Editing Epiphyte (section)

==Marine epiphytes==
The ecology of epiphytes in marine environments differs from those in terrestrial ecosystems. Epiphytes in marine systems are species of algae, bacteria, fungi, sponges, bryozoans, ascidians, protozoa, crustaceans, molluscs and any other sessile organism that grows on the surface of a plant, typically [[seagrass]]es or algae.<ref name="MV Commission">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mvcommission.org/sites/default/files/docs/Epiphytes_Wrack_feb2009.pdf|title=MV Commission}}</ref><ref name="www.seagrassli.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.seagrassli.org/ecology/fauna_flora/epiphytes.html|title=www.SeagrassLI.org Cornell Cooperative Extension Eelgrass Restoration|website=www.seagrassli.org|access-date=2017-06-26}}</ref> Settlement of epiphytic species is influenced by a number of factors including light, temperature, currents, nutrients, and trophic interactions. Algae are the most common group of epiphytes in marine systems.<ref name="www.seagrassli.org" /> Photosynthetic epiphytes account for a large amount of the photosynthesis in systems in which they occur.<ref name="www.nps.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/bisc/learn/nature/marineplants.htm|title=Marine Plants / Algae - Biscayne National Park (U.S. National Park Service)|website=www.nps.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-06-26}}</ref> This is typically between 20 and 60% of the total primary production of the ecosystem.<ref name="www.seagrassli.org" /> They are a general group of organisms and are highly diverse, providing food for a great number of fauna.<ref name="www.nps.gov" /> Snail and nudibranch species are two common grazers of epiphytes.<ref name="www.seagrassli.org" /> Epiphyte [[species composition]] and the amount of epiphytes can be indicative of changes in the environment. Recent increases in epiphyte abundance have been linked to excessive nitrogen put into the environment from farm runoff and storm water. High abundance of epiphytes are considered detrimental to the plants that they grow on often causing damage or death, particularly in seagrasses.<ref name="MV Commission" /> This is because too many epiphytes can block access to sunlight or nutrients. Epiphytes in marine systems are known to grow quickly with very fast generation times.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/outreach/pdfs/coastalhypoxia.pdf|title=An Assessment of Coastal Hypoxia and Eutrophication in U.S. Waters|website=NOAA|access-date=2017-06-26|archive-date=2017-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507184609/http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/outreach/pdfs/coastalhypoxia.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Gallery
|title=Marine epiphytes
|width=180
|align=center
|File:Heavy epiphyte growth on kelp stipe at Umhlali wreck PA171965.JPG
 |{{center|Heavy epiphyte growth on kelp [[Stipe (botany)|stipe]]}}
|File:Notheia on Horm.jpg
 |{{center|''[[Notheia anomala]]'' growing on ''[[Hormosira banksii]]''}}
|File:Cyanobacteria in symbiosis with a diatom.png
 |{{center|[[Epiphytic]] ''[[Calothrix]] ''cyanobacteria (arrows) in symbiosis with a ''[[Chaetoceros]]'' diatom (scale bar 50 μm)}}
|File:Pyrophyllon-cross-section.jpg
 |{{center|Cross-section of a ''[[Durvillaea antarctica]]'' frond, showing ''[[Pyrophyllon subtumens]]'' growing on the outer surface}}
}}