The role of rock substratum in the ecology of intertidal epilithic biofilms
The role of rock substratum in the ecology of intertidal epilithic biofilms
The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the role of the underlying rock type on the ecology of epilithic biofilms in relation to other major regulating factors such as season, shore height and grazing. In Chapter 1 the relevant literature has been reviewed covering the development and succession of biofilms and describing their importance to the ecology of rocky shore habitats. The aims and rationale of the thesis are then outlined.
In Chapter 2 a broadscale survey of microbial biomass and assemblage composition was made at sites along the south coast of England from Lands End to the Isle of Wight. This encompassed shores of chalk, limestone, sandstone old red sandstone and granite sampled at a range of spatial scales (10’s km to 10’s cm) in an hierarchical design with two shores of each rock type and two tidal levels on each shore. Microbiota were quantified using extracted chlorophyll to provide an index of biomass and scanning electron microscopy to visualise microbial assemblages. Microalgal biomass was greater on soft, porous carbonate rocks such as chalk and limestone than on hard, impermeable quartz-based rocks such as granite and old red sandstone. These differences were significant in the early spring and summer. However, they were most apparent in early spring and the in upper eulittoral rather than the littoral fringe.
Local effects of rock type were investigated by comparing microbial films on rocks with contrasting physical and chemical properties that were present at the same shores (Chapter 3). Chalk and flint were compared at Freshwater Bay and Culver Cliff on the Isle of Wight, limestone and chert at Portland Bill, and dolomite and oil shale at Kimmeridge. Microbial biomass tended to be greater on carbonate rocks than on quartz based rock but this effect was only significant contrasts between dolomite and oil shale.
University of Southampton
Moschella, Paula Serena
adfe104c-e6e2-4a47-bf8d-34de8e2dd6a5
2003
Moschella, Paula Serena
adfe104c-e6e2-4a47-bf8d-34de8e2dd6a5
Moschella, Paula Serena
(2003)
The role of rock substratum in the ecology of intertidal epilithic biofilms.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the role of the underlying rock type on the ecology of epilithic biofilms in relation to other major regulating factors such as season, shore height and grazing. In Chapter 1 the relevant literature has been reviewed covering the development and succession of biofilms and describing their importance to the ecology of rocky shore habitats. The aims and rationale of the thesis are then outlined.
In Chapter 2 a broadscale survey of microbial biomass and assemblage composition was made at sites along the south coast of England from Lands End to the Isle of Wight. This encompassed shores of chalk, limestone, sandstone old red sandstone and granite sampled at a range of spatial scales (10’s km to 10’s cm) in an hierarchical design with two shores of each rock type and two tidal levels on each shore. Microbiota were quantified using extracted chlorophyll to provide an index of biomass and scanning electron microscopy to visualise microbial assemblages. Microalgal biomass was greater on soft, porous carbonate rocks such as chalk and limestone than on hard, impermeable quartz-based rocks such as granite and old red sandstone. These differences were significant in the early spring and summer. However, they were most apparent in early spring and the in upper eulittoral rather than the littoral fringe.
Local effects of rock type were investigated by comparing microbial films on rocks with contrasting physical and chemical properties that were present at the same shores (Chapter 3). Chalk and flint were compared at Freshwater Bay and Culver Cliff on the Isle of Wight, limestone and chert at Portland Bill, and dolomite and oil shale at Kimmeridge. Microbial biomass tended to be greater on carbonate rocks than on quartz based rock but this effect was only significant contrasts between dolomite and oil shale.
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Published date: 2003
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Local EPrints ID: 465012
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/465012
PURE UUID: b2224b80-8958-43a2-bcbf-2891e593c59b
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Date deposited: 05 Jul 2022 00:16
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 19:53
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Author:
Paula Serena Moschella
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