tL

LAKE NAME: BLUESTONE RES.
STORET NUMBER: 5401

TAXA

PECIASTRUM CUPLEX

Ve CLATHRATUM
PEOLASTRUM SIMPLEX

Ve CUODENARIUM
PEDIASTRUM TETRAS

ve TéeTRAODCN
SCENEDESMUS #1
SCENEDESMUS #2
SCENEDESMUS #3
SCENEDESMUS BIJUGA
SCENEDESMUS DENTICULATUS
SCENEOESMUS CIMORPHUS
SCENEDESMUS INTERMEDIUS
Ve BICAUCATLS
SCENEDESMUS CPOLTENSIS
STAURASTRUM #1
STAURASTRUM #2
STEPHANODISCLS
SURIRELLA

SYNEDRA #1

SYNECTRA NELICATISSIMA
SYNECRA ULNA

Ve RAMEST

TETRAEDRCN MINIMUM
TETRAEORGN MINIMUM

Ve SCRCBICULATUM
TREUBARIA

TOTAL

CONTINUED
oT 18 73 09 26 73
1 ALGAL 1 ALGAL i}
' UNITS i UNITS |
FORM 1s ZC PER ML IS %C PER ML I
tt | ta 1 {
cor ot) | i | x ot
i | tt 1 |
cou Jt ! ti I x 4
4 i 11 | |
cou 14 | ia ' x ot
cou ot it i ft leet 216 J
cou 44 1 1 1 2.01 1450 I
cou 1} 1 x 1 | 0641 29 641
coL ti | tI O41 29 |
coL it ( 11 .e2t 8T i}
co Ft | 4 i x 4
tt I tt 1 1
co. Jl | 1 1 0044 29d
cou ott | (124) 17% 4
cer ot | | tt | x ot
cet ott 1 it | x ot
CEL 13] 8.0] 68 (2421.31 1562 |
cee oft { tt i x of
ceu I I | x Hd 1 |
cet i 1 14) 4o3f 318 1
tt | ti ! |
cet ott | x od 1 |
cer sot | Vt le2d a7 OI
tl ' ti i] i
CeL oI I 40 34 14 i} 1
CEL ti i} 14 0041 29 1
851 7320


from the subsample, as being equal to the sample value. Even though
considerable effort was made to find and identify al] taxa, the Survey
samples undoubtedly contain a fair number of rare phytoplankton taxa
which were not encountered.

In the Shannon-Wiener formula, an increase in the number of taxa
and/or an increase in the evenness of the distribution of individuals
among taxa will increase the average diversity per individual from its
minimal value of zero. Sager and Hasler (1969) found that the
richness of taxa was of minor importance in determination of average
diversity per individual for phytoplankton and they concluded that
phytoplankton taxa in excess of the 10 to 15 most abundant ones have
little effect on H, which was verified by our own calculations. Our
counts are in number per milliliter and since logarithms to the base
2 were used in our calculations, H is expressed in units of bits per
individual. When individuals of a taxon were so rare that they were
not counted, a value of 1/130 per milliliter or 0.008 per milliliter
was used in the calculations since at least one individual of the
taxon must have been present in the collection.

A Survey sample for a given lake represents a composite of all
phytoplankton collected at different sampling sites on a lake during a
given sampling period. Since the number of samples (M) making up a
composite is a function of both the complexity of the lake sampled and
its size, it should affect the richness-of-taxa component of the
diversity of our phytoplankton collections. The maximum diversity
(MaxH) (i.e., when the individuals are distributed among the taxa as
evenly as possible) was estimated from log, S, the total diversity (D)
was calculated from HN, and the evenness cémponent of diversity (J)
was estimated from H/MaxH (Pielou 1966). Also given in the Appendix
are L (the mean number of individuals per taxa per milliliter) and K
(the number of individuals per milliliter of the most abundant taxon
in the sample).

Zand (1976) suggests that diversity indices be expressed in units
of "sits", i.e., in logarithms to base S (where S is the total number
of taxa in the sample) instead of in "bits", i.e., in logarithms to
base 2. Zand points out that the diversity index in sits per
individual is a normalized number ranging from 1 for the most evenly
distributed samples to 0 for the least evenly distributed samples.
Also, it can be used to compare different samples, independent of the
number of taxa in each. The diversity in bits per individual should
not be used in direct comparisons involving various samples which
have different numbers of species. Since MaxH equals log S, the ex-_
pression in sits is equal to log. S, or 1. Therefore diversity in sits
per individual is numerically equivalent to J, the evenness component
for the Shannon-Wiener formula.


