrophication, microalgae, microphytobenthos, periphyton, phosphate, Phosphorus, tertiary treatment, water quality},
	doi = {10.1046/j.1529-8817.2003.02081.x},
	author = {W. K. Dodds}
}
