Technical Bulletin No. 0940: Nutrients and Other Factors Affecting Lotic System Algae: An Overview with a Summary of Findings from the Long-term Receiving Water Study

Algae form the basis of aquatic systems with benthic algae, or periphyton, dominating river and stream systems and phytoplankton communities dominating standing water systems such as lakes, reservoirs, and ponds. The relationship between environmental factors and relative species abundance and biomass of algal communities is complex with some components overriding the effects of others. Among environmental factors affecting algal communities, the availability of nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, is one of the most important.