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Periphyton communities in a pristine mountain stream above and below heavy metal mining operations
Author(s) -
DENISEGER J.,
AUSTIN A.,
LUCEY W. P.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1986.tb00965.x
Subject(s) - periphyton , chlorophyta , ecology , biology , abundance (ecology) , ecological succession , navicula , diatom , algae
SUMMARY. 1. Changes in species composition of the periphyton on introduced substrates were determined in an oligotrophic mountain stream subject to long‐term heavy metal contamination. 2. At the upstream control site, the numerically most abundant taxa were Bacillarioph yta i( Achnanlhes minutissima, Achnanthes microcephala and Achnanthes linearis ) as well as, in summer, the Chlorophyta ( Mougeotia spp. and Ulothrix subtilissima ). 3. At the downstream contaminated site the periphyton community was totally dominated by Bacillariophyta throughout the sampling period. A, minutissima and A, microcephala were co‐dominants during spring. Seasonal succession patterns did not parallel those at the upstream site. Chlorophyta were virtually absent and A. minutissima comprised 94% of the community during summer. 4. Species diversity, species evenness and dissimilarity index were utilized to detect differences in species composition, abundance and number. Slight differences were found in spring samples while summer samples indicated major differences between sampling sites.