Authors: Taylor, Barry R.; Garbary, David J.; Miller, Anthony; Bärlocher, Felix

Source: Fundamental and Applied Limnology / Archiv für Hydrobiologie, Volume 175, Number 2, July 2009 , pp. 171-180(10)

Publisher: E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung

Abstract:

The water mould Leptomitus lacteus bloomed in a small stream in northern Nova Scotia, Canada, for at least four months from December through March when water temperatures were near 0 °C and the stream was frequently ice-covered. The bloom occupied much of the substratum along 1.5 km of stream below the effluent outfall from a composting facility. A true fungus, Saprochaete saccharophila, was a minor component of the bloom. L. lacteus colonies appeared robust against freezing and regrew quickly after scouring floods. L. lacteus preferred riffles and fast-flowing water, evidently because of a high oxygen requirement. In mid-winter, the standing crop of L. lacteus approached 2.5 kg m⁻² fresh mass, or 2000 kg along the whole length of stream. The bloom ended abruptly in April when water temperatures rose above 5 °C. In the laboratory, clumps of L. lacteus demonstrated vigorous oxygen consumption near 0 °C. Oxidative metabolism was largely confined to the outer 6 mm of the colonies, interior to which [O₂] declined precipitously. Evidence suggests that L. lacteus blooms in winter to take advantage of a rich food source and high [O₂] while avoiding competition. Similar blooms of L. lacteus elsewhere may be overlooked because winter weather and ice cover discourage investigations.

Keywords: LEPTOMITUS LACTEUS; SAPROCHAETE SACCHAROPHILA; BLOOM; RESPIRATION; WATER MOULD; WINTER

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/1863-9135/2009/0175-0171

Publication date: 2009-07-01

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