ECOLOGY OF Sagittaria kurziana AND DISTRIBUTION OF PERIPHYTON IN THE SPRING-FED RAINBOW RIVER By PETER ALEXANDER SLESZYNSKI A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2009 1 © 2009 Peter A. Sleszynski 2 To my parents and grandparents 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my supervisory committee chair (Dr. Edward Phlips) for his advice and guidance, and Dr. Michael Kane for advice on micropropagation techniques, use of his laboratory facilities and his guidance. I would also like to extend my appreciation to Dr. Charles Cichra, Dr. Thomas Crisman, and Dr. Patrick Inglett for their assistance and invaluable input while serving on my committee, Dr. Mary Cristman for her help with statistical analysis, Nancy Philman for her assistance and advice with the micropropagation work, and Bret Whiteley for aid with map creation. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................................................................................... 4 LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................................................ 8 LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................................. 9 ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................ 12 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 14 Study Site ..................................................................................................................................... 16 Research Objectives .................................................................................................................... 19 2 ECOLOGY OF Sagittaria kurziana (Gluck) IN THE RAINBOW RIVER ........................... 24 Methods ....................................................................................................................................... 25 Study Site ............................................................................................................................. 25 Spatial Variability in the Morphology of Sagittaria kurziana .......................................... 26 Determination of In Situ Growth of Sagittaria kurziana .................................................. 27 Tissue Nutrient Content of Sagittaria kurziana ................................................................. 29 Photosynthesis Light Flux Relationships for Sagittaria kurziana .................................... 29 Growth of Introduced Sagittaria kurziana ......................................................................... 32 Growth Response of Sagittaria kurziana Exposed to Flowing Water ............................. 35 Statistical Analyses .............................................................................................................. 35 Results .......................................................................................................................................... 36 Spatial Variability in the Morphology of Sagittaria kurziana .......................................... 36 Determination of In Situ Growth of Sagittaria kurziana .................................................. 36 Tissue Nutrient Content of Sagittaria kurziana ................................................................. 37 Photosynthesis Light Flux Relationships for Sagittaria kurziana .................................... 37 Growth of Introduced Sagittaria kurziana ......................................................................... 38 Growth Response of Sagittaria kurziana Exposed to Flowing Water ............................. 39 Discussion .................................................................................................................................... 39 Spatial Patterns..................................................................................................................... 39 Elemental Composition of Plants ....................................................................................... 42 Photosynthesis versus Light Relationships ........................................................................ 43 3 IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF THE SUBMERSED SPECIES Sagittaria kurziana .......... 58 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 58 Methods ....................................................................................................................................... 59 Culture Establishment ......................................................................................................... 59 Effects of Benzyladenine (BA) on in Vitro Regeneration of Sagittaria kurziana ........... 60 5 Comparative Effects of Different Cytokinins on in Vitro Regeneration of Sagittaria kurziana ............................................................................................................................ 60 In Vitro Propagation in 500–mL Erlenmeyer Flasks ......................................................... 61 Establishment of ex Vitro Plants (Microcuttings) .............................................................. 61 Results .......................................................................................................................................... 62 Effects of Benzyladenine (BA) on in Vitro Regeneration of Sagittaria kurziana ........... 62 Comparative Effects of Different Cytokinins on in Vitro Regeneration of Sagittaria kurziana ............................................................................................................................ 62 In Vitro Propagation in 500–mL Erlenmeyer Flasks ......................................................... 62 Establishment of ex Vitro Plants (Microcuttings) .............................................................. 63 Discussion .................................................................................................................................... 63 4 EFFECTS OF NITROGEN ON IN VITRO GROWTH OF Sagittaria kurziana (Gluck) ...... 73 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 73 Methods ....................................................................................................................................... 76 Stock Plant Cultures ............................................................................................................ 76 Effects of Nitrogen Form and Concentration on In Vitro Growth.................................... 77 Sagittaria kurziana Tissue Nutrient Concentrations ......................................................... 77 Statistical Analyses .............................................................................................................. 79 Results .......................................................................................................................................... 79 Effects of Nitrate on Growth ............................................................................................... 79 Interactive Effects of Nitrate and Ammonium on Growth................................................ 80 Carbon and Nitrogen Tissue Concentrations ..................................................................... 81 Discussion .................................................................................................................................... 82 5 SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF EPIPHYTIC AND BENTHIC ALGAE IN THE RAINBOW RIVER, FLORIDA .............................................................................................. 102 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 102 Methods ..................................................................................................................................... 104 Study Site ........................................................................................................................... 104 Spatial Distribution of Epiphytic and Benthic Algae ...................................................... 105 Epiphytic Biomass ............................................................................................................. 107 Statistical Analyses ............................................................................................................ 108 Results ........................................................................................................................................ 110 Spatial Distribution of Epiphytic and Benthic Algae ...................................................... 110 Environmental Conditions and Relationships to Algal Distribution .............................. 111 Epiphyte Biomass .............................................................................................................. 113 Discussion .................................................................................................................................. 113 Epiphyte Distribution .......................................................................................................