Composition of Phytoplankton Communities and Their Contribution to Secondary Productivity in Carolina Bays on the Savannah River Plant: Year One Report.

摘要

The overall goal of this three-year project is to determine the importance of phytoplankton (microscopic algae) as a component of the food chain base in SRS Carolina Bays (shallow temporary ponds endemic to the Southeastern US). Previous investigations and ongoing SREL studies have determined the importance of Carolina bay zooplankton (microscopic crustacean herbivores) to the early life stages of amphibians. Our project is testing the hypothesis that phytoplankton are the primary component of zooplankton diets in these bays. Carolina Bays represent critical habitats for a whole class of vertebrates at SRS, the amphibians. Details of phytoplankton dynamics and productivity gained from our project will advance our understanding of ecological energetics within Carolina Bay systems. These results will also help determine the potential impact that these minute, but productive plants can have on SRS biota beyond the bounds of these aquatic ecosystems. Additional implications can be made concerning chemical elemental uptake and transfer from phytoplankton to higher trophic levels. 12 figs.