Abstract
Two artificial streams simulating low-order, softwater streams of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan were employed to examine the effects of lowered pH on periphytic algae. The control stream contained water with a circumneutral pH whereas the pH of the water in the acidified stream was decreased to pH 4 with H2SO4. Chlorophyll a concentrations and cell densities in the periphytic algal communities were used to measure differences in biomass accumulations between the 2 streams over a 42-d, spring colonization period. Relative abundances of algal genera and Stander's similarity index (SIMI) were used to examine compositional differences between the control and acidified periphytic algal communities. These algal communities exhibited pronounced differences in their total biomasses and compositions indicating periphytic algal communities inhabiting low-order, softwater streams, such as those of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, are vulnerable to acidic deposition. Decreased biomass accumulation under acidified conditions was believed to result primarily from decreased nutrient availability, and possibly secondarily from elevated aluminum and/or iron concentrations. The shift in community compositions was interpreted to be a more direct response to the lowered pH as acidophils and acid tolerant genera became favored, and thus more abundant.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brock, T. D.: 1973, Science 179, 480.
Burton, T. M., Stanford, R. M., and Allan, J. W.: 1982, in F. M.D'Itri (ed.), Acid Precipitation; Effects on Ecological Systems, Ann Arbor Science Publ., Ann Arbor, MI, pp. 209–235.
Burton, T. M., Stanford, R. M., and Allan, J. W.: 1985, Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 42, 669.
Cowling, E. B. and Linthurst, R. A.: 1981, BioScience 31, 649.
Cummins, K. W.: 1971, Predicting Variations in Energy Flow Through a Semi Controlled Lotic Ecosystem, Tech. Rep. 19, Inst. of Water Res., Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI, 21 p.
Goldman, J. C.: 1973, Science 182, 306.
Gorham, E.: 1976, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 6, 457.
Haines, T. A.: 1981, Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 110, 669.
Hall, R. J., Likens, G. E., Fiance, S. B., and Hendrey, G. R.: 1980, Ecology 61, 976.
Hendrey, G. R.: 1976, Effects ofpH on the Growth of Periphytic Algae in Artificial Stream Channels, Rep. 25/76, Effects on Forests and Fish Project (SNSF Project), As-NLH, Norway, 50 p.
Hendrey, G. R., Baasrud, K., Traaen, T. S., Laake, M., and Raddum, G.: 1977, Ambio 5, 224.
Likens, G. E., Wright, R. F., Galloway, J. N., and Butler, T. J.: 1979, Sci. Amer. 241, 43.
Maurice, C. G.: 1982, ‘Effects of Lowered pH on the Quality and Quantity of Non-Diatom Periphytic Algae in Artificial Stream’, M. S. Thesis, Bowling Green State Univ., Bowling Green, OH, 92 p.
Müller, P.: 1980, Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 37, 355.
Prescott, G. W.: 1962, Algae of the Western Great Lakes Area, Wm. C. Brown Publ. Co., Dubuque, IA, 977 p.
Schindler, D. W.: 1980, Ecological Impact of Acid Precipitation, Drablos, D. and Tollan, A. (eds.), SNSF Project, As-NLH, Norway, pp. 370–374.
Shapiro, J.: 1973, Science 179, 382.
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater: 1971, 13th edition, Amer. Publ. Health Assoc., Amer. Water Works Assoc., and Water Pollut. Control Assoc., Washington, D.C., 1193 p.
Stander, J. M.: 1970, ‘Diversity and Similarity of Benthic Fauna off Oregon’, Ph. D. Thesis, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR, 72 p.
Traaen, T. S.: 1980, in D. Drablos and A. Tollan (eds.), Ecological Impact of Acid Precipitation, SNSF Project, As-NLH, Norway, pp. 340–341.
Wright, R. F., Dale, T., Gjessing, E. T., Hendrey, G. R., Henridsen, A., Johannessen, M., and Muniz, I. P.: 1976, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 6, 483.
Yan, N. D. and Stokes, P.: 1978, Environ. Conserv. 5, 93.
Zimmerman, J. W.: 1968, Water Quality of Streams Tributary to Lakes Superior and Michigan, U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Spec. Sci. Rep. Fish. 559, 41 p.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Author for all correspondence.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Maurice, C.G., Lowe, R.L., Burton, T.M. et al. Biomass and compositional changes in the periphytic community of an artificial stream in response to lowered pH. Water Air Soil Pollut 33, 165–177 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00191385
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00191385