2008 SOUTHEASTERN NATURALIST 7(2):229–244 A Survey of Algal Epiphytes from Vallisneria americana Michx. (Hydrocharitaceae) in the Lower St. Johns River, Florida Angela E. Dunn1, Dean R. Dobberfuhl2, and Dale A. Casamatta1,* Abstract - Epiphytic algae may be responsible for a significant amount of primary productivity in aquatic ecosystems, but also reduce available light, compete for nutrients, and increase drag on their living substrates. A survey of the epiphytic algal community of the submersed aquatic macrophyte Vallisneria americana Michx. (Hydrocharitaceae) in the lower St. Johns River, FL was conducted over a 17-month period. A total of 122 infrageneric taxa were collected at four sites along a 93-km stretch of the river, yielding 32 diatoms (Bacillariophyta), 42 green algae (Chlorophyta), 45 blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria), 2 euglenoids (Euglenophyta), and 1 dinofl agellate (Pyrrophyta) taxa identified over the study period. However, only diatoms and cyanobacteria were seen at all sampling dates, and only a Cocconeis sp. was identified at all sites on all dates. This study provides baseline survey data of the epiphytic algal community in order to assess future anthropogenic effects. Introduction Epiphytic algae are found attached and living on submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV), which includes marine and freshwater angiosperms and macroalgae (Cattaneo et al. 1998, Frankovich and Fourqurean 1997, Graham and Wilcox 2000, Helfferich and McRoy 1980, Zieman and Wetzel 1980). SAV colonize the soft, sandy sediments of coastal, estuarine, and freshwater habitats and are key contributors to the primary productivity in these systems. Further, SAV may act as nurseries, provide food, are important habitat for other taxa, and alter water quality (Dennison et al. 1993, Verdelhos et al. 2005). Increased population density in urban areas has recently led to an increase in anthropogenic eutrophication. Biological organisms, such as sensitive species of fish and insects have long been used to monitor aquatic habitats (Dennison et al. 1993, Nijboer et al. 2005), but are problematic in their mobility and lack of presence year round. However, algae make ideal monitoring taxa since they are sessile in nature, have short generation times, and each species has its own set of environmental tolerances and preferences (Carrick et al. 1988, Cattaneo 1987, Kelly 1998, Lowe and Pan 1996, Reynolds 1984). Thus, algae may provide a broader picture of the health of the aquatic environment. Epiphytes have several impacts on SAV. They block sunlight, leading to a reduction in photosynthetic capabilities of SAV (Frankovich and 1Department of Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, 32224. 2St. Johns River Management District, Palatka, FL, 32177. *Corresponding author - dcasamat@unf.edu. 230 Southeastern Naturalist Vol.7, No. 2 Zieman 2005, Lin et al. 1996, Orth and Moore 1983, Sand-Jensen 1977). Epiphytes also compete with their plant substratum for phosphorous, nitrogen, and other nutrients from the water (Borchardt 1996, Burkholder and Wetzel 1989). Epiphytes alter fl ow rates on and around the leaves causing turbulence and shear stress that can result in the loss of SAV biomass (Doyle 2001, Koch 1994, Riber and Wetzel 1987). The leaves of Vallisneria americana Michx. (eel-grass) are simple in structure allowing for fl exibility to compensate for stress on the plant structure due to wave action and water currents (Doyle 2001, Riber and Wetzel 1987, Steinmetz et al. 2003). Epiphytes also negatively impact boundary layers, reducing concentrations of solutes along the macrophyte surface and in turn competing for these lower levels of nutrients (Borchardt 1996). Eel-grass is a perennial angiosperm with long, narrow, green to sometimes reddish, ribbon-like leaves growing from rhizomes. The leaves of