SL

LAKE NAME SUMMERSVILLE RES. CONTINUED
STCKET NUMBER: 5403

04 03 73 07 18 73 09 28 73

TAXA

ACHNANTFES MICROCEPHALA ? cert 1 x Tt ] td 1 f
CENTRIC DIATOM ceL ott 1 4 | (5133.81 579 |
CENTRITFACTUS ? ceu ot I 1 im! ! tt 1 x |
CYANGPHYTAN COCCOID CELLED COLONY coL | | | tt 1 tl 1 x |
CYCLCTELLA STELLIGERA cee ott | xX 13) 6.81 50 1311411 241 I
CYMBELLA ceL od 1 x Il | tt ! x ot
OESMID cet Il 1 x tt 1 | ! |
OINGBRYON BAVARICUM ceL oI I | 4 i tt ! x ot
OINGBRYCN DIVERGENS cer ott 1 tl { tl 1 x |
DINOBRYCN SERTULARIA ceL oI | im) 1 }2ize.21 482 |
OINOFLAGELLATE #1 ceL ot I ! Vt ! 1 $0.71 wz 4
DINGFLAGELLATE #2 cer oI I 1 tt | {flee 24 |
EUNOTIA cet ot | | it t ti ' x od
FLAGELLATE cep oI I | ii i (41 %8l 133 |
FLAGELLATES CEL | 120.0] 20 2143.1) 317 1 1 1
GOMPHGNEMA cer oI I 1 x tt I tt 1 !
GOMPHCNEMA ? cee st I ( ti { ti 1 x ot
MA LLCMONAS ceL ot I 1 it ( IL leat 24 1
MELOSIRA #2 ceL ot I | x Ut { t4 ! i
MELOSIRA DISTANS ceL oid 1 x od 1 im 1 1
MELOSIFA GRANULATA i { tt | tt f |
Vs. ANGUSTISSIMA | 1 11138.6{ 284 1422.0) 205 J
NAVICULA SPP. CEL I 160.01 a i im 1 '
OSCILLATORIA FIL oI I 1 x oid 1 im | !
PERIOINIUM WISCONSINENSE cer ot I | | | ti ' x ot
SCFNEYESMUS DIMORPHUS cou td ! 1 ! 1 1 0.7) 12
SCHRCEDERIA SETIGERA cee ot I 1 i i im 1 x
SPHAEROCYSTIS ? SCHROETERT co off | 15] 203] ized 1 1
SYNEORA #1 cee sot I 1 14] 9.11 o7 ot t x ot
SYNECRA 42 cee Il | x ott ( 14 ' 1
SYNECRA ULNA tt | 1d ' | ! |
ve? cer ot 1 ( x dt ! x tt | '


FOREWORD

Protection of the environment requires effective regulatory
actions which are based on sound technical and scientific information
This information must include the quantitative description and linking
of pollutant sources, transport mechanisms, interactions, and re-
sulting effects on man and his environment. Because of the complexities
involved, assessment of specific pollutants in the environment requires
a total systems approach which transcends the media of air, water, and
land. The Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory-Las Vegas
contributes to the formation and enhancement of a sound integrated moni-
toring data base through multidisciplinary, multimedia programs designed
to:

+ develop and optimize systems and strategies for moni-
toring pollutants and their impact on the environment

+ demonstrate new monitoring systems and technologies
by applying them to fulfill special monitoring needs
of the Agency's operating programs

This report presents the species and abundance of phytoplankton
in the 4 lakes sampled by the National Eutrophication Survey in the
State of West Virginia, along with results from the calculation of several
commonly used biological indices of water quality and community structure.
These data can be used to biologically characterize the study lakes,
and as baseline data for future investigations. This report was written
for use by Federal, State, and local governmental agencies concerned with
water quality analysis, monitoring, and/or regulation. Private industry
and individuals similarly involved with the biological aspects of water
quality will find the document useful. For further information contact
the Water and Land Quality Branch, Monitoring Operations Division.

Aug leg

Director
Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory
Las Vegas


SL

LAKE NAME: LAKE LYNN RES.
STORET NUMBER: 5402

NYGAARD TROPHIC STATE INOICES

DATE 04 24 7 oT 28 73 10 05 73
MYXOPHYCEAN 0/01 0 o/o 9 0/02
CHLOROPHYCE AN 0/01 0 0/0 0 1.00
EUGLENOPHYTE also & 0/0 2? 0/02
DIATOM 0/04 2 o/0l ? o/ol
COMPOUND 1.00 0 oso a 1.00

orem

PALMER'S ORGANIC POLLUTION INDICES
DATE 04 24 73 OF 28 73 10 05 73

GENUS oo 00 00
SPECIES 00 00 00

SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE INDICES
OATE 04 24 73 O07 28 73 10 05 73

AVERAGE DIVERSITY H 1.92 0.00 1647

NUMBER OF TAXA Ss 9.00 2.00 7.00

NUMBER CF SAMPLES COMPOSITED M 3.00 3.00 3.00
MAXIMUM JIVERSITY MAXH 3.17 1.00 2.81

TOTAL DIVERSITY D 97.92 0.00 1198.05

TOTAL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS /ML N 51.00 657.00 815.00
EVENESS COMPONENT J 0.61 0200 0.52

