Periphyton is a complex community of detritus, bacteria, fungi, and algae that grows attached to submerged substrates. Assemblage structure data for algae and cyanobacteria from periphyton samples were collected on a monthly basis from 2017 to 2021. Compiled data were reported as absolute abundance (cells) and biovolume per volume as well as absolute abundance (cells) and biovolume per area at four locations increasing in distance East of the L-67 canal in Water Conservation Area 3 (WCA 3) of the Florida Everglades immediately north of Everglades National Park. The periphyton assemblages were analyzed for five sample types including periphyton plates (Plates), invertebrate inclusion and exclusion plates (Inverts), biological oxygen demand cores (BOD), vertical/sediment traps (VertSedTrap), and metaphyton cores (MetaCore).

Periphyton is a complex community of detritus, bacteria, fungi, and algae that grows attached to submerged substrates. Assemblage structure data for algae and cyanobacteria from periphyton samples were collected on a monthly basis from 2017 to 2021. Compiled data were reported as absolute abundance (cells) and biovolume per volume as well as absolute abundance (cells) and biovolume per area at four locations increasing in distance East of the L-67 canal in Water Conservation Area 3 (WCA 3) of the Florida Everglades immediately north of Everglades National Park. The periphyton assemblages were analyzed for five sample types including periphyton plates (Plates), invertebrate inclusion and exclusion plates (Inverts), biological oxygen demand cores (BOD), vertical/sediment traps (VertSedTrap), and metaphyton cores (MetaCore).

Rocky riffles in rivers support a complex community of algae, bacteria, fungi and detritus often held together by a polysaccharide matrix. This biofilm provides food for invertebrates, some fish, platypus, rakali and turtles. Biofilms are scoured naturally by high flows. River regulation alters the timing, duration and frequency of biofilm scouring. Environmental flows downstream of dams, including translucent and transparent releases are designed to restore some of the variability of flow and allow scouring to reset early-stage biofilm, which is more palatable for aquatic animals. IMEF biofilm and invertebrate studies were performed in the Hunter and Murrumbidgee Rivers, testing the hypothesis (IMEF Hypothesis 4) that restoring some freshes and high flows would induce scouring of silt and biofilms and improved habitat quality for some invertebrate scrapers and their predators. Note: If you would like to ask a question, make any suggestions, or tell us how you are using this dataset, please visit the NSW Water Hub which has an online forum you can join.

Rocky riffles in rivers support a complex community of algae, bacteria, fungi and detritus often held together by a polysaccharide matrix. This biofilm provides food for invertebrates, some fish, platypus, rakali and turtles. Biofilms are scoured naturally by high flows. River regulation alters the timing, duration and frequency of biofilm scouring. Environmental flows downstream of dams, including translucent and transparent releases are designed to restore some of the variability of flow and allow scouring to reset early-stage biofilm, which is more palatable for aquatic animals. IMEF biofilm and invertebrate studies were performed in the Hunter and Murrumbidgee Rivers, testing the hypothesis (IMEF Hypothesis 4) that restoring some freshes and high flows would induce scouring of silt and biofilms and improved habitat quality for some invertebrate scrapers and their predators. Sites located on the Murrumbidgee River downstream of Burrinjuck Dam, received periodic environmental releases, between April and October, as well as irrigation flows and uncontrolled spills. Riffle rock biofilms, aquatic invertebrate metrics and water quality were compared with reference sites on the unregulated Goobarragandra and Goodradigbee rivers. Control sites were chosen on the Tumut River, which is regulated by Blowering Dam but unlike the Murrumbidgee River did not receive variable environmental releases. Note: If you would like to ask a question, make any suggestions, or tell us how you are using this dataset, please visit the NSW Water Hub which has an online forum you can join.

The U.S. Geological Survey monitored algal biomass accrual and concentrations of metals and other trace elements in stream water and periphytic algae at 3-4 day intervals over a 2-week period at 3 locations within the upper and middle portions of the mining-impacted Clark Fork River, Montana, and at one location on the relatively unimpacted Blackfoot River tributary. This data release makes available trends in major and minor trace element concentrations in surface water and periphytic algae, and corresponding trends in concentrations of autotrophic (chlorophyll a) and heterotrophic (ash-free dry mass) algal biomass collected in late July and early August 2015.

The U.S. Geological Survey monitored algal biomass accrual and concentrations of metals and other trace elements in stream water and periphytic algae at 3-4 day intervals over a 2-week period at 3 locations within the upper and middle portions of the mining-impacted Clark Fork River, Montana, and at one location on the relatively unimpacted Blackfoot River tributary. This data release makes available trends in major and minor trace element concentrations in surface water and periphytic algae, and corresponding trends in concentrations of autotrophic (chlorophyll a) and heterotrophic (ash-free dry mass) algal biomass collected in late July and early August 2015.

