EFFECT OF DECOMPOSING FILAMENTOUS ALGAE ON THE GROWTH OF ELODEA-CANADENSIS MICHX (A LABORATORY EXPERIMENT)

Elodea canadensis Michx. was cultivated in the laboratory in the prese nce and absence of decomposing filamentous algae (Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kutz.) at the stage of about 50% loss of their initial weight. T he presence of decomposing algae resulted in a visible increase of nut rient concentration in the water, The effect of decomposing algae on m acrophyte growth depends on the proportion of biomass of these compone nts. The growth of Elodea canadensis was strongly limited in the prese nce of high biomass of decomposing algae (two and four times higher th an Elodea biomass). The addition of water separated from decomposing a lgae resulted in an increase of Elodea biomass.