Epipsammon

The epipsammon is a type of ecological community consisting of non-motile phytoplankton species (mostly diatoms), which are very small in size (generally less than 20 μm) and live attached to sand grains.¹ Cyanobacteria also contribute significantly to the total biomass of epipsammon.² Because epipsammon may be periodically buried within the sediment, many species have physiological adaptations that allow them to tolerate low-light conditions and elevated sulfide concentrations, maintaining photosynthetic capacity during extended periods of darkness.³ Epipsammon have been reported to contribute significantly to the primary production of shallow sandy habitats and to serve as an important source of energy for secondary production.⁴

References

Round, F.E. (1965-12-01). "The epipsammon; a relatively unknown freshwater algal association". British Phycological Bulletin. 2 (6): 456–462. doi:10.1080/00071616500650071. ISSN 0374-6534.
B, Dahl; H, Blanck (1996-12-05). "Use of sand-living microalgal communities (epipsammon) in ecotoxicological testing". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 144: 163–173. Bibcode:1996MEPS..144..163D. doi:10.3354/meps144163. ISSN 1616-1599.
Preez, D. R. du; Bate, G. C. (1992-01-01). "Dark Survival of the Surf Diatom Anaulus australis Drebes et Schulz". Botanica Marina. 35 (4): 315–320. Bibcode:1992BoMar..35..315D. doi:10.1515/botm.1992.35.4.315. ISSN 1437-4323.
Daehnick, A. E.; Sullivan, M. J.; Moncreiff, C. A. (1992-01-01). "Primary Production of the Sand Microflora in Seagrass Beds of Mississippi Sound". Botanica Marina. 35 (2): 131–140. Bibcode:1992BoMar..35..131D. doi:10.1515/botm.1992.35.2.131. ISSN 1437-4323.

[1] Round, F.E. (1965-12-01). "The epipsammon; a relatively unknown freshwater algal association". British Phycological Bulletin. 2 (6): 456–462. doi:10.1080/00071616500650071. ISSN 0374-6534.

[2] B, Dahl; H, Blanck (1996-12-05). "Use of sand-living microalgal communities (epipsammon) in ecotoxicological testing". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 144: 163–173. Bibcode:1996MEPS..144..163D. doi:10.3354/meps144163. ISSN 1616-1599.

[3] Preez, D. R. du; Bate, G. C. (1992-01-01). "Dark Survival of the Surf Diatom Anaulus australis Drebes et Schulz". Botanica Marina. 35 (4): 315–320. Bibcode:1992BoMar..35..315D. doi:10.1515/botm.1992.35.4.315. ISSN 1437-4323.

[4] Daehnick, A. E.; Sullivan, M. J.; Moncreiff, C. A. (1992-01-01). "Primary Production of the Sand Microflora in Seagrass Beds of Mississippi Sound". Botanica Marina. 35 (2): 131–140. Bibcode:1992BoMar..35..131D. doi:10.1515/botm.1992.35.2.131. ISSN 1437-4323.

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References