A data package consisting of diatom, total phosphorus, and related data collected in Big Cypress National Preserve as part of the SFCN Periphyton Vital Signs protocol. Periphyton is a microbial mat community that forms the base of the aquatic food web in South Florida wetlands such as the marshes in Everglades National Park (EVER) and the Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY). It is a vital component of these wetlands, contributing to critical functions such as primary production, nutrient cycling, and soil production and stabilization. Periphyton is sensitive to changes in hydropattern (water quantity and duration) and water quality. Changes to these ecosystem processes can quickly alter periphyton community structure (species composition and relative abundance), which in turn can create cascading effects through higher trophic levels. Thus, periphyton is an early and integrative indicator of local and regional changes to hydrology. The South Florida/Caribbean Network has implemented the monitoring of periphyton communities in Big Cypress National Preserve to assess the impact of hydrologic and water quality changes on the diatom community structure and total phosphorous (TP) concentrations of the periphyton mats. The specific monitoring objectives are: 1) Identify any basins in the northwest section of Big Cypress National Preserve where periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content are different from an oligotrophic (low-nutrient) and unimpacted community signal. 2) Document any temporal and/or spatial changes in the periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content showing progression towards an oligotrophic, unimpacted condition or a eutrophic (high-nutrient), impacted condition. This dataset includes all data collected (both pilot and standard) between 2008 and 2025. 2025 sites are listed in this release alongside their field data, but lab results have yet to be received for these sites at this time.

A data package consisting of diatom, total phosphorus, and related data collected in Big Cypress National Preserve as part of the SFCN Periphyton Vital Signs protocol. Periphyton is a microbial mat community that forms the base of the aquatic food web in South Florida wetlands such as the marshes in Everglades National Park (EVER) and the Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY). It is a vital component of these wetlands, contributing to critical functions such as primary production, nutrient cycling, and soil production and stabilization. Periphyton is sensitive to changes in hydropattern (water quantity and duration) and water quality. Changes to these ecosystem processes can quickly alter periphyton community structure (species composition and relative abundance), which in turn can create cascading effects through higher trophic levels. Thus, periphyton is an early and integrative indicator of local and regional changes to hydrology. The South Florida/Caribbean Network has implemented the monitoring of periphyton communities in Big Cypress National Preserve to assess the impact of hydrologic and water quality changes on the diatom community structure and total phosphorous (TP) concentrations of the periphyton mats. The specific monitoring objectives are: 1) Identify any basins in the northwest section of Big Cypress National Preserve where periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content are different from an oligotrophic (low-nutrient) and unimpacted community signal. 2) Document any temporal and/or spatial changes in the periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content showing progression towards an oligotrophic, unimpacted condition or a eutrophic (high-nutrient), impacted condition. This dataset includes all data collected (both pilot and standard) between 2008 and 2025. 2025 sites are listed in this release alongside their field data, but lab results have yet to be received for these sites at this time.

This dataset comprises in situ images of benthic algae collected by an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in Lake Michigan during August and September 2020. The images were annotated, or labeled, to identify specific features for use in machine learning and algorithm development, specifically to train and validate an algorithm for the automated identification and assessment of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). The dataset is organized into individual zip files, each corresponding to different collection dates, with the date indicated in the file name. Each zip file contains original images, ground truth binary masks where benthic algae are represented by white pixels and the background by black pixels, and JSON files specifying the coordinates of polygons delineating the algae in each image. Additionally, the metadata associated with these images is accessible in the accompanying metadata spreadsheet. The AUV, a modified L3Harris-OceanServer Iver3, was equipped with a high-performance 9-megapixel CMOS sensor, specifically the Allied Vision Manta G-895C color camera. Advanced sensors and imaging systems onboard the AUV enabled precise navigation and image capture during the survey. In total, over 300 km of lakebed were surveyed by the AUV across thirty sites along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The 4096 x 2176-pixel color images were georeferenced using the AUV's inertial navigation system (INS), which relied on an iXBlue PHINS Compact C3 fiber-optic gyroscope for accurate positioning. Each image was accompanied by recorded parameters, including temperature, altitude, depth, and time. Collectively, these data provide a comprehensive dataset for analyzing and understanding the distribution and dynamics of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in Lake Michigan.

These raw data associated with this research were collected as part of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's 2018-2019 National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA). The worksheet "Water chemistry data" includes environmental variables examined in this study including total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), conductivity, pH, and ecoregion. The worksheet "Diatom ASVs" includes relative abundances of gene sequence reads for each amplicon sequence variant (ASV), which are referred to as taxa. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Smucker, N., E. Pilgrim, C. Nietch, L. Gains-Germain, C. Carpenter, J. Darling, L. Yuan, R. Mitchell, and A. Pollard. Using DNA metabarcoding to characterize national scale diatom-environment relationships and to develop indicators in streams and rivers of the United States. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, 939: 173502, (2024).