Is Periphyton an Algae

Periphyton is a combination of algae and bacteria that grow on stream bottom substrates. The growth of the algae is not only controlled by the competition for light and nutrients, but also by herbivory.

Is periphyton a plant?

Few people realize that when you pick up a piece of this spongy, soggy mat, you hold much more than a plant. Periphyton is an entire community of organisms, including blue-green algae, fungi, microbes, bacteria, plant detritus, and animals that together compose the foundation of an entire ecosystem.

What is periphyton in ecology?

Periphyton is a complex mixture of algae, cyanobacteria, heterotrophic microbes, and detritus that is attached to submerged surfaces in most aquatic ecosystems. … Periphyton serves as an important food source for invertebrates, tadpoles, and some fish.