REPS Periphyton Productivity Experiment (Respirometers)

Monitoring periphyton indicates short term impacts on the system and provides a measure of productivity in these aquatic systems over the open water season of 2013 (September). The periphyton community in an aquatic system also has notable implications on its productivity. In this experiment, community samples were used to measure net primary productivity by establishing productivity and respiration in light and dark chambers. Sample sites are on a gradient moving closer in proximity to industry to delineate the effects of natural and anthropogenic contaminants. Following this experiment, the ash-free dry mass of periphyton in the sample was measured.