MEAN NUMBER OF INDIVIOUALS/TAXA 7 5.67 328.50 116.43
NUMBEF/ML CE MOST ABUNGANT TAXON K 21.00 657.00 441.00


14

LAKE NAME? TYGART RESe CCNTINUED
STORET NUMBER: 5404

04 23:73 07 28 73 10 05 73

1 ALGAL | ALGAL | ALCAL I

1 UNITS i UNITS \ UNITS 1
TAXA FORM |S %C PER ML |S %C PER ML 1S %C PER ML |
ANKISTROCESMLS rl ! 1 le.8t 35 tt 1 1
CENTRIC DIATCM tl 1 1 133.21 69 1 | 3.51 34 |
CYCLOTELLA ta 1 i i} it 1 x 1
CYMBELLA tb le4l 3 ti ! td I I
DACTYLOCOCCOPSIS CEL tt I tt 1 11 3.51 34 |
DINOBRYIN SERTULARTA CEL $1127.01 sy td I 't ! 1
DINGFLAGELLATE CEL '4 1 tt 1 1) 5.21 51 1
FLAGELLATE #1 CEL 14423271 50 tl t tt i 1
FLAGELLATE 42 CEL 12125661 54 tt { td { 1
FLAGELLATES cet td | i 116.8) 35 t2ti2e1] 118,
GLENODINIUM CEL «131 3631 7 al i im ! 1
GLENCOINIUM #2 CEL Vd 1 ( 133.2] 69 | 1 J
GC MPHONEMA cu ott 1 x td 4 im | 1
KI@CHNEPTELLA ceu ot J | it ' 1 | x ot
MELOSIRA OISTANS cau I I x tt 1 it ' i
MELOSIRA VARIANS ceu of | ' tl 1 i 1 x 4
MICRGCYSTIS AERUGINOSA cor of f [ it I f1(29.3f 287 |
NAVICULA 2 cou 4 A 471 1o 644 | ti ! !
NITZSCHIA cEL 151 6.2] 13 id ! 151 6.81 67 1
PENNATE DEATCM CEL oo} | Bel] wood | i ! t
PER IOINIUM ceu 1 it 1 tt i} x ty ! 1
PHCRMIDIUM MUCICOLA cau tl | td i} 13)17.31 169 1
SC ENEDE SMUS co 4 | i tt \ 14l20.61 202 |
SCENEDESMUS INTERMEOIUS wt 1 1 ' 4 1 !
Ve BICAUDATLS cou tt 1 tt i} x it 1 1
SCHECCOERIA SETIGEFA ceu ot 1 i i 1} a.7t yt
SURIRELLA ANGUSTATA ceu 4d | 1 | td | x 4

TOTAL all 208 979


Zl

LEKF ROMES SLMMERSVILLF FESe
STORET NUMBER: 5403

NYGAARD TROPHIC STATE INOICES

DATS 24 93:73 +97 18 73) 99 28 73

MYXOPHYCEAN 1.00 £ oso 0 OL/O E
CHL Ok OPHYCE LN 1.90 £ Old = 02/0 £
TUGLENGPHYTE O50 F osol 2? 0/03 2
DIATOM O.37 € 1.00 £ 0.60 €
COMPOUND 6.90 £ Os/0 & ve/O €

PALAER*S ORGANIC POLLUTION INDICES
DATE 04 03 73 O7 18 73 09 28 73

GENUS 03 04 02
SPECIES 00 00 00

SPECIES OIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE INDICES

DATE 04 03 73 OF 18 73 09 28 73

AVERAGE DIVERSITY H 1.39 1.76 2.37
NUMGER OF TAXA s 16.00 6.00 20.00
NUMBER OF SAMPLES CIMPOSITED TM 4.00 oO 4.00

MAXIMUM DIVERSITY MAXH 4.00 2.58 4032

TCTAL JIVERSITY oD 139.00 1293.60 4057044

TOTAL NUMBER OF INOIVIDUALS/ML N 100,00 735.00 1712.00
EVENESS COMPONENT J 0.35 0.68 0.55

MEAN NUMBER OF INUIVIDJALS/TAXA L 6625 122.50 85.60
SUMBER/ML CF MCST ABIJNDANT TAXON « 60,00 317,00 579,00


2L

LAKE NAMES BLUESTONE RES.
STORET NUMBER: 5401

NYGAARD TROPHIC STATE INDICES

DATE 97:16 73 09 26 73

MYXOPHYCEAN Ol/o € 2.00 E
CHLOR OPHYCE AN 04/0 E 6.00 €
EUGL ENOPHYTE 0620 ? 0/24 ?
DIATOM O.37 E 0.62 €
COMPOUND 09/0 E 9.67 E

PALMER*S ORGANIC POLLUTION INDICES
DATE 07 18 73 09 26 73

GENUS 05 19
SPECIES 00 02

SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE INDICES
DATE 07 18 73 09 26 73

2.30 3.33
18.00 43.00
NUMBER OF SAMPLES COMPOSITEO 2.00 4.00

MAXIMUM DIVERSITY MAX 417 5643

AVERAGE DIVERSITY H
s
M
H
TCTAL DIVERSITY Do 1957.30 24375.60
N
J
L
K

NUMBER OF TAXA

TOTAL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS /ML 851.00 7320.00
EVENESS COMPONENT 9655 0.61

MEAN NUMBER OF iINDIVIDJALS/TAXA 47028 170.23
NUMBER/ML CF MOST ABUNCANT TAXON 499.00 1851.90


QUALITY CONTROL

Internal quality control checks on species identifications and
counts were performed on a regular basis between project phycologists
at the rate of 7 percent. Although an individual had primary
responsibility for analyzing a sample, taxonomic problems were
discussed among the phycologists.

Additional quality control checks were performed on the Survey
samples by Dr. G. W. Prescott of the University of Montana at the
rate of 5 percent. Quality control checks were made on 75 percent
of these samples to verify species identifications while checks were
made on the remaining 25 percent of the samples to verify genus counts.
Presently. the agreement between quality control checks for species
identification and genus enumerations is satisfactory.


INTRODUCTION

The collection and analysis of phytoplankton data were included
in the National Eutrophication Survey in an effort to determine
relationships between algal characteristics and trophic status of
individual lakes.

During spring, summer, and fall of 1973, the Survey sampled 250
lakes in 17 States. Over 700 algal species and varieties were
identified and enumerated from the 743 water samples examined.

This report presents the species and abundance of phytoplankton
in the 4 lakes sampled in the State of West Virginia (Table 1). The
Nygaard's Trophic State (Nygaard 1949), Palmer's Organic Pollution
(Palmer 1969), and species diversity and abundance indices are also
included.

TABLE 1. LAKES SAMPLED IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

STORET No. Lake Name County

5401 Bluestone Reservoir Summers

5402 Lake Lynn Reservoir Monongalia
(Cheat Lake)

5403 Summersville Reservoir Nicholas

5404 Tygart Reservoir Taylor



CONTENTS

FOreWwOrd ...ccecec cence cece cence een e nee e cere eee ee seen ene eesetenes Vii
Introduction ......cceeeeeeeeeeee oeececees eee eee eee eee eee eee eee 1
Materials and Methods ..........ececeeeenceee an eeeee adeno tecenen » 2
Lake and Site Selection .......ccceeee eee e cece teen eeteeeeeees 2
Sample Preparation ....cscccccesecceceecceceseeeeseseseveceees 2
Examination ..... cece cece cece cee e ee ee cere een ee eeeeeseseecens 3
Quality Control ...... cece cece cece eee e eee e tent ee eee eee eeeeee 4
RESUTES oc cece cece cece cece eeeees bene e eee e eee e eee ence eeeeeeene » 5
Nygaard's Trophic State Indices .......cccceeee eee eceeceee eens 5
Palmer's Organic Pollution Indices ......cceceeeecuceseseceeee 5
Species Diversity and Abundance Indices ..........cceeeeeeeeee 7
Species Occurrence and Abundance ........cceeeeeeeeseseeeeees 9
Literature Cited ....... Peer enennccccrecseeseesesene be eevecevececs 10
Appendix. Summary of Phytoplankton Data ..........ecceeeeeseeeees - ill


el

LAKE NAM SLUESTCNE RES,
STORET NUMBER? 5401

TAKA

ACTINASTRUM FANTZSCHII
ANA3AENA

APHANIZCMENCN 2
CLOSTERIOPSIS
CLCSTERIUM ?

CCCCCNEIS PLECENTULA
Ve EUGLYPTA
CIUELASTRUM MICROPGRUM
C2 UCIGENIA AFICULATA
CYCLOTELLA MENEGHINI ANA
DACTYLOCOCCOPSIS
DICTYOSPHAERIUM PULCHELLUM
OINOFLAGELLATE

EUGLENA

FLAGELLATES
FRAGILARIA

FRAGILARIA CFCTCNENSIS
FRANCEIA

GYSOSIGMA SFENCERIT
MELGSIRA DISTANS
MELGSIFA GRAKULATA

Ve ANGUSTISSIMA
OSIFA VARIANS
MICRCCYSTIS AERUGINOSA
MICRSCYSTIS INCERTA
NAVICULA

NAVICULA #1

NAVICULA #2

NAVICULA #3

NITZSCHIA
GSCTLLATCRIA LIMNETICA
P&NUCRTRA MCFUM

09 26 73

ALGAL
UNITS
PER ML

636


Prior to examination, the composite samples were concentrated by
the settling method. Solids were allowed to settle for at least 24
hours prior to siphoning off the supernate. The volume of the
removed supernate and the volume of the remaining concentrate were
measured and concentrations determined. A small (8 m1) library
subsample of the concentrate was then taken. The remaining
concentrate was gently agitated to resuspend the plankton and poured
into a capped, graduated test tube. If a preliminary examination of a
sample indicated the need for a more concentrated sample, the contents
of the test tube were further concentrated by repeating the settling
method. Final concentrations varied from 15 to 40 times the original.

