Response of Lake Baikal periphyton to nutrient enrichment at 10 sites across a land use gradient: Results from a nutrient diffusing substrata (NDS) experiment

This data set contains results of a study on the response of benthic algae to experimental nutrient enrichment in the nearshore of Lake Baikal, Russia. Nutrient diffusing substrata (NDS) were deployed at 10 sites across a land-use gradient (from town to forested) during August to September of 2015 . Four NDS treatments were used at each site: 'control', 'added phosphorus', 'added nitrogen' and 'added nitrogen and phosphorus'. NDS tiles were left in the lake for 32-33 days. After retrieval, benthic chlorophyll a levels from all sites were analyzed as an index of periphyton biomass (data in file periphyton_chl_a.csv). Taxonomic identification of algae was done at 4 of the 10 sites (2 developed, 2 undeveloped); cell counts are presented in file 'periphyton_abundance.csv'; biovolumes were determined for the most common taxa and are presented in file 'periphyton_biovolume.csv'.