Periphyton grazing and phosphorus excretion by mollusks

The physiological activity of grazers related to feeding, assimilation, and excretion may either increase or decrease the productivity of algae in a periphyton community, depending on the size of the consumer and its population density. Population data on the numbers and biomass of Anisus spp. have been used to calculate the amount of mineral phosphorus per unit area regenerated in the medium through animal metabolism. No difference in the rate of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) excretion has been found between pulmonates and the bivalve Sphaerium suecicum.