Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS45 Temporary Aquatic Ecosystems: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (Spatial and Temporal Connections)

Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2001, Time: 10:15:00 AM

Location: Cochiti/Taos

Williams, D, D, Division of Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada, williamsdd@scar.utoronto.ca

Nalewajko, C, , Division of Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada, nalewajko@scar.utoronto.ca

Magnusson, A, K, Division of Life Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada, magnusson@scar.utoronto.ca

TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL VARIATION IN TEMPORARY POND ALGAE: THE CHLOROPHYLL CONNECTION

We examined the algal communities at three sites, one permanent and two that dried up, within a temporary pond located in a mixed forest in Ontario. Samples were collected from the substrate (decomposing leaves) and the water column from ice-out in April to late August. Most of the algae were attached forms. Using cell counts, the Cyanophyta appeared to be the most important community constituents, however using biovolume - a better predictor of contribution to the pond's primary production - Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta were more important. At one of the temporary sites, Chlorophyta (Oocystis) and Bacillariophyta (Pinnularia) dominated in April, but Euglenophyta (Euglena) became important in May. At the other temporary site, Chlorophyta (Oedogonium) dominated in April, followed by Bacillariophyta (Pinnularia, Navicula and Synedra). The permanent site was also dominated by Chlorophyta (Oedogonium) in April, but their biomass declined rapidly in early May to be replaced by Bacillariophyta (Pinnularia, Diatoma and Navicula). The latter site supported the highest diversity (30 genera) including several planktonic forms (Cyclotella, Anabaena and Spirulina), compared with 18 and 20 genera at the two temporary sites.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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