adjective
- of, relating to, or consisting of periphyton (organisms that live attached to or crawling on submerged surfaces in aquatic environments)
Usage: technical; biology; ecology
Examples
- The periphytic community on the rocks included algae, diatoms, and small invertebrates.
- Periphytic organisms play an important role in aquatic food webs.
- Scientists studied the periphytic layer to assess water quality in the stream.
- The periphytic growth on the substrate provided habitat for many microorganisms.
- Periphytic algae are sensitive indicators of nutrient pollution in freshwater systems.