Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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

Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2001, Time: 10:30:00 AM

Location: Cochiti/Taos

Kokolis, M, R, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, USA, mkokolis@kci.com

SEASONAL VARIATIONS IN PHYTOPLANKTON ASSEMBLAGES OF FIVE VERNAL PONDS, SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA

Five vernal ponds were identified in and around the Grafton Ponds Natural Area Preserve, approximately 56 km north of the City of Norfolk. These ponds, which are filled seasonally by precipitation and groundwater discharge, range from 0.1 ha to 2 ha in size and from 4 cm to 3 meters in depth. Ponds were chosen based on their size, depth, canopy openness, and inundation period. The purpose of this study was to relate differences in the phytoplankton assemblages to the physical and chemical characteristics of the ponds. All five ponds followed the expected seasonal patterns for water temperature and depth, and maintained a stable acidity throughout 1999. The total number of taxa identified was 119, 36 of which were found in all five ponds. Shannon Diversities ranged from 0.94 – 2.66. Three ponds exhibited seasonal patterns that were dominated by chlorophytes in the cooler months and cyanobacteria in the warmer months. Dinoflagellates dominated the fourth pond during the cooler months. The fifth pond maintained a diverse community year round. Cryptomonas erosa was predominant in all five ponds during the late summer.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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