Abstract
-
(i)
Aquatic macrophytes formed dense beds in fallow areas during the four and a half months of the flood season in all but one deepwater rice-growing location in Bangladesh; these included several types of life-form, but the fine-leaved species, Myriophyllum sp., Najas indica, Utricularia stellaris were often especially abundant. The same species grew inside deepwater rice fields, but at much lower densities. A similar contrast occurred for the algae, although deepwater rice often developed dense masses of epiphytes on aquatic roots, stems and leaf sheaths, when plants were growing in isolated, well-illuminated situations.
-
(ii)
Two widespread algae, Aulosira fertilissima and Scytonema mirabile, were equally successful on soil in the period prior to the arrival of floodwaters and floating on the surface of the water during the flood season. Other species common during the flood season differed from those common on soil.
-
(iii)
Most blue-green algae inside deepwater rice fields were heterocystous; the only species not so, but forming distinct colonies, was Aphanothece stagnina. However only non-heterocystous forms were found at one location in south Bangladesh (Phaltita) and a change from heterocystous to non-heterocystous forms was noted at the main research site (near Sonargaon) during late September in at least one year. The water column at the former was almost entirely anoxic, while the change at the latter occurred at a time when the water sometimes became anoxic during the night. It is suggested that differences in ability to tolerate anoxic periods may be a key factor in determining the success of the algal and vascular plant species in the different micro-habitats within these DWR-growing areas.
-
(iv)
Although diatoms were quantitatively only a minor component of the algal biomass, they became more frequent later in the season when the water became microaerobic or anoxic for part of the day. Navicula confervacea was overall the most abundant species at the two main research locations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aziz, A. & B. A. Whitton, 1988. Influence of light on nitrogenase activity of the deepwater rice-field cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) Gloeotrichia pisum in field and laboratory. Microbios 53, 7–19.
Brammer, H. 1983. Agriculture and food production in polders areas. A case study in Bangladesh. Water International 8, 74–81.
Catling, H. D., M. R. Martinez & Z. Islam, 1981. Survey of algae associated with deepwater rice in Bangladesh. Cryptogamie, Algologie 11(2), 109–121.
Hardy, R. W. F., R. C. Burns & R. D. Holsten, 1973. Application of the acetylene-ethylene assay for measurement of nitrogen fixation. Soil Biol. Biochem. 5, 47–51.
Horne, A. J., 1975. Algal nitrogen fixation in Californian streams: diel cycles and nocturnal fixation. Freshwat. Biol. 5, 471–477.
Jugsujinda, A., S. Satawathananont, W. Hirunyupakorn, P. Charoendham & N. Kroppetch, 1982. Fertilizer management for deepwater rice soils. Proceedings of the 1981 International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Philippines: 365–372.
Kulasooriya, S. A., P. A. Roger, W. L. Barraquio & I. Watanabe, 1981. Epiphytic nitrogen fixation on deepwater rice. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 27, 19–27.
Mague, T. H., 1978. Nitrogen fixation. In: J. A. Hellebust & J. S. Craigie (Eds) Handbook of Phycological Methods. Physiological and Biochemical Methods. Cambridge U P, Cambridge: 363–378.
Marker, A. F. H., C. A. Crowther & R. J. M. Gunn, 1980a. Methanol and acetone as solvents for estimating chlorophll a and phaeopigments by spectrophotometry. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih. Ergebn. Limnol. 14, 52–69.
Marker, A. F. H., E. A. Nusch, H. Rai & B. Riemann, 1980b. The measurement of photosynthetic pigments in freshwaters and standardization of methods: conclusions and recommendations. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih. Ergebn. Limnol. 14, 191–196.
Martinez, M. R. & H. D. Catling, 1982. Contribution of algae to the nutrition of deepwater rice. In: Proceedings of the 1981 International Deepwater Rice Workshop, International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Phillipines: 201–214.
Peterson, R. B. & R. H. Burris, 1976. Conversion of acetylene reduction rates to nitrogen fixation rates in natural populations of blue-green algae. Analyt. Biochem. 73: 404–410.
Potts, M. & B. A. Whitton, 1977. Nitrogen fixation by blue-green algal communities in the intertidal zone of the lagoon of Aldabra Atoll. Oecologia, Berl. 27, 275–283.
Roger, P. A. & S. A. Kulasooriya, 1980. Blue-green Algae and Rice. International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Philippines. 112.
Rother, J. A. & B. A. Whitton, 1988a. Ecology of deepwater rice-fields in Bangladesh. 5. Mineral composition of the rice plant and other aquatic macrophytes. Hydrobiologia 169: 57–67.
Rother, J. A. & B. A. Whitton, submitted. Nitrogenase activity of blue-green algae on seasonally flooded soils in Bangladesh.
Roy, A. C., 1974. Soil characteristics and fertilizer response in the cultivation of deep-water rice in Bangladesh. Proceedings of the International Seminar on Deep-water Rice August 21–26, 1974. Bangladesh Rice research Institute, Joydepbur, Dacca (Dhaka): 148–162.
Whitton, B. A., 1987. The biology of Rivulariaceae. In: P. Fay & C. Van Baalen (Eds) The Cyanobacteria. Elsevier, Amsterdam, New York, Oxford: 513–534.
Whitton, B. A., A. Aziz, P. Francis, J. A. Rother, J. W. Simon & Z. N. Tahmida, 1988a. Ecology of deepwater rice-fields in Bangladesh. 1. Physical and chemical environment. Hydrobiologia 169: 3–22.
Whitton, B. A., A. Aziz, B. Kawecka & J. A. Rother, 1988b. Ecology of deepwater rice-fields in Bangladesh. 3. Associated algae and macrophytes. Hydrobiologia 169: 31–42.
Whitton, B. A., A. Donaldson & M. Potts, 1979. Nitrogen fixation by Nostoc colonies in terrestrial environments of Aldabra Atoll, Indian Ocean. Phycologia 18, 278–287.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rother, J.A., Aziz, A., Hye Karim, N. et al. Ecology of deepwater rice-fields in Bangladesh 4. Nitrogen fixation by blue-green algal communities. Hydrobiologia 169, 43–56 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007932
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007932