{"id":{"repo_id":"unr","oai_identifier":"oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/11240"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/unr/oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/11240","repository":{"repo_id":"unr","name":"University of Nevada - Reno","base_url":"https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Context-dependent controls of periphyton across the littoral-benthic habitat of deep, clear lakes","abstract":"Littoral-benthic habitats can play a key role in governing whole ecosystem production within lakes. Typical controls of littoral-benthic production can include light, nutrients, and grazers, although, studies examining production across the photic zone in deep lakes are limited. This study investigates the role of nutrient limitation and inhibition from the shallow to deep (lower limit of the photic zone) littoral-benthic habitat of lakes with varying trophic states. To achieve this aim we use a combination of nutrient diffusing substrates (NDS), water column nutrient data, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) measurements. We observed that periphyton nutrient limitation and inhibition vary with depth and habitat. Differences were primarily driven by the concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and the availability of PAR. Less DIN and more PAR favored N limitation and P inhibition, whereas more DIN and less PAR favored P limitation and N inhibition. Furthermore, we found differences in nutrient limitation in the shallow littoral-benthic habitat of lakes may be affected by biological factors (density of high-level predators) than by surrounding substrate types, although these differences may have arisen from other, non-biological factors (e.g., nutrient supply from groundwater or surface runoff). Our findings reveal that periphyton nutrient responses across the littoral-benthic zone for clear lakes are context-dependent, influenced by a complex interplay of light and nutrient availability. The shifting roles of nitrogen and phosphorus across depth gradients call for a more nuanced understanding of periphyton responses in lakes with extensive photic zones. Considering the importance of littoral-benthic habitat for whole lake function, additional studies exploring the role of nutrient, light, and consumers should occur across depth for clear, deep-water lakes.","abstract_html":"Littoral-benthic habitats can play a key role in governing whole ecosystem production within lakes. Typical controls of littoral-benthic production can include light, nutrients, and grazers, although, studies examining production across the photic zone in deep lakes are limited. This study investigates the role of nutrient limitation and inhibition from the shallow to deep (lower limit of the photic zone) littoral-benthic habitat of lakes with varying trophic states. To achieve this aim we use a combination of nutrient diffusing substrates (NDS), water column nutrient data, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) measurements. We observed that periphyton nutrient limitation and inhibition vary with depth and habitat. Differences were primarily driven by the concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and the availability of PAR. Less DIN and more PAR favored N limitation and P inhibition, whereas more DIN and less PAR favored P limitation and N inhibition. Furthermore, we found differences in nutrient limitation in the shallow littoral-benthic habitat of lakes may be affected by biological factors (density of high-level predators) than by surrounding substrate types, although these differences may have arisen from other, non-biological factors (e.g., nutrient supply from groundwater or surface runoff). Our findings reveal that periphyton nutrient responses across the littoral-benthic zone for clear lakes are context-dependent, influenced by a complex interplay of light and nutrient availability. The shifting roles of nitrogen and phosphorus across depth gradients call for a more nuanced understanding of periphyton responses in lakes with extensive photic zones. Considering the importance of littoral-benthic habitat for whole lake function, additional studies exploring the role of nutrient, light, and consumers should occur across depth for clear, deep-water lakes.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["San Pedro, Aldo Preston"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":"Master's Degree","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Chandra, Sudeep"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Parchman, Thomas L","Blaszczak, Joanna R"],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024","date_published":"2024","updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:47:47Z","subjects":["inhibition","limitation","nitrogen","nutrient diffusing substrate (NDS)","periphyton","phosphorus"],"languages":["en_US","English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/handle/11714/11240","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Chandra, Sudeep"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Parchman, Thomas L","Blaszczak, Joanna R"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["San Pedro, Aldo Preston"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-02-24T23:22:26Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-02-24T23:22:26Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2024"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's Degree"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["inhibition","limitation","nitrogen","nutrient diffusing substrate (NDS)","periphyton","phosphorus"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]},{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en_US"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/handle/11714/11240"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Littoral-benthic habitats can play a key role in governing whole ecosystem production within lakes. Typical controls of littoral-benthic production can include light, nutrients, and grazers, although, studies examining production across the photic zone in deep lakes are limited. This study investigates the role of nutrient limitation and inhibition from the shallow to deep (lower limit of the photic zone) littoral-benthic habitat of lakes with varying trophic states. To achieve this aim we use a combination of nutrient diffusing substrates (NDS), water column nutrient data, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) measurements. We observed that periphyton nutrient limitation and inhibition vary with depth and habitat. Differences were primarily driven by the concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and the availability of PAR. Less DIN and more PAR favored N limitation and P inhibition, whereas more DIN and less PAR favored P limitation and N inhibition. Furthermore, we found differences in nutrient limitation in the shallow littoral-benthic habitat of lakes may be affected by biological factors (density of high-level predators) than by surrounding substrate types, although these differences may have arisen from other, non-biological factors (e.g., nutrient supply from groundwater or surface runoff). Our findings reveal that periphyton nutrient responses across the littoral-benthic zone for clear lakes are context-dependent, influenced by a complex interplay of light and nutrient availability. The shifting roles of nitrogen and phosphorus across depth gradients call for a more nuanced understanding of periphyton responses in lakes with extensive photic zones. Considering the importance of littoral-benthic habitat for whole lake function, additional studies exploring the role of nutrient, light, and consumers should occur across depth for clear, deep-water lakes."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["PDF"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Context-dependent controls of periphyton across the littoral-benthic habitat of deep, clear lakes"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Chandra, Sudeep"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Parchman, Thomas L","Blaszczak, Joanna R"],"dc:creator":["San Pedro, Aldo Preston"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-02-24T23:22:26Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-02-24T23:22:26Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2024"],"dc:description.abstract":["Littoral-benthic habitats can play a key role in governing whole ecosystem production within lakes. Typical controls of littoral-benthic production can include light, nutrients, and grazers, although, studies examining production across the photic zone in deep lakes are limited. This study investigates the role of nutrient limitation and inhibition from the shallow to deep (lower limit of the photic zone) littoral-benthic habitat of lakes with varying trophic states. To achieve this aim we use a combination of nutrient diffusing substrates (NDS), water column nutrient data, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) measurements. We observed that periphyton nutrient limitation and inhibition vary with depth and habitat. Differences were primarily driven by the concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and the availability of PAR. Less DIN and more PAR favored N limitation and P inhibition, whereas more DIN and less PAR favored P limitation and N inhibition. Furthermore, we found differences in nutrient limitation in the shallow littoral-benthic habitat of lakes may be affected by biological factors (density of high-level predators) than by surrounding substrate types, although these differences may have arisen from other, non-biological factors (e.g., nutrient supply from groundwater or surface runoff). Our findings reveal that periphyton nutrient responses across the littoral-benthic zone for clear lakes are context-dependent, influenced by a complex interplay of light and nutrient availability. The shifting roles of nitrogen and phosphorus across depth gradients call for a more nuanced understanding of periphyton responses in lakes with extensive photic zones. Considering the importance of littoral-benthic habitat for whole lake function, additional studies exploring the role of nutrient, light, and consumers should occur across depth for clear, deep-water lakes."],"dc:format":["PDF"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/handle/11714/11240"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:language.iso":["en_US"],"dc:subject":["inhibition","limitation","nitrogen","nutrient diffusing substrate (NDS)","periphyton","phosphorus"],"dc:title":["Context-dependent controls of periphyton across the littoral-benthic habitat of deep, clear lakes"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's Degree"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:47:47Z"}