Abstract

A taxonomic and ecological survey of the algae of Lilly Lake in the Uinta Mountains, Utah, was carried on from June 1967 to November 1967. The lake is a typical acid bog lake with an average pH range of 4.5 to 6.9. Extremes of pH in the alkaline range were present due to additional factors. Algae identified included 96 genera and 208 species. These were found in many different types of microenvironmental niches. The main factors which limited the algae to definite areas of the lake were pH, water temperature, light available, and type of substrate. The predominant algal genera uresent in all parts of the lake at all times of the growing season were Scenedesmus, Pediastrum, Microcystis, Aphanocapsa, Sphaerocystis, Spirogyra, desmids, and diatoms. Algae that thrived only under cold water, acid conditions were Eunotia., Culinclrocystis, Euglena, and Chlamydomonas. Genera that grew abundantly when the pH increased to the alkaline range were Dictyosphaerium, Lepocinclis, Phacus, Synura, Pandorina, and Trachelomonas. The most dominant genus in the center stations of the lake was Chara. Fishing and resultant pollution of the marginal waters caused large, bright green blooms of Spirogyra. Algae that appeared in greatly disturbed areas were Closterium and Oscillatoria. Planktonic algae or drifters were not present floating in the water but did occur in the marginal areas where seepage provided necessary nutrients.

Degree

College and Department

Life Sciences; Plant and Wildlife Sciences

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