ABSTRACT
The periphyton community, made up of many taxa of microalgae, covers much of the Everglades, serving as a food web base, as well as building calcitic mud sediment and oxygenating the water column. An overview of the literature on Everglades periphyton is provided, as well as a proposed classification system based on general taxonomy and extent of calcite encrustation. Specific community types that are extremes in gradually changing sets of dominant taxa along environmental gradients are described. At least three environmental gradientshydroperiod/water depth, phosphorus concentration, and aspects of water chem istry involving the major ions, especially calcium-affect the taxonomic composi tion, growth characteristics, structure, and extent of calcite encrustation of Ever glades periphyton. Degree of saturation with respect to CaC03, rather than CaC03 concentration alone, determines calcite encrustation. The authors propose that hydrologic conditions influence CaC03 saturometry through their influence on the release of carbon dioxide into, and its diffusion from, the water column.
