Phylloplane algae of standing dead Spartina alterniflora

Phylloplane (leaf surface) algae on leaves from standing dead Spartina alterniflora Loisel in Sapelo Island marshes were enumerated by epifluorescence microscopy. The green alga Pseudendoclonium submarinum Wille dominated algal biovolume on both short-and tall-form plants during summer and winter. Intra-leaf and intra-plant patterns of algal biovolume and diversity indicated that desiccation stress may be an important selective factor. Observed epiphyte densities are 10- to 200-fold lower than values reported for communities on continuously submerged aquatic vegetation. Algal biovolume was less than 10% of that contained in the saprophytic (fungal and bacterial) community.