Permanent slides were prepared from concentrated samples after
analysis was complete. A drop of superconcentrate from the bottom of
the test tube was placed in a ring of clear Karo Corn Syrup with
phenol (a few crystals of phenol were added to each 100 ml of syrup)
on a glass slide, thoroughly mixed, and topped with a coverglass.
After the syrup at the edges of the coverglass had hardened, the
excess was scraped away and the mount was sealed with clear fingernail
polish. Permanent diatom slides were prepared by drying sample
material on a coverglass, heatigg in a muffle furnace at 400° C for 45
minutes, and mounting in Hyrax. Finally, the mounts were sealed with
clear fingernail polish.

ackup samples, library samples, permanent sample slides, and
Hyrax-mounted diatom slides are being stored and maintained at the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Monitoring and
Support Laboratory-Las Vegas.

EXAMINATION

The phytoplankton samples were examined with the aid of binocular
compound microscopes. A preliminary examination was performed to
precisely identify and list all forms encountered. The length of this
examination varied depending on the complexity of the sample. An
attempt was made to find and identify all of the forms present in each
sample. Often forms were observed which could not be identified to
species or to genus. Abbreviated descriptions were used to keep a
record of these forms (e.g., lunate cell, blue-green filament,
Navicula #1). Diatom slides were examined using a standard light
microscope. If greater resolution was essential to accurately
identify the diatoms, a phase-contrast microscope was used.

After the species list was compiled, phytoplankton were enumerated
using a Neubauer Counting Chamber with a 40X objective lens and a 10X
ocular lens. All forms within each field were counted. The count was
continued until a minimum of 100 fields had been viewed, or until the
dominant form had been observed a minimum of 100 times.

@Registered Trademark


6L

LAKE NAMES SUMMERSVILLE
STORET MUMBER: 5403

TAXA

TABELLAFIA FLOCCULOSA
TETRAEORCN REGULARE
Ve INCUS

TR BC KELOMONAS
ULGTHRIX ?

TOTAL

RES. CONTINUED

04 03 73 07 18 73 09 28 73
I ALGAL oI ALGAL i ALGAL t
1 UNITS 1 UNITS 1 UNITS {
Form {|S 8C PER ML |S @C PER ML 1S ¥C PER ML |

cet

CEL

cEL

FIL

100 735 172


EPA-600/3-77-103
September 1977 _ Ecological Research Series



TABLE 2.

NYGAARD'S TROPHIC STATE INDICES ADAPTED FROM HUTCHINSON (1967)

Index Calculation ‘Oligotrophic Eutrophic
Myxophycean Myxophyceae 0.0-0.4 0.1-3.0
besniviese
Chlorophycean Chlorococcales 0.0-0.7 0.2-9.0
Diatom Centric Diatoms 0.0-0.3 0.0-1.75
Pennate Diatoms
Euglenophyte Euglenophyta 0.0-0.2 0.0-1.0
Myxophyceae + Chlorococcales
Compound Myxophyceae + Chlorococcales + 0.0-1.0 1.2-25
Centric Diatoms + Euglenophyta
~ Desmideae
TABLE 3. ALGAL GENUS POLLUTION INDEX TABLE 4. ALGAL SPECIES POLLUTION
(Palmer 1969) INDEX (Palmer 1969)

Pollution Pollution
Genus Index Species Index
Anacystis 1 Ankistrodesmus faleatus 3
Ankistrodesmus H Arthrospira jennert 3
ch dome i.
Chlamydomonas 3 Cilarel a vulgar fintana 2
Closterium 1 Euglena gracilis 1
Cyelotella 1 Euglena viridis 6
Euglena 5 Gomphonema parvulum 1
Comphonema 1 Melostra varians 2
Lepocinelis 1 Navicula eryptocephala 1
Melostra 1 Nitzsehia acicularis 1
Miecraetinium 1 Nitaschia palea 5
Navicula 3 Oseillatoria chlorina 2
Nitaschta 3 Oseillatoria limosa 4
Oseillatorta 5 Oscillatoria princeps 1
Pandorina 1 Oscillatoria putrida 1
Phacus 2 Oscillatoria tenuis 4
Phormidium 1 Pandorina morum 3
Scenedesmus 4 Scenedesmus quadricauda 4
Stigeoclonitum 2 Sttgeoelonium tenue 3
Synedra 2 Synedra ulna 3



RESULTS

The Appendix summarizes all of the phytoplankton data collected
from the State by the Survey. It is organized by lake, including an
alphabetical phytoplankton species list with concentrations for
individual species given by sampling date. Results from the
application of several indices are presented (Nygaard's Trophic State,
Palmer's Organic Pollution, and species diversity and abundance).

