Microbiology Commons^™

Flood Events Can Reduce Key Fatty Acid Content Of Early-Stage Benthic Algal Assemblages In An Urban Stream, Sarah Whorley, John Wehr

Articles & Book Chapters

Effects of urbanization on stream chemistry and biota have been widely examined. However, few studies quantify the effect of urban stream characteristics on the biochemical properties of basal food resources, such as benthic algae, which can affect aquatic consumers and food webs. A common feature of urban streams is the high frequency of short floods, which may disrupt aquatic communities and their biotic controls. These disturbances can create algal assemblages low in biomass and which remain in early successional stages. This study examined the effects of frequent flood events and macroinvertebrate grazing on biomass, elemental stoichiometry, and essential fatty acid …