Periphyton Biomass Accumulation from the Shark River and Taylor Sloughs, Everglades National Park (FCE LTER), South Florida, USA, January 2003 - ongoing

Periphyton biomass was measured quarterly at three replicate locations (1, 2, and 3) at FCE LTER marsh sites (SRS 1-3; TS/Ph 1-3). A 1-m2 plot was placed in the marsh and percent cover of periphyton was visually estimated, including cover on the water surface (floating), plant stems (epiphytic), and on the bottom (benthic). Periphyton was then harvested from the quadrats into a 2000 ml perforated graduated cylinder and the volume measured. A 120-ml subsample was removed and taken back to the laboratory for analysis. Data provided include percent cover by substrate, dry, ash, and ash-free dry mass per area, chlorophyll a per gram ash-free dry mass and per area, and the total phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon concentration on a dry weight basis. This is part of a continuous data collection to test the hypothesis that phosphorus and hydrology interact to influence periphyton abundance in Everglades marshes.