Each lake has been assigned a four digit STORET number. [STORET
(STOrage and RETrieval) is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
computer system which processes and maintains water quality data.] The
first two digi.s of the STORET number identify the State; the last two
digits identify the lake.

NYGAARD'S TROPHIC STATE INDICES

Five indices devised by Nygaard (1949) were proposed under the
assumption that certain algal groups are indicative of levels of
nutrient enrichment. These indices were calculated in order to aid in
determining the surveyed lakes' trophic status. As a general rule,
Cyanophyta, Euglenophyta, centric diatoms, and members of the
Chlorococcales are found in waters that are eutrophic (rich in
nutrients), while desmids and many pennate diatoms generally cannot
tolerate high nutrient levels and so are found in oligotrophic waters
(poor in nutrients).

In applying the indices to the Survey data, the number of taxa in
each major group was determined from the species list for each sample.
The ratios of these groups give numerical values which can be used as
a biological index of water richness. The five indices and the ranges
of values established for Danish lakes by Nygaard for each trophic
state are presented in Table 2. The appropriate symbol, (E) eutrophic
and (0) oligotrophic, follows each calculated value in the tables in
the Appendix. A question mark (?) was entered in these tables when
the calculated value was within the range of both classifications.

PALMER'S ORGANIC POLLUTION INDICES

Palmer (1969) analyzed reports from 165 authors and developed
algal pollution indices for use in rating water samples with high
organic pollution. Two lists of organic pollution-tolerant forms were
prepared, one containing 20 genera, the other, 20 species (Tables 3
and 4). Each form was assigned a pollution index number ranging from
1 for moderately tolerant forms to 6 for extremely tolerant forms.
Palmer based the index numbers on occurrence records and/or where
emphasized by the authors as being especially tolerant of organic
pollution.


MATERIALS AND METHODS

LAKE AND SITE SELECTION

Lakes and reservoirs included in the Survey were selected through
discussions with State water pollution agency personnel and U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Regional Offices (U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency 1975). Screening and selection strongly emphasized
lakes with actual or potential accelerated eutrophication problems.

As a result, the selection was limited to lakes:

(1) impacted by one or more municipal sewage treatment plant
outfalls either directly into the lake or by discharge to an
inlet tributary within approximately 40 kilometers of the

ake;

(2) 40 hectares or larger in size; and
(3) with a mean hydraulic retention time of at least 30 days.

Specific selection criteria were waived for some lakes of particular
State interest.

Sampling sites for a lake were selected based on available
information on lake morphometry, potential major sources of nutrient
input, and on-site judgment of the field limnologist (U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency 1975). Primary sampling sites were
chosen to reflect the deepest portion of each major basin in a test
lake. Where many basins were present, selection was guided by
nutrient source information on hand. At each sampling site, a depth-
integrated phytoplankton sample was taken. Depth-integrated samples
were uniform mixtures of water from the surface to a depth of 15 feet
(4.6 meters) or from the surface to the lower limit of the photic zone
representing 1 percent of the incident light, whichever was greater.
If the depth at the sampling site was less than 15 feet (4.6 meters),
the sample was taken from just off the bottom to the surface.
Normally, a lake was sampled three times in 1 year, providing
information on spring, summer, and fall conditions.

SAMPLE PREPARATION

Four milliliters (m1) of Acid-Lugol's sollution (Prescott 1970)
were added to each 130-ml sample from each site at the time of
collection for preservation. The samples were shipped to the
Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Las Vegas, Nevada,
where equal volumes from each site were mixed to form two 130-mi _
composite samples for a given lake. One composite sample was put into
storage and the other was used for the examination.


ot

LAKE NAME: LAKE LYNN RES. CONTINUED
STORET NUMBER? 5402

04 24 73 07 28 73 19 95 73

! ALGAL I ALGAL I ALGAL

! UNITS — | UNITS | UNITS |
TAXA FORM IS) %C PER ML 1S %C PER ML IS %C PEK ML I
CLOSTER TUM ceL of 11966) to 61 I in i |
COSMARIUM cer oI I | td i 1 | xt
EUGLENA CEL J 41966) lo oJ} J id j J
EUNCTIA cee ot I ' x od | it ( |
FLAGELLATE cee ott ' tt | 131 8.1) 66 1
FLAGELLATES CEL | 141.21 ait | {1 | !
GLENOOINIUM ? cee i i 1 {to0.f 657) «$1135.11 286 I
KIRCHNERIELLA ceu ot I t rt ( 1215411 441 I
MOUGESTIA Flu ot I ' x tl I i) I |
NAVICULA cen st I ' x dt 1 14t 1.31 50 |
PINNULARTA cet I 119661 lo 44 I x tt ' '
SCENEDE SMUS co it ' i t im | x 4
STIGEOCLONIUM FIL ot 1 x tl { ta t '
SYNEDRA ULNA ceu ot I I x wt 4 tt t t
XANTHIDIUM ? CEL tt i} ia ' 151 1231 ll \

TOTAL 51 657 B15


TECHNICAL REPORT DATA

1. REPORT NO, 2.

3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSIONNO.
EPA-600/3-77-103

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

5. REPORT DATE

S
DISTRIBUTION OF PHYTOPLANKTON IN WEST VIRGINIA LAKES eptember 1977

6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE

17. AUTHOR(S)

V.W. Lambou, F.A. Morris, M.K. Morris, L.R. Williams,
W.D. Taylor, F.A. Hiatt, S.C. Hern, J.W. Hilgert

9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS 10, PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory 1BA608

Office of Research and Development 11. GONTRACT/GRANT NO.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Las Vegas, NV 89114

12, SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS

js. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.

13, TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Las Vegas, NV 03-07-73 to 11-14-73
Office of Research and Development 14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory EPA/600/07

Las Vegas, NV 89114
16. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

Previously released in limited distribution No, 693 in the Working Paper Series
for the National Eutrophication Survey.

This is a data report presenting the species and abundance of phytoplankton
fin 4 lakes sampled by the National Eutrophication Survey in the State of West
irginia. Results from the calculation of several water quality indices are also |
included (Nygaard's Trophic State Index, Palmer's Organic Pollution Index, and

pecies diversity and abundance indices).

7. KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS Ib. 1IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS |c. COSAT! Field/Group
*aquatic microbiology West Vipginia 06 C
lake lake eutrophication 08 H
*phytoplankton Nygaard's trophic indices 138
water quality Palmer's organic pollu-

tion indices
Species diversity and

abund. i. S,
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT 19. SAN tea nero 21. 28 PAGES
LEASE TO PUBLIC 20. SECURITY CLASS (This page) i2Z. PRICI
re UNCLASSIFIED Jj

EPA Perm 2220-1 (9-73)

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1977-785-008/1008 REGION NO.9->


DISCLAIMER

This report has been reviewed by the Environmental Monitoring and
Support Laboratory-Las Vegas, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial
products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

ii


SPECIES OCCURRENCE AND ABUNDANCE

The alphabetic phytoplankton species list for each lake,
presented in the Appendix, gives the concentrations of individual
species by sampling date. Concentrations are in cells, colonies, or
filaments (CEL, COL, FIL) per milliliter. An "X" after a species name
indicates the presence of the species on that date in such a low
concentration that it did not show up in the count. A blank space
indicates that the organism was not found in the sample collected on
that date. Column S is used to designate the examiner's subjective
opinion of the five dominant taxa in a sample, based upon relative
size and concentration of the organism. The percent column (%C)
presents, by abundance, the percentage composition of each taxon.


APPENDIX. SUMMARY OF PHYTOPLANKTON DATA

This appendix was generated by computer. Because it was only possible
to use upper case letters in the printout, all scientific names are
printed in upper case and are not italicized.

The alphabetic phytoplankton lists include taxa without species
names (e.g., EUNOTIA, EUNOTIA #1, EUNOTIA ?, FLAGELLATE, FLAGELLATES,
MICROSYSTIS INCERTA ?, CHLOROPHYTAN COCCOID CELLED COLONY). When species
determinations were not possible, symbols or descriptive phrases were
used to separate taxa for enumeration purposes. Each name ona list,
however, represents a unique species different from any other name on
the same list, unless otherwise noted, for counting purposes.

Numbers were used to separate unidentified species of the same genus.
A generic name listed alone is also a unique species. A question mark
(?) is placed immediately after the portion of a name which was assigned
with uncertainty. Numbered, questioned, or otherwise designated taxa
were established on a lake-by-lake basis; therefore NAVICULA #2 from
lake A cannot be compared to NAVICULA #2 from lake B. Pluralized categories
(e.g., FLAGELLATES, CENTRIC DIATOMS, SPP.) were used for counting purposes
when taxa could not be properly differentiated on the counting chamber.

1


EPA-600/3-77-103
September 1977

DISTRIBUTION OF PHYTOPLANKTON IN WEST VIRGINIA LAKES

by

V. W. Lambou, F. A. Morris*, M. K. Morris*,
L. R. Williams, W. D. Taylor, F. A. Hiatt*,
S. C. Hern, and J. W. Hilgert*

Monitoring Operations Division
Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory
Las Vegas, Nevada 89114

*Department of Biological Sciences
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada 89154

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND SUPPORT LABORATORY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114


02

LAKE NAME: TYGERT RES.
STCRET NUMBER? 5404

OATE

MYXIPHYCEAY
CHLOP OPHYCCAN
EUGL ENOPHYTE
DIATOM
COMPOUND

NYGAARD TROPHIC STATE INOICES

04 23 73 07 28 73 10 05 73

ofa 9 ovo 9 O3/0 E
oso 6 02/0 E OB/0 E
ada 2? 9702 2? 0/06 2?
0.20 ? 01/0 & 1.50 F
01/0 & 03/0 & 09/0 E

