Physical and Chemical Factors Affecting The Distribution of Freshwater Snails in Four Lakes of New Croton/Muscoot Reservoir Watershed, Westchester County, NY
Item
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Title
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Physical and Chemical Factors Affecting The Distribution of Freshwater Snails in Four Lakes of New Croton/Muscoot Reservoir Watershed, Westchester County, NY
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:d3bb9c473968:10867
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identifier
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11116
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Creator
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Cloherty, Tami M.,
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Contributor
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Joseph W. Rachlin
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Date
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2011
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Biochemistry | Ecology | benthic | macroinvertebrates | snails
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Abstract
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In a model study four lakes were examined to determine if benthic macroinvertebrates in the littoral zone were affected by physicochemical factors and shoreline development. The central hypothesis was that there would be correlations between the physicochemical factors in the lakes, levels of development around the lakes and the populations of benthic organisms. The study was conducted from April through October 2009 and 2010. Diversity and EPT indices were calculated to quantify taxa. Physicochemical variables measured included: temperature, pH, DO, mean nitrate and phosphate concentrations, total hardness, calcium, total dissolved solids (TDS), conductivity (ECS) and coliform testing. Sediment analysis and loss on ignition studies were done to assess percent composition, percent organic matter and percent carbonates in littoral sediments. Data characterizing shoreline development was collected from appropriate town, county and state resources, including: phosphorous loading, number of structures, number of storm drains, percent developed land and run-off into the lakes. Multivariate and correlation analyses were used to explore the data and to identify significant relationships between the benthic fauna and the abiotic variables. Results showed that freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates had significant correlations to physicochemical and development factors, including: ambient temperatures, hardness, DO, ECS, TDS, pH, percent silt, mean nitrate concentrations, coliforms, phosphorous loading, percent developed land, storm drains and the number of structures. The results of this study illustrate how anthropogenic inputs associated with development affect benthic macroinvertebrates in the littoral zone of suburban lakes.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Biology
