Showing papers on "Indicator species published in 1986"
TL;DR: Paratley et al. as mentioned in this paper employed direct and indirect gradient analysis techniques to quantify the relationships between vegetation and environment in a valley-basin swamp forest in central New York State, and found that soil drainage was the most important environmental factor ordering vegetation in the swamp, with a secondary influence by site quality as influenced by spatial position with respect to surface and groundwater inflow.
Abstract: PARATLEY, R. D. AND T. J. FAHEY (Dept. Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853). Vegetation-environment relations in a conifer swamp in central New York. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 113:357-371. 1986.-Direct and indirect gradient analysis techniques were employed to quantify the relationships between vegetation and environment in a valley-basin swamp forest in central New York State. It was hypothesized that soil drainage, as indicated by water table position, would be the most important environmental factor ordering vegetation in the swamp, with a secondary influence by site quality as influenced by spatial position with respect to surface and groundwater inflow. The direct gradient analysis, based upon weekly measurements of water table height, sorted the site into five drainage classes and clearly demonstrated the primary control on woody vegetation distribution. However, the indirect gradient analysis, based upon overstory and ground vegetation composition, was more successful in sorting the vegetation into meaningful communities. The overstory vegetation was divided into an upland community occurring on inceptisol, and three swamp communities on histosol (hemlock swamp, and white pine and larch phases of a mixed conifer-red maple swamp). The ground vegetation subdivided the mixed coniferred maple swamp into four communities named for indicator species. Environmental correlation suggested that these divisions were largely the result of site quality differences as influenced by proximity to mineral-rich inflow. The ground vegetation communities were more clearly separated in the ordination space than the overstory, and were more highly correlated with mean depth of water table, ash content and bulk density of peat. Thus, the gradient analyses supported the hypothesis of environmental control of vegetation distribution. Finally, the high species richness (272 vascular plants) resulted from high microsite heterogeneity, the complex hydrology of the basin, and the mixing of boreal relict vegetation with temperate swamp species typical of the region.
48 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that the enzymatic changes in G. alba may be a sensitive component of an integrated metabolic response, which may involve a decrease in glycolytic energy production for the fuelling of muscular activity in people affected by sewage disposal.
Abstract: Coordinated environmental, ecological and biochemical studies have been applied to assess the impact of sewage disposal in a fjordic system near Bergen, Norway. The ecological and biochemical effects were studied in 1983 at four sampling locations situated along a spatial gradient of effects of the sewage on conditions in the sediments. Two of the locations, near Dolviken, were found to be considerably affected by the sewage. Relatively few species of macrobenthic invertebrate fauna were present at these locations, and analysis of the distribution of individuals among species indicated distortion of the benthic community structure. On the basis of its distribution along spatial gradients of organic enrichment and various criteria relating to its suitability for biochemical analysis, the polychaete Glycera alba (Muller) was selected as the most suitable pollution-sensitive indicator species for use in the biochemical studies. In individuals from the two affected locations near Dolviken, maximal activities of the regulatory glycolytic enzyme, phosphofructokinase, and the pyruvate oxidoreductase, alanopine dehydrogenase, were very low. Activities of several other enzymes associated with carbohydrate catabolism were also lower in these groups than in the reference group collected from Raunefjorden. The ecological and biochemical measures both corresponded closely with the changes in environmental conditions along the gradient of sewage effects. The results are discussed with reference to earlier coordinated ecological and biochemical investigations carried out in Scotland and Norway and to experimental studies of the effects of pollutants and hypoxia on energy-yielding metabolism of polychaetes. It is suggested that the enzymatic changes in G. alba may be a sensitive component of an integrated metabolic response, which may involve a decrease in glycolytic energy production for the fuelling of muscular activity. Further development of this coordinated ecological and biochemical approach is discussed, with emphasis on its potential utility in the assessment of biological effects of the disposal of organically rich waste materials in coastal waters.
11 citations
TL;DR: The ciliates in aufwuchs communities on glass slides exposed to different amounts of salt pollution at several locations in the Weser River system were investigated and showed that the number of species present decreases in the presence of high salt concentrations and in water flowing at a high velocity.
Abstract: The ciliates in aufwuchs communities on glass slides exposed to different amounts of salt pollution at several locations in the Weser River system were investigated. The results were compared with those from the study of model ecosystems exposed to salts. A comparison of the ciliate occurrence with a number of physical and chemical parameters showed that it is primarily the amount of salt present that determines which species are dominant. The number of species present decreases in the presence of high salt concentrations and in water flowing at a high velocity. A halobic index was formulated to indicate salt pollution quantitatively but turned out not to be useful due to the euryhaline potency of most of the ciliate species. The saprobic index can be used in rivers polluted with salt only if biological indicator species are present in sufficient number.
6 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the U-kawa River in Kyoto Prefecture was investigated to find the community characteristics and the relationship between the community and river zonation system based on the geographical features by KAKI (1944).
Abstract: The diatom community in a less polluted river, the U-kawa River in Kyoto Prefecture, was investigated to find the community characteristics and the relationship between the community and river zonation system based on the geographical features by KAKI (1944). The diatom community was made up of 15-42 forms at each station and characterized by some groups, according to ecological valency in terms of organic pollution, suggesting that the diatom ecological valency by LANGE-BERTALOT (1978, 1979) may be applicable. The dominant species in the community changed from upstream to downstream as follows Gomphonema minutum→Achnanthes convergens→Nitzschia frustulum→Fragilaria vaucheriae var. perminuta, and α-mesosaprobic indicator species in traditional concept were found in this less polluted river. No distinct relationship was also found between the community and river zonation. Species diversity(Shannon-Wiener, DI (bit)) of the communities varied from 1.597 to 4.256 and the communities having lower species diversity were predominated by a blue-green alga, Homoeothrix janthina. The present results indicate that the very high similarity of the diatom communities in different river zones might be due to the dominance of H. janthina which grows over different river zones and forms the uniform microenvironments for diatoms, thus leading to the formation of fairly similar communities.
5 citations