Technical Bulletin No. 0422: A Study of Periphyton Biomass Measurement Variability Using Cellulose Acetate Strips

Because of the important role periphytic and planktonic communities play in stream ecosystems, the National Council's aquatic biology program has included periphyton measurements in its experimental streams program. This technical bulletin was the second of three technical bulletins to be issued on periphyton measurements and periphyton measurement methods evaluation carried out at both the Southern and Northern Experimental Stream facilities. It describes the evaluation of periphyton biomass variability using cellulose acetate strips; cellulose acetate strips were selected for study because (a) they permit discrete periphyton measurements to be made through the depth of the water column, and (b) they have been reported to more nearly represent the periphyton assemblages collected on natural substrates than do other artificial substrates.