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Communities of algae in North Carolina streams and their seasonal relations

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Summary

The material presented summarizes the results of a four-year study of the algae in the streams of North Carolina — one of the southeastern United States. Many small streams and eleven rivers in the Coastal Plain, Piedmont and Mountain areas were sampled at random and in some cases in a systematic manner. Important habitat factors were measured and numbers of plankton organisms in several rivers determined.

The communities characteristic of the major types of streams are described, together with seasonal changes which occur. It is pointed out that there is considerable variation in the species composition of communities in the smaller streams, but that the plankton communities of rivers are very similar.

Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) were found to be important in most communities with Chlorophyceae second in importance.

The importance of a current to the lotic aufwuchs communities of rapids is described, and also the effects of temperature, light and mineral content of water on the major communities.

Zusammenfassung

Die Ergebnisse einer vier Jahre langen Untersuchung in den drei geologischen Bezirken (Gebirge, Piedmont, U. Küstebene) von North Carolina werden berichtet. Elf Flüsse und viele kleinere Wasserläufe wurden aufs Geratewohl oder systematisch erprobt, und wichtige Habitatsfaktoren gemessen.

Gemeinschaften der wichtigen Flusstypen und ihre von der Jahreszeit abhaängigen Veräderungen werden beschrieben. Diatomeen (Bacillariophyceae) sind in den meisten Gemeinschaften die wichtigsten, mit den Chlorophyceae an zweiter Stelle. Plankton-Gemeinschaften der Flüsse sind ähnlich, doch die der kleinen Wasserläufe sind verschieden.

Der Einfluss des Stromes auf die lotischen Aufwuchsgemeinschaften in Stromschnellen wurde beschrieben, und auch der Einfluss von Temperatur, Licht und Mineralinhalt des Wassers auf die bedeutenderen Gemeinschaften.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. North Carolina State College, Raleigh

    L. A. Whitford

  2. State University of New York, Harpur College, Binghamton

    G. J. Schumacher

Authors
  1. L. A. Whitford
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  2. G. J. Schumacher
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Whitford, L.A., Schumacher, G.J. Communities of algae in North Carolina streams and their seasonal relations. Hydrobiologia 22, 133–196 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00039686

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