Environmental interaction in summer algal communities of Utah Lake

Authors

Mark C. Whiting, Brigham Young University
Jack D. Brotherson, Brigham Young University
Samuel R. Rushforth, Brigham Young University

Abstract

Utah Lake is a shallow eutrophic lake in central Utah. It is characterized by high nutrient and silt loads and by large algal blooms in late summer and early fall. Phytoplankton samples and environmental data were taken from June through August 1974. Phytoplankton species were identified and then quantified in a Palmer counting cell. Environmental continuum theory was employed to describe algal succession, and regression analysis was used to discover interactions between algal communities and the environment. Phytoplankton communities in June were characterized by high species diversity. As the lake environment became stressed in late summer due to higher turbidity, nutrient levels, pH, and available inorganic carbon species diversity decreased. By August, the phytoplankton flora was composed essentially of only two species, Ceratium hirundinella and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae.

Recommended Citation

Whiting, Mark C.; Brotherson, Jack D.; and Rushforth, Samuel R. (1978) "Environmental interaction in summer algal communities of Utah Lake," Great Basin Naturalist: Vol. 38: No. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol38/iss1/3