Effect of periphyton on water quality.

Abstract This paper focuses on the mutual effects among periphyton, phytoplankton, water quality, different cultured fish species and management procedures in periphyton-based earthen fish ponds in Bangladesh. The periphyton community developing on hard surfaces interacts with other communities in the pond. Two types of such interactions are discussed, viz., periphyton-environment relationships in the absence of grazing pressure by cultured organisms, and periphyton-environment-cultured organisms relationships. These interactions and the water quality resulting from them are different in the absence of large fish biomass characteristic of fish culture ponds.