Date of Award

8-1981

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Biology

Abstract

The hypothesis is that spatial distributions of phytoplankton standing crop and photosynthetic capacity in Westhampton Lake are homogeneous was tested. Distributions were analyzed with respect to horizontal and vertical planes separately and combined. The study was divided into three time period: 1) late summer stratification, 2) early fall mixing, and 3) fall turnover, based on isothermal lines of the lake at the deepest station. Phytoplankton standing crop was measured by spectrophotometric and fluorometric methods. The photosynthetic capacity was measured flurometrically. Combined horizontal and vertical spatial distribution of standing crop was clumped for the entire lake and during each time period. Most clumping was vertical rather than horizontal. Vertical clumping was not exhibited at all stations and was not consistent for the stations for each time period. Vertical clumping was most evident at the deepest station for the first two periods. Horizontal distribution was random for each of the three periods when each of the nine stations was analyzed separately. Standing crop was significantly greater at the downlake transect than the other two transects during each of he the first two periods. The combined horizontal and vertical spatial distribution of photosynthetic capacity was random for the entire lake and during the last two periods. Horizontal distributions for both periods were random. Vertical distributions were random, except for the deepest station which was clumped during early fall mixing. The standing crop was a poor index of photosynthetic capacity as indicated by low coefficients of correlation.

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