eel-grass develop as clusters at the roots of the plant, growing to several meters in length and up to 2.5 centimeters wide (Godfrey and Wooten 1979). In recent years, beds of eel-grass have experienced significant die off in the lower St. Johns River (Dobberfuhl and Hart 2006, Sagan 2005, Sagan and Steinmetz 2003), which is problematic given their roles as an important nursery habitat and a food source for a variety of aquatic herbivores, including Trichechus manatus latirostris (Harlan) (Florida manatee) (Fry 1984). The purpose of this study was to monitor the epiphytic algal community on eel-grass in an effort to quantify and qualify the epiphytic algal community to assist in future assessments of anthropogenic effects on similar black water systems. Materials and Methods Study site Epiphyte communities were monitored at permanent sampling sites along a 93-km kilometer segment of the lower St. John’s River (Fig. 1). Initially, eight sites were employed, but four were subsequently discarded (Doctors Lake, Rice Creek, Sand Bar, and Brown’s Landing) due to macrophyte die offs, leaving four sites in total (Bolles School, Buckman Bridge, Moccasin Slough, and Scratch Ankle). Epiphytes were collected monthly from March 2005–August 2006. The lower St. Johns River has essentially no vertical gradient and is therefore strongly infl uenced by tidal effects from the Atlantic Ocean (White et al. 2003). The Scratch Ankle site is characterized as a freshwater-lacustrine zone because estuarine characteristics are not normally seen south of Green Cove Springs, FL. The remaining three sites sampled for the duration of the study are characterized as oligohaline-lacustrine since the salinity levels are higher due to tidal effects (White et al. 2003). Sample collection Epiphytes were collected randomly in macrophyte beds by cutting eel-grass leaves (minimum of 5 leaves per site) at the base and placing 2008 A.E. Dunn, D.R. Dobberfuhl , and D.A. Casamatta 231 the leaves in whirlpacks to be transported on ice to the lab. Upon arrival, epiphytes were removed by scraping each side of the leaf from base to tip using a glass microscope slide and the resulting sample was divided into three equal aliquots. All leaves were scraped and measured from base to tip. Epiphytes from the leaves of each site were pooled to decrease variability due to plant age and variable distribution along the length of the blade (Harden 1994). Aliquots were prepared by swirling the solution to suspend the epiphytes and pipetting equal volumes for ash-free dry mass, chlorophyll-a, and epiphyte identification. Figure 1. Map of the lower St. Johns River, FL, depicting sampling sites from study. 232 Southeastern Naturalist Vol.7, No. 2 Aliquots destined for identification and ash-free dry weight (AFDW) measurement were preserved in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and refrigerated. The homogenized suspension for AFDW was pipetted onto precombusted, preweighed glass fiber filters (Gelman, Type A/E, 47 mm) and vacuum filtered. Filters were precombusted in a muffle furnace for one hour at 400 °C. Filters were then stored in the drying oven until filtration to reduce weight gain due to water absorption. Filters containing epiphyton were dried at 105 °C for at least 24 h, weighed, and recorded as dry weight (DW). Dried material was combusted at 400 °C for one hour, and reweighed (ash weight). Epiphyte weight was recorded as ash-free dry weight (AFDW) and calculated as the difference between DW and the ash weight (Sagan and Steinmetz 2003). Epiphytes were identified using standard taxonomic keys to the lowest possible taxon (e.g., Dillard 1989, 1999, 2000; Komárek and Anagnostidis 1999, 2005; Prescott 1962) using an Olympus BX51 microscope. Width and length of each leaf were measured (from base to tip) to obtain leaf area (cm2). Algal quantification and biomass (based on surface