Abstract
The effect of growth and carbohydrate production by the diatom Nitzschia cuwilineata on sediment erodibility was explored in laboratory flume experiments. Diatom cultures, incubated on sediment, were monitored daily for chlorophyll and carbohydrate concentrations and eroded in a recirculating flume at successive stages of growth. Because variations in erosion rate were far greater than variations in erosion threshold during the diatom growth period, erosion rate may be a more sensitive index of sediment stability. Erosion rate was negatively correlated with sediment chlorophyll ( r 2 = 0.759; P = 0.024) and bulk carbohydrate ( r 2 = 0.958; P = 0.001) concentrations. A strong negative correlation was found between the sediment bulk carbohydrate‐to‐chlorophyll ratio and erosion rate ( r 2 = 0.996; P