Record Details
Primary productivity and community structure of an estuarine impoundment
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Primary productivity and community structure of an estuarine impoundment |
| Names |
Lyford, John Higgins
(creator) Phinney, Harry K. (advisor) |
| Date Issued | 1966-05-06 (iso8601) |
| Note | Graduation date: 1966 |
| Abstract | An impounded estuary was employed to study primary productivity, community respiration, and community structure as they related to seasonal and temporal succession, salinity, and water temperature. Plankton metabolism was studied by means of the light-and dark-bottle technique. Benthic community metabolism was determined by using the "diurnal oxygen curve" method. Four different physical environments developed due to water control procedures required in the management of the impoundment. One environment was saline, two were brackish water, and one was freshwater. Distinct benthic plant communities developed in each of these environments, and these communities were named according to the dominant plants. The Enteromorpha-Melosira Community developed in the saline environment and accounted for the highest metabolic rates of the entire study. A P/R of 1.36 resulted in the development of a large standing crop which dramatically became senescent during late fall and formed organic ooze on the bottom as well as dissolved and suspended organic matter in the water. The Melosira-Enteromorpha Community developed in brackish water and maintained a P/R of 0.76. The Melosira-Spirogyra Community developed in the freshwater environment and maintained a P/R of 0.78, and the Rhizoclonium-Melosira-Synedra Community which developed in brackish water maintained a p/R of 0.77. The plankton flora was characteristically tychoplankton and the magnitude of plankton meta bolic rates was less than that of the benthic communities. The impoundment maintained a mean P/R of 1.02 over the entire study period, and was essentially autotrophic, primarily due to the large standing crop developed by the Enteromorpha-Melosira Community. Little exogenous organic material was thought to have been imported into the ecosystem. |
| Genre | Thesis/Dissertation |
| Topic | Freshwater ecology |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/47574 |
