The role of periphyton mats in consumer community structure and function in calcareous wetlands: Lessons from the everglades
Book Chapter
Trexler, JC, Gaiser, EE, Kominoski, JS et al. (2015). The role of periphyton mats in consumer community structure and function in calcareous wetlands: Lessons from the everglades
. 155-179. 10.1201/b18253
Trexler, JC, Gaiser, EE, Kominoski, JS et al. (2015). The role of periphyton mats in consumer community structure and function in calcareous wetlands: Lessons from the everglades
. 155-179. 10.1201/b18253
Freshwater benthic microbial communities display a diversity of growth forms that shape food web structure and function through infl uencing availability of food and predation refuges of primary consumers. Periphyton, an assemblage of microfl ora growing on substrates (Wetzel 1983), includes a diversity of autotrophs and saprophytes (microscopic algae, bacteria, and fungi) that may form complex structures in fl oating mats, epiphyton, and benthic mats (Stevenson 1996). Through its dual infl uence on food resources and habitat structure, periphyton may play a controlling role in dynamics of aquatic communities (Power 1996). The constituents of periphyton display a 1 Department of Biological Science, 3000 NE 151st Street, Florida International University, North Miami, FL 33181.
