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Seasonal Physical, Chemical and Algal Changes in Five Rivers Flowing Through the Oil Sands Region of Alberta, Canada
Author(s) -
Charlton Shirley E. D.,
Hickman Michael
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
internationale revue der gesamten hydrobiologie und hydrographie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1522-2632
pISSN - 0020-9309
DOI - 10.1002/iroh.19840690302
Subject(s) - lyngbya , algae , tributary , epiphyte , botany , ecology , nostoc , amphora , cyanobacteria , biology , oil sands , geography , genetics , cartography , archaeology , asphalt , bacteria
Abstract Seasonal studies concentrating upon physical and chemical parameters and the epilithic algal community were conducted at specific sites in five tributary rivers flowing through the oil sands region of northeastern Alberta, Canada into the Athabasca River. Numerically cyanophycean algae ( Lyngbya aerugineo‐caerulea, Phormidium sp., Calothrix braunii, Nostoc spp. and Anabaena affinis ) dominated followed by diatoms ( Achnanthes lanceolata, Cocconeis pediculus, Cocconeis placentula, Epithemia sorex, Epithemia turgida, Gomphonema acuminatum, Gomphonema longiceps v. subclavata, Gomphonema olivaceum, Nitzschia fonticola, Nitzschia palea, Synedra rumpens , and Synedra ulna ). One exception was the Hangingstone River where chlorophycean algae ( Stigeoclonium pachydermum and Cladophora glomerata ) were next in importance to the cyanophytes. Seasonal fluctuations in algal species and numbers were influenced by a myriad of interacting parameters. Physically disruptive forces (current velocity and discharge) appeared more important than dissolved nutrients. They were also responsible for affecting the chemical composition of the water itself.