A Study of the Phycoperiphyton Community in the Black River, La Crosse County, Wisconsin

File(s)
Date
1977-12Author
Strenski, Michael Raymond
Advisor(s)
Claflin, Thomas O.
Grimes, D. Jay
Warner, James H.
Hosler, Charles F.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Phycoperiphyton taxonomic composition, numbers, biomass,
and pigments were analyzed from materials gathered from the
Black River, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Phycoperiphyton
samples were collected from two stations at each of four sites and water samples were also collected at each of the four sites during the open water season, April through November 1976. Floating samplers fitted with glass slides
served as the phycoperiphyton substrate. Station selection
was based on current velocity and direct sunlight. The following measurements were made at each side: temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, calcium and total hardness, ortho-phosphorous, nitrate, and nitrite. River depth and current velocity were measured at each station.
A total of 56 genera and 205 species (29 species were further identified to include 75 varieties) were found. The phycoperiphyton community was dominated greatly by members of the class Bacil1ariophyceae (ca. 98% of the total community). Achnanthes lanceolata, was the dominant species during spring months. Melosira varians dominated
by mid-June and was succeeded by Cocconeis placentula euglypta during July through late September. Navicula cryptocephala dominated next in the autumn, and during the final sampling period in November Diatoma vulgare
was the dominant species.
Subject
Freshwater algae -- Wisconsin -- Black River
Freshwater ecology -- Wisconsin -- Black River