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Ecology of Cladophora in Farm Ponds
Author(s) -
Mason Charles P.
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1934874
Subject(s) - cladophora , biology , algae , productivity , overwintering , plankton , ecology , nitrate , botany , phytoplankton , algal mat , germination , bloom , nutrient , economics , macroeconomics
The ecology of Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kutzing was studied in five farm ponds near Ithaca, New York, in comparison with a control pond in which the alga was absent. Periodic samples and observations were taken over a 14—month period for temperature, pH, light penetration, water level (including ice and snow cover), nitrate, phosphate, BOD, plankton (counts and identity), and condition of Cladophora glomerata. C. glomerata was found to live throughout the year in the vegetative condition. In the pond which contained the most C. glomerata, ankinetes occurred in abundance throughout the year except in May when a large percentage of them germinated. Approximately 5% of the overwintering vegetative cells in that pond also released zoospores during May and the first half of June. Filaments which overwintered on the bottom began rising to the surface in mid—May, and their vegetative growth during late June and early July caused the greatest increase of the alga. Increase in mass of the alga from germinating akinetes and zoospores was minor compared with vegetative increase from overwintered filaments. Temperature, pH, and phosphate concentration were not directly related to C. glomerata productivity. Amount of light did not limit the abundance of the alga, but decrease in amount of light may initiate akinete and zoospore formation. Plankton counts in the six ponds indicate that each has approximately the same total productivity. High productivity of C. glomerata was directly associated with high nitrate and high biochemical oxygen demand.