Shading experiment shows that diatom-based periphyton communities in streams have greater nutritional quality with a higher proportion of PUFAs. Thus, shading associated with riparian plantings may enhance high-quality carbon transfer to consumers in higher trophic levels through bottom-up effects

Nutritional Quality of Basal Resource in Stream Food Webs Increased with Light Reduction—Implications for Riparian Revegetation - Microbial Ecology

Biofilms are considered a basal resource with high nutritional quality in stream food webs, as periphytic algae are abundant of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). PUFAs are essential for growth and ...