PALMER'S ORGANIC POLLUTION INDICES

DATE

GENUS
SPECIES

AVERAGE DIVERSITY

NUMBER OF TAXA

NUMBER OF SAMPLES COMPOSITED
MAXIMUM DIVERSITY

TCTAL DIVERSITY

TCTAL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS /ML
EVENESS COMPONENT

MEAN NUMBSR OF INDIVIDYALS/TAXA
NUMBER/ML CF MIST ABJNCANT TE XON

SPECIES OIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE INDICES

DATE

MAX

ArezoLEwr

04 23:73 OF 28 73 10 05 73

00 00 09
00 00 oo

04 23 73 O7 28 73 10 05 73

2051 1.92 2072
10.00 6.00 13.00
3.00 3.00 5.00
3432 2.58 3.70

529.61 399.36 2662.88
211.00 208.00 979,00

9.76 0.74
21.10 75.31
57.00 69.00 287.00


RESEARCH REPORTING SERIES

Research reports of the Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, have been grouped into nine series. These nine broad cate-
gories were established to facilitate further development and application of en-
vironmental technology. Elimination of traditional grouping was consciously
planned to foster technology transfer and a maximum interface in related fields.
The nine series are:

1. Environmental Health Effects Research

Environmental Protection Technology

Ecological Research

Environmental Monitoring

Socioeconomic Environmental Studies

Scientific and Technical Assessment Reports (STAR)
Interagency Energy-Environment Research and Development
“Special” Reports

Miscellaneous Reports

This report has been assigned to the ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH series. This series
describes research on the effects of pollution on humans, plant and animal spe-
cies, and materials. Problems are assessed for their long- and short-term. influ-
ences. Investigations include formation, transport, and pathway studies to deter-
mine the fate of pollutants and their effects. This work provides the technical basis
for setting standards to minimize undesirable changes in living organisms in the
aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments.

ODOHNDAPRWN

This document is available to the public through the National Technical Informa-
tion Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.


In analyzing a water sample, any of the 20 genera or species of
algae present in concentrations of 50 per milliliter or more are
recorded, The pollution index numbers of the algae present are
totaled, providing a genus score and a species score. Palmer
determined that a score of 20 or more for either index can be taken as
evidence of high organic pollution, while a score of 15 to 19 is taken
as probable evidence of high organic pollution. Lower figures suggest
that the organic pollution of the sample is not high, that the sample
is not representative, or that some substance or factor interfering
with algal persistence is present and active.

SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE INDICES

"Information content" of biological samples is being used
commonly by biologists as a measure of diversity. Diversity in this
connection means the degree of uncertainty attached to the specific
identity of any randomly selected individual. The greater the number
of taxa and the more equal their proportions, the greater the
uncertainty, and hence, the diversity (Pielou 1966). There are
several methods of measuring diversity, e.g., the formulas given by
Brillouin (1962) and Shannon and Weaver (1963). The method which is
appropriate depends on the type of biological sample on hand.

Pielou (1966) classifies the types of biological samples and
gives the measure of diversity appropriate for each type. The Survey
phytoplankton samples are what she classifies as larger samples
(collections in Pielou's terminology) from which random subsamples can
be drawn. According to Pielou, the average diversity per individual
for these types of samples can be estimated from the Shannon-Wiener
formula (Shannon and Weaver 1963):

Ss
H = 71 Ps log, Ps

Where P is the proportion of the ith taxon in the sample, which is cal-
culated from n./N; n. is the number of individuals per milliliter of the
ith taxon; Nig the total number of individuals per ml; and S is the total
number of taxa.

However, Basharin (1959) and Pielou (1966) have pointed out that
H calculated from the subsample is a biased estimator of the sample H,
and if this bias is to be accounted for, we must know the total num-
ber of taxa present in the sample since the magnitude of this bias
depends on it.

Pielou (1966) suggests that if the number of taxa in the
subsample falls only slightly short of the number in the larger
sample, no appreciable error will result in considering S, estimated


LITERATURE CITED

Basharin, G. P. 1959. Ona statistical estimate for the entrophy of a
sequence of independent random variables, pp. 333-336. InN.
Artin (ed.), Theory of Probability and Its Applications
(translation of "Teoriya Veroyatnosei i ee Premeneniya") 4.
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Philadelphia.

Brillouin, L. 1962. Science and Information Theory (2nd ed.).
Academic Press, New York. 351 pp.

Hutchinson, G. E. 1967. A Treatise on Limnology. II. Introduction
to Lake Biology and the Limnoplankton. John Wiley and Sons,
Inc., New York. 1,115 pp.

Nygaard, G. 1949. Hydrobiological studies of some Danish ponds