Abstract

Mud Lake marsh lies east of Utah Lake between the cities of Provo and Springville in Utah County. Since 1936 it has become a polluted, odiferous, silted area. A study was conducted on the aquatic invertebrates during the summer of 1962 (June 19 to September 20). An .01 meter2 bottom sampler was used at 30 random stations. Each station was sampled once a week. Water depth, mud, water and air temperatures were taken at each station. Dissolved oxygen (Winkler method) and ion resistance (Wheatstone bridge) were taken each day. The aquatic invertebrate community consisted of benthic (Diptera, Oligochaeta, Nematoda), interphashic benthic (Cou{ri}xidae) and planktonic (microcrustacae, rotifera, algae). The benthic portion of the community was adequately sampled, the other two portions were not. Dipteran populations were: Chironomidae larvae - numerous throughout season; Tabanidae larvae - found occasionally; Tipulidae - increased in late summer; Ephydridae - increased in late summer. The Chironomidae population increased slowly until the first week in August, then increased rapidly with peaks in late August and early September. The population numbers dropped when water levels were below .5{6}mm and temperatures dropped below freezing. It is supposed that the dissolved oxygen became the limiting factor in low water levels because of heat increases in bottom temperatures as the water level dropped. An experiment with an aerated control gave experimental evidence for this hypothesis. The Oligochaet population showed no close relation to these physical factors.

Degree

College and Department

Life Sciences; Plant and Wildlife Sciences

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