Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1980

Thesis Director

Richard L. Smith

Abstract

An investigation of 2 sites on the Embarras River and 1 site on Polecat Creek was undertaken for a one-year period. Special emphasis was given to phytoplankton species and to their seasonal variations. Approximately 170 species from 8 divisions of algae were encountered during the one-year period.

Temperature was found to have no direct correlation with algal periodicity.

Palmer's organic pollution genus index was applied to determine the approximate levels of organic pollution at all three sampling sites. Only one time during the year (10/1/79), did all three sites suggest high organic pollution.

Transeau's 6 ecological groups were used to categorize all dominant organisms in the study. Even though the organisms in the present study were not the same as those encountered by Transeau they were easily categorized.

An index was designed to determine the relative importance of each organism or group of organisms encountered in the study. The index showed 14 organisms to be abundant, with Cyclotella glomerata, Nitzschia palea, and the unidentifiable chlorophycean coccoids being most abundant.

There was no significant qualitative contribution, but there was a slight quantitative contribution of the algal flora by Polecat Creek, to the Embarras River on certain sampling dates. Also, the data show that the presence of algal reproduction governed the algal flora as it moved down the river.

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