An evaluation of a submerged glass method of estimating production of attached algae

Summary

Although there are several limitations to the method so briefly described, it can probably be applied successfully to a large number of water types. Its greatest usefulness is in demonstrating the major seasonal changes in production, though the values obtained are more relative than absolute. The present type of species analysis is practical only where diatoms predominate. The over-all method could be of more value if combined with short-term tests using oxygen evolution or labeled carbon fixation. Simultaneous studies of phytoplankton production would be of interest. Such comparisons may show a parallelism of production curves. Certainly the attached algae should not be ignored in primary production studies, particularly not in small and shallow bodies of water where their contribution to total production may be great.