ISSN:
1573-5117
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Summary Primary production of the North Branch of the Raritan River was measured at three sites by the diurnal oxygen curve method. An effluent of treated domestic sewage entered the river between the uppermost station (I) and the intermediate station (II). Mean gross productivity at Station I from May to September 1962 was 4.7 g O2 m−2 day−1 (n = 8). In contrast, mean productivity from October 1961 1961 to September 1962 at Station II was 9.9 (n = 15), and at Station III it was 11.6 (n = 11). Efficiency of gross production based on estimated energy actually available to the community was from 1–7%. The daily maximum pH of river water was highly correlated with gross production, 24-hr community respiration and net daytime production at Stations II and III. Subject to further testing and refinement this may prove to be a simple but effective estimate of productivity in similar habitats. Chlorophyll a extract of periphyton growing on glass slides and small cement blocks were found to be statistically the same. Enumeration of these algal associations correlated significantly with the chlorophyll a extract at Stations II and III. However, these estimates of standing crop were not statistically correlated with primary production as determined from diurnal oxygen curves. Diatoms were the dominant organisms in most samples. During late summer the net plankton contained many planktonic blue-green algae. The periphytonwas characterized briefly during the spring by Ulothrix.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00181732
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