Periphytic algae as biological traces: monitoring the colonization of periphytic communities on synthetic and natural substrates

Periphytic algae are essential components of aquatic ecosystems and have gained growing interest in forensic science due to their potential as biological tracers in investigations. This study explores the colonization dynamics of periphytic algae on various synthetic and natural substrates over a 56-day period in a natural freshwater environment. Substrates including cotton, nylon, leather, metal, plastic, glass, and wood were submerged to assess differences in algal succession and biofilm formation. Sampling occurred at regular intervals (1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56 days) to examine algal composition and biofilm development. Environmental factors such as water temperature, pH, turbidity, light intensity and depth were also monitored to evaluate their impact on colonization rates.