area scraped) was estimated using standard volumes and shapes (Hillebrand et al. 1999, Wetzel and Likens 1991). Epiphyte concentration was reported both as epiphyte biomass per leaf biomass (g AFDW g DW-1) and epiphyte biomass per leaf area (mg afdw cm-2). The aliquot for chlorophyll-a quantification was mixed with distilled water and shaken to suspend epiphytes in the mixture. These samples were immediately analyzed using a Turner TD-700 fl uorometer (Turner Biosystems, Sunnyvale, CA) following standard procedures (Wetzel and Likens 1991). Water-quality measurements, such as dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and nitrogen and phosphorus levels, were sampled monthly at each SAV sampling site beginning fall 1997. Water samples were collected at 0.5 m depth within each grass bed plot. All samples were analyzed within 24 h of collection. Both the St. Johns River Water Management District laboratory and contracted laboratories analyzed the samples. All analyses were performed using US Environmental Protection Agency and Florida Department of Environmental Protection approved methods (40 CFR 100-149, APHA 1998). Species diversity between the sites from pooled samples was calculated using the Shannon index of diversity (H´) (Shannon and Weaver 1949). Diversity was determined as follows: H´ = - Σ Pi ln Pi where Pi = the proportion of individuals observed in category i to the total number of individuals in the samples. Percent similarity index (Psc) (Whittaker and Fairbanks 1958) was used to measure the structural similarity between the sites by comparing the species number and the relative abundance. Psc = 100 - 0.5 Σ ⏐ai - bi⏐ where ai and bi are percentages that species i is of the total in samples A and B, respectively. 2008 A.E. Dunn, D.R. Dobberfuhl , and D.A. Casamatta 233 Results A total of 122 infrageneric taxa were identified over the course of the study (Appendix 1). Cocconeis sp. was the only taxon present at all sites on all dates (Appendix 1). Twenty-eight percent of the taxa identified were common at all sites during the study and included the diatoms Achnanthidium spp., Aulacoseira granulata, Cocconeis sp., Cyclotella sp., Cymbella sp., Diatoma vulgaris, Fragilaria sp., Gomphonema sp., Gyrosigma sp., Navicula sp., Nitzschia sp., Stephanodiscus hantzschii, Synedra delicatissma, Synedra spp., the chlorophytes Coleochaete orbicularis, Oedogonium spp., Protoderma sp., Staurastrum sp., Stigeoclonium sp., Tetraëdon minimum, and the cyanobacteria Anabaena sp., Aphanocapsa delicatissima, Aphanocapsa sp., Aphanothece sp., Chroococcus minutus, C. turgidus, Leptolyngbya spp., Lyngbya sp., Merismopedia spp., Oscillatoria sp., Pseudanabaena spp., and Synechococcus sp. Diatoms were represented by 32 taxa, or 26% of the total taxa identified. The ubiquitous, cosmopolitan genera Achnanthidium and Cocconeis were common throughout all sample sites. Chlorophytes represented 42 (or 34%) of the total taxa, with Oedogonium spp. (species identifications precluded due to a lack of distinguishing reproductive organs) and Stigeoclonium sp. identified at all sample sites during the sampling period. Cyanobacteria represented 45 taxa (or 37%) of the total identified. A number of filamentous forms were present in most samples, including the genera Leptolyngbya, Lyngbya, and Pseudanabaena, as well as unicellular forms such as Synechococcus and Chroococcus. Euglenoids and dinoflagellates were each represented by only two and one taxa respectively, and were not included in any of the statistical analyses due to their rarity (less than 5 occurrences during sample period). Cyanobacteria were the most diverse taxon collected (Table 1), but total algal biovolume was dominated by diatoms at the four sites monitored throughout the study period (Table 2, Fig. 2a–d). The remaining two percent of taxa identified were euglenoids and dinoflagellates (Appendix 1). As expected, Scratch Ankle, the site furthest south, had the lowest average salinity and conductivity values, while Bolles School, the site furthest north, had the highest values due to tidal infl uence (Table 3). Average pH at the four sites ranged from a low of 7.83 to a high of 8.08, remaining in the circumneutral range throughout the study. Water temperature throughout the study ranged from a low of 11.48 °C to a high of 31.51 °C. The Buckman Bridge site had the greatest biomass (Fig. 2a) of chlorophytes and cyanobacteria, and fl oating algal mats were evident at the site throughout the study period. The Bolles School site had the greatest diatom biovolume (Fig. 2b) as well as the highest average phosphorus levels (Table 3). Scratch Ankle, the site with the lowest biovolumes (Fig. 2d) of diatoms, had the highest average nitrogen value (Table 3). In January 2006, epiphyte biovolumes dropped dramatically and remained relatively low compared to the preceding year. This drop in biovolume may 234 Southeastern Naturalist Vol.7, No. 2 Table 1. Species richness and Shannon’s diversity (H') at all sites on which epiphyte samples were collected. Sampling sites are abbreviated as follows: BB = Buckman Bridge, BS = Bolles School, MS = Moccasin Slough, SA = Scratch Ankle. BB BS MS SA Date R H' R H’ R H' R H' 04/19/05 21 0.846 25 0.811 20 0.841 N/A N/A 05/18/05 22 0.891 17 0.797 15 0.734 10 0.595 06/28/05 26 0.969 8 0.467 20 0.845 9 0.565 07/19/05 22 0.875 8 0.531 11 0.604 19 0.833 08/16/05 23 0.869 12 0.633 24 0.899 22 0.849 09/26/05 20 0.837 N/A N/A 7 0.432 8 0.504 10/20/05 15 0.721 9 0.550 10 0.599 13 0.653 11/18/05 15 0.763 15 0.640 14 0.711 29 0.953 12/28/05 12 0.674 14 0.692 N/A N/A 24 0.898 01/20/05 19 0.804 8 0.504 10 0.599 20 0.751 02/16/06 20 0.789 12 0.675 22 0.900 18 0.830 03/13/06 15 0.763 11 0.609 16 0.711 17 0.769 04/13/06 13 0.774 15 0.698 22 0.863 11 0.592 05/12/06 15 0.696 22 0.706 17 0.724 13 0.677 06/09/06 15 0.696 19 0.795 14 0.679 14 0.539 07/07/06 18 0.692 26 0.863 27 0.931 18 0.555 08/04/06 17 0.712 26 0.848 36 1.001 41 1.075 Mean 18.1 0.790 15.4 0.640 17.8 0.710 17.9 0.680 Std. Dev. 3.9 0.1 6.5 0.2 7.4 0.2 8.4 0.2 Table 2. Average biovolumes (μm 3/cm2) by algal division from all sites for April 2005 through August 2006. Division Bolles School Buckman Bridge Moccasin Slough Scratch Ankle Bacillariophyta 2.16E+06 1.41E+06 1.21E+06 9.81E+05 ± 1.99E+06 ± 1.55E+06 ± 1.77E+06 ± 1.48E+06 Chlorophyta 4.81E+05 8.04E+05 3.22E+05 2.44E+05 ± 1.43E+06 ± 8.94E+05 ± 5.17E+05 ± 3.71E+05 Cyanobacteria 2.32E+05 7.66E+05 1.53E+05 2.82E+05 ± 3.31E+05 ± 1.38E+06 ± 2.35E+05 ± 4.53E+05 Table 3. Physical and chemical parameters (standard deviations are mean ± values) measured from the four sites selected for the 18 month survey. C = conductivity, N = total Kjeldahl nitrogen, P = total phosphorus. Data obtained from St. Johns River Water Management District (www.sjrwmd.org). Temp N P C Salinity DO Site (°C) pH (mg/L) (mg/L) (μmhos/cm) (ppt) (mg/L) Buckman Bridge 23.1 7.83 0.972 0.106 3539 1.97 7.80 ± 6.0 ± 0.25 ± 0.222 ± 0.031 ± 5146 ± 2.99 ± 1.66 Bolles School 23.2 7.85 1.073 0.125 4505 2.54 7.88 ± 5.9 ± 0.22 ± 0.341 ± 0.036 ± 6113 ± 3.60 ± 1.56 Moccasin Slough 23.4 7.87 0.952 0.091 2899 1.59 8.19 ± 6.1 ± 0.24 ± 0.149 ± 0.026 ± 4387 ± 2.52 ± 1.25 Scratch Ankle 23.3 8.08 1.083 0.075 730 0.36 8.27 ± 5.4 ± 0.41 ± 0.153 ± 0.017 ± 193 ± 0.10 ± 1.26 2008 A.E. Dunn, D.R. Dobberfuhl , and D.A. Casamatta 235 have been a result of lower levels of available light due to seasonal effects in combination with an increase in salinity and conductivity values due to drought conditions. Water quality values for the study period are shown in Table 3 with mean standard deviations included. Macrophyte blade size also slightly decreased, though blade size remained relatively constant at the Bolles School site (Table 4). A difference in macrophyte blade area was most Figure 2a. Algal biovolumes (μm3/cm2) by algal division from the Buckman Bridge site for April 2005 through August 2006. Figure 2b. Algal biovolumes (μm3/cm2) by algal division from the Bolles School site for April 2005 through August 2006. 236 Southeastern Naturalist Vol.7, No. 2 likely due to sampling efforts. Except for the Bolles School site, the remaining three sampling sites had large meadows. Sampling was random at each event, and differences in growth rates of macrophytes in the meadows and herbivory would have resulted in differences in blade area. During this monitoring project, the cyanobacterial community showed the highest mean Psc value at 99.84 (Table 5). The diatoms followed, Figure 2c. Algal biovolumes (μm3/cm2) by algal division from the Moccasin Slough site for April 2005 through August 2006. Figure 2d. Algal biovolumes (μm3/cm2) by algal division from the Scratch Ankle site for April 2005 through August 2006. 2008 A.E. Dunn, D.R. Dobberfuhl , and D.A. Casamatta 237 with a mean similarity of 99.59, and the chlorophytes showed a mean similarity of 99.57%. Overall, the four communities sampled were similar in structure, even withstanding the differences in physical and chemical parameters (Table 3). The Buckman Bridge and Moccasin Slough sites showed the greatest similarity in epiphyte communities (98.82%) when all sample dates were pooled for each sampling location. These two sites are the most similar in structure of the macrophyte beds as well as more similar in their chemical features. The Moccasin Slough and Bolles School sites were the least similar (97.20%) of the four locations monitored (Table 6), more than likely due to the size of the macrophytes at Bolles School. The meadows of V. americana at Bolles School were generally much smaller, and the epiphytic community has thus had less time to colonize the leaves. Table 4. Blade area (cm2) of Vallisneria americana (eel-grass) blades sampled at all sites on which epiphyte samples were collected. Sampling sites are abbreviated as follows: BB = Buckman Bridge, BS = Bolles School, MS = Moccasin Slough, and SA = Scratch Ankle. Date BB BS MS SA 04/19/05 206.20 95.44 375.84 N/A 05/18/05 273.62 57.02 324.88 163.74 06/28/05 387.18 37.36 327.70 107.26 07/19/05 399.96 109.48 61.64 42.56 08/16/05 402.40 59.48 177.10 96.72 09/26/05 580.92 N/A 19.58 66.62 10/20/05 635.50 34.38 88.14 163.36 11/18/05 721.16 66.80 339.62 246.74 12/28/05 473.94 25.06 11.82 239.10 01/20/06 789.98 19.70 52.70 163.14 02/16/06 350.00 103.86 470.80 268.76 03/13/06 583.74 69.84 312.58 225.58 04/13/06 352.14 34.80 461.50 50.80 05/12/06 312.48 133.06 281.28 94.42 06/09/06 334.48 72.40 114.50 160.96 07/07/06 333.56 112.40 283.52 188.40 08/04/06 279.64 86.20 169.10 128.34 Table 5. Percentage Similarity (Psc) by algal division between sampling sites. Values were obtained by pooling samples from each site for all dates. Sampling sites are abbreviated as follows: BB = Buckman Bridge, BS = Bolles School, MS = Moccasin Slough, and SA = Scratch Ankle. Psc by algal group Site Bacillariophyta Chlorophyta Cyanobacteria SA:BB 98.16 97.44 98.28 SA:MS 98.62 98.65 98.04 SA:BS 96.22 97.16 97.44 BB:MS 98.66 97.26 98.70 BB:BS 96.87 95.79 97.29 MS:BS 96.89 97.04 97.05 238 Southeastern Naturalist Vol.7, No. 2 Discussion Little work has been completed on the quantification and identification of epiphytes relative to SAV in higher order streams and rivers. Our study focused on the composition of the algal epiphyte community on eel-grass within a 93-km portion of the lower St. Johns River between Palatka and Jacksonville, FL (Fig. 1). Diatoms are characteristically the most prevalent group of algae found in lotic systems (Kelly 1998), and the epiphytes identified in this study follow the trend of lotic systems. Diatoms are most likely the largest constituents of the eukaryotic community in aquatic systems, overall, and are among the most important photosynthesizers in aquatic environments (Graham and Wilcox 2000, Kelly 1998, Reynolds 1984). During the 2006 sampling period, diatoms showed the greatest algal richness, and cyanobacteria trended toward greater algal richness beginning in winter of 2006. Though a few of the bacillariophyte and chlorophyte taxa identified are commonly found in eutrophic conditions, the cyanobacterial community was representative of ubiquitous taxa (Carrick et al. 1988, Cattaneo 1987, Kelly 1998, Lowe and Pan 1996). Genera such as Leptolyngbya and Aphanocapsa are indicators of a wide range of trophic conditions and are typical members of most aquatic habitats. The majority of cyanobacteria identified were filamentous forms, which can create and increase the coverage of algal mats as well as increase drag on the macrophyte leaves. The shading and increased drag on the macrophytes can and has resulted in a loss of SAV biomass (Doyle 2001, Koch 1994, Riber and Wetzel 1987). Macrophyte meadows are important habitats and resources for many taxa, and loss of SAV due to shading and nutrient competition can have far reaching consequences (Dennison et al. 1993, Verdelhos et al. 2005). The interaction and dependence of many trophic levels upon the SAV meadows signifies the importance of studying all aspects of these systems. The epiphytes at the Buckman Bridge site repeatedly formed mats on the water surface, further reducing light available to the macrophytes. The macrophytes sampled at the Moccasin Slough and Scratch Ankle sites consistently had visible epiphyte coverage, diminishing light available for photosynthesis for the macrophyte. The macrophytes at Bolles School were small in nature, and the epiphytic community appeared to be in the beginning stages of succession as biomass was low. Table 6. Percentage Similarity (Psc) between sampling sites. Values were obtained by pooling samples from each site for all dates. Sampling sites are abbreviated as follows: BB = Buckman Bridge, BS = Bolles School, MS = Moccasin Slough, and SA = Scratch Ankle. SA BB MS BS SA 100.00 98.56 98.44 97.20 BB 98.56 100.00 98.82 97.20 MS 98.44 98.82 100.00 96.89 BS 97.20 97.20 96.89 100.00 2008 A.E. Dunn, D.R. Dobberfuhl , and D.A. Casamatta 239 The health of aquatic ecosystems is increasingly being measured using algal community structure (Kelly 1998, Stevenson 1996). Ecosystem stress due to anthropogenic effects can be determined by the presence of particular taxa in the system. Some of the taxa identified at the monitoring sites were indicative of eutrophic systems, but a majority of taxa were representative of a cosmopolitan community (Prescott 1962, Wehr and Sheath 2003). Though epiphytes are major players in primary productivity of SAV beds, formation of fl oating mats or thick layers of epiphytes on the leaves can limit available photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and significantly increase drag on the plant substrate. In black water systems such as the lower St. Johns River, this further reduction in PAR will negatively impact meadows of SAV such as eel-grass. This study shows the continuing need to study algal epiphytes to aid in the identification of those epiphytic communities that preclude loss of SAV biomass or promote the dispersal of seeds (Zhongqiang et al. 2005) of SAV to increase biomass of meadows. Acknowledgments The authors are grateful to Christie Crace for sampling assistance and to the St. Johns Water Management District for funding through the course of the project. Literature Cited APHA. 1998. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th Edition. 