Open AccessPeriphyton, chlorophyll a, and diatoms of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho
Author(s) -
Cushing C. E.,
Cummins K. W.,
Minshall G. W.,
Vannote R. L.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1983.tb01085.x
Subject(s) - periphyton , standing crop , benthic zone , streams , chlorophyll a , drainage basin , environmental science , turbidity , fragilaria , ecology , navicula , river ecosystem , hydrology (agriculture) , diatom , biology , algae , nutrient , botany , phytoplankton , geography , ecosystem , biomass (ecology) , geology , computer network , cartography , geotechnical engineering , computer science
Periphyton samples were collected at 15 sites in the Middle Fork of the Salmon River drainage basin, Idaho, USA to test certain principles of the River Continuum Concept (RCC) and to characterize the diatom communities. The standing crop of chlorophyll a increased from 2nd to 4th order streams, peaked in the 5th order stream, and declined in higher orders. These data support the RCC predictions except that peak values were reached somewhat earlier, in terms of stream order, because of the lack of shading in these streams. Also, downstream decreases were not completely attributable to increasing turbidity and decreasing benthic productivity, and may be partially related to discharge. The number of scraping invertebrates was positively correlated with the standing crop og periphyton (AFDM, not chlorophyll a); this, too, supports the predictions of the RCC. One hundred forty‐five species of diatoms were identified and the system is characterized by an Achnanthes minutissima – Fragilaria pinnata ‐ Navicula seminulum – Cocconeis placentula community.