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Epipsammic species are organisms that grow on or move through sand grains. The most common epipsammic species are algae < 20μm, such as diatoms, that attach to grains in sandy sediments of lakes and tidal flats.[1]
Sand is hard, non-reactive (inert), and has relatively little surface area. A sand grain is typically > 55μm.[2] Sand is also very unstable making it easily transported by winds or currents.[3] Epipsammic species can be found several centimeters deep and mostly occupy depressions in the sand grain surfaces, avoiding being stripped off by winds, wave actions, or physical disturbances like animals. Adhesion capacity is unique to each organism and effects their ability to remain attached to the sand grains. Most common epipsammic diatoms have a stalk-like appendage that secures the organism to the sand grain. Epipsammic species are often non-motile or move very slowly.[4]
Study
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Since most epipsammic species do not have the ability to move on their own (non-motile), they are not able to change their environment if they become buried, losing access to sunlight and nutrients. A study by B. Moss in 1977 found epipsammic algae tolerate both darkness and anaerobiosis, surviving for several days in the complete absence of oxygen. He found significant activity persisted few days after zero oxygen concentration had been reached, with all activity ceasing after 14-22 days.[5] It is unknown if organisms are able to survive burial conditions as spores or in other resting stages.
There remains many opportunities for more research into the characteristics of epipsammic species.
References
edit- ^ "Epipsammic Diatom Flora of the Pukchong-Namdaechon River of North Korea." Algae 15, no. 4 (2000): 233–54.
- ^ De Jonge, V.N. "The Occurrence of 'Epipsammic' Diatom Populations: A Result of Interaction between Physical Sorting of Sediment and Certain Properties of Diatom Species." Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 21, no. 5 (November 1985): 607–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7714(85)90061-7.
- ^ Maine DEP, "Biological Monitoring Glossary" accessed October 3, 2024, https://www.maine.gov/dep/water/monitoring/biomonitoring/glossary.htm
- ^ Dodds, W.K. and Whiles, M.R. (2010) Concepts of Ecology: Concepts and Environmental Applications of Limnology. Second Edition. Elsevier Inc. 829 pp.
- ^ Moss, Brian. "Adaptations of Epipelic and Epipsammic Freshwater Algae." Oecologia 28, no. 1 (March 1977): 103–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346839.