Benthic macroinvertebrate associations in relation to environmental factors in Georgian Bay

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0380-1330(87)71654-2· OSTI ID:7040793

Johnson, M G; McNeil, O C; George, S E

Association analysis of data on benthic macroinvertebrates in 257 samples from Georgian Bay, followed by discriminant analysis of water and sediment characteristics, facilitated a quantitative description of trophic variability within a relatively unpolluted system. Discriminating variables were bottom water temperature, water pH and Ca, sediment organic matter, sand, silt, clay, total P, Zn, Pb, and Hg. Four discriminating functions, accounting for 86% of variance, indicated the importance of temperature, concentrations of organic matter and silt, water pH and Ca. Associations which occurred at cooler temperatures consisted of Pontoporeia hoyi with dominant oligochaetes and chironomids generally determined by sediment richness. These associations were P. hoyi - Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri - Chironomus spp, and Procladius spp. at highest sediment richness, P. hoyi - Spirosperma ferox - Micropsectra spp, at intermediate richness and P. hoyi - Stylodrilus heringianus - Heterotrissocladius sp. at lowest richness. Associations in warmer waters consisted of a Chironomus spp. - Chaoborus spp. association in richer sediments and an association of Caecidotea racovitzae and Amnicola spp. at lower sediment richness. A Hexagenia limbata - Hyalella azteca association occurred over a broad range in concentrations of organic matter and silt, but, in terms of sediment texture represented by sand content, this association was intermediate between the other two groups in warmer waters. Finally, a Zalutschia zalutschia zalutschicola - Chaoborus spp. association was related to water pH and Ca in discriminant analysis. 33 references, 4 figures, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Owen Sound, Ontario (Canada)
• OSTI ID: 7040793
• Journal Information: J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States), Vol. 13:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BENTHOS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
LAKE HURON
WATER POLLUTION
LEAD
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
MERCURY
PHOSPHORUS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
ZINC
BAYS
CALCIUM
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INVERTEBRATES
ONTARIO
PH VALUE
SEDIMENTS
SPECIES DIVERSITY
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CANADA
DATA
ELEMENTS
GREAT LAKES
INFORMATION
LAKES
METALS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
POLLUTION
SURFACE WATERS
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology