Seasonal dynamics of benthic macroinvertebrates of Pond B, Savannah River Plant Aiken, South Carolina

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5043977· OSTI ID:5043977

Whicker, A D

This study was designed to evaluate the spatial and seasonal distributions, compositions, and abundances of benthic macroinvertebrates in Pond B after 20 years of postthermal recovery. There are both basic and applied uses for the data gathered during the study. The examination of species composition and abundances as a function of season and water depth adds to the base of general knowledge on the benthic invertebrates of lentic systems. The current species composition also provides an indication of a portion of the postthermal community succession. An estimate of the biomass of the benthic community permits a calculation of the radionuclide inventory in this ecosystem compartment, if average concentrations are concurrently determined. Such data may then be used to predict food chain transfers to higher consumers and potential export from the ecosystem. Specific hypotheses tested were: (1) densities of certain benthic invertebrate communities vary with season, (2) densities of benthic invertebrates vary with water depth, and (3) the effect of season on invertebrate density depends on water depth (i.e. there is an interaction between depth and season). Other community parameters considered were species composition, diversity, and relative biomass by taxa. 30 refs., 5 figs., 9 tabs.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken, SC (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00819
• OSTI ID: 5043977
• Report Number(s): SRO-NERP-16; ON: DE90006307
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560200* -- Thermal Effects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BASELINE ECOLOGY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGY
ECOLOGY
INVERTEBRATES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PLANKTON
PRODUCTIVITY
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEDIMENTS
SPECIES DIVERSITY
TAXONOMY
THERMAL EFFLUENTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VARIATIONS