Date of Graduation
5-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Biological Sciences
Advisor/Mentor
Evans-White, Michelle
Committee Member/Reader
Scott, Thad
Committee Member/Second Reader
Smith, Kimberly
Committee Member/Third Reader
Irish, Shawn
Abstract
We collected samples from seven Arkansas streams during the months of August 2014 and February 2015 with the objective of determining possible relationships between nutrients, periphyton abundance and benthic macroinvertebrates. We hypothesized that periphyton would be positively associated with nutrients, and that increases in periphyton biomass would increase the abundance and diversity of benthic scraper families. Samples were collected from three transects at each site. The periphyton was analyzed for carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and ash free dry mass and Chl-a content. Macroinvertebrates families belonging to the feeding group of grazers/scrapers were compared with water column and periphyton nutrient concentrations, as well as Chl-a and ash free dry mass of periphyton from each site using correlation techniques. Negative linear correlations were observed between particulate phosphorus within the periphyton and Simpson (1-D) diversity (r=-0.87; ps=0.92; p
Keywords
Periphyton biomass; Macroinvertebrates; Nutrient concentration
Citation
Smith, H. (2016). Relationships between nutrients, periphyton abundance, and benthic macroinvertebrate scrapers in Ozark Highland streams. Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/biscuht/17
Included in
Biodiversity Commons, Biology Commons, Entomology Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, Water Resource Management Commons