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X X X X Cyclotella sp. X X X X Cymatopleura solea (Brébisson) W.Smith X Cymbella sp. X X X X Diatoma vulgaris Bory X X X X Diploneis sp. X X X Encyonema sp. X Eunotia sp. X X Fragilaria capucina Desmazières X Fragilaria construens (Her.) Grun. X X Fragilaria crotonensis Kitton X X Fragilaria sp. X X X X Gomphonema minuta (Agardh) Agardh X Gomphonema sp. X X X X Gyrosigma sp. X X X X Melosira varians C.A. Agardh X Navicula sp. X X X X Neidium sp. X X Nitzschia sp. X X X X Rhopalodia gibba (Ehrenberg) O. Müller X Stephanodiscus hantzschii Grunow X X X X Surirella sp. X X X Synedra delicatissma. W. Smith X X X X Synedra sp. X X X X Synedra ulna (Nitzsch) Ehrenberg X X X X Tabellaria sp. X X X Thalassiosira proschkinae Makarova X X Total number of Bacillariophyta 20 23 23 23 Chlorophyta (42 taxa total) Ankistrodesmus falcatus (Corda) Ralfs X X X Bulbochaete sp. X Characium limneticum Lemmermann X Cladophora sp. X X Closterium sp. X Coelastrum microsporum Naegeli in A. Braun X Coelastrum reticulatum (Dang.) Senn X Coleochaete orbicularis Pringsheim X X X X Cosmarium sp. X X X Crucigenia quadrata Morren X Euastrum sp. X Gonium pectorale Mueller X Microspora sp. X Mougeotia spp. X X Oedogonium sp. X X X X 2008 A.E. Dunn, D.R. Dobberfuhl , and D.A. Casamatta 243 Taxa BB BS MS SA Oocystis spp. X X X Pandorina morum (Muell.) Bory X Pediastrum biradiatum Meyen X Pediastrum boryanum (Turpin) Meneghini X X Pediastrum duplex Meyen X X X Pediastrum simplex Meyen X Pediastrum tetras (Ehrenberg) Ralfs X Protoderma sp. X X X X Quadrigula lacustris (Chod.) G. M. Smith X Rhizoclonium sp. X X Scenedesmus abundans (Kirch.) Chodat X Scenedesmus acuminatus (Lag.) Chodat X Scenedesmus bijuga (Turp.) Lagerheim X X Scenedesmus dimorphus (Turp.) Kuetzing X Scenedesmus quadricauda (Turp.) de Brébisson X X X X Scenedesmus sp. X X Schizomeris leibleinii Kuetzing X X Schizomeris sp. X Spirogyra spp. X X X Staurastrum sp. X X X X Stigeoclonium sp. X X X X Tetraëdon minimum (A. Braun) Hansgrig X X X X Tetraëdon sp. X Tetraëdon trigonum (Naeg.) Hansgirg X Ulothrix sp. X X Ulothrix subtilissima Rabenhorst X Ulothrix tenerrima Kuetzing X Total number of Chlorophyta 17 17 21 26 Cyanobacteria (45 taxa total) Anabaena sp. X X X X Aphanocapsa delicatissima W. et G.S. West X X X X Aphanocapsa holsatica (Lemmermann) Cronberg et Komárek X Aphanocapsa sp. X X X X Aphanothece sp. X X X X Aphanothece stagnina (Sprengel) A. Braun X Calothrix epiphytica West & West X X Calothrix sp. X X X Calothrix stagnalis Gomont X Chroococcus limneticus Lemmermann X X X Chroococcus minutus (Kützing) Nägeli X X X X Chroococcus sp. X X X Chroococcus turgidus (Kütz.) Nägeli X X X X Coelosphaerium kuetzingianum Nägeli X Cylindrospermum sp. X X Dactylococcopsis irregularis Grunow X Gomphosphaeria lacustris Chodat X Gomphosphaeria sp. X Homeothrix sp. X Homeothrix stagnalis (Hansgirg) Komárek et Kováčik X X X Leptolyngbya boryana Anagnostidis et Komárek X Leptolyngbya lagerheimii (Gomont) Anagnostidis et Komárek X X Leptolyngbya sp. X X X X Leptolyngbya subtilis (W. West) Anagnostidis X X Leptolyngbya tenuis (Gomont) Anag. et Komárek X X X Lyngbya birgeii G.M. Smith X X 244 Southeastern Naturalist Vol.7, No. 2 Taxa BB BS MS SA Lyngbya contorta Lemmermann X Lyngbya sp. X X X X Merismopedia elegans A. Braun X X X Merismopedia spp. X X X X Merismopedia tenuissima Lemmermann X X Microcystis aeruginosa (Kützing) Kützing X X X Oscillatoria anguina (Bory) Goment X Oscillatoria spp. X X X X Phormidium sp. X X Planktolyngbya contorta (Lemmermann) Anagnostidis et Komárek X Planktolyngbya limnetica (Lemm.) Kom.-Legn et Cronb. X Pseudanabaena galeata Böcher X X X X Pseudanabaena limnetica (Lemmermann) Komárek X Pseudanabaena sp. X X X X Schizothrix calcicola Gomont X Stigonema sp. X Synechococcus sp. X X X X Tolypothrix sp. X X X Total number of Cyanobacteria 27 17 28 34 Euglenophyta (2 taxa total) Euglena acus Ehrenberg X Trachelomonas spp. X Total number of Euglenophyta 0 0 1 1 Pyrrhophyta (1 taxa total) Peridinium sp. X X Total number of Pyrrhophyta 1 0 1 0 Total number of algal taxa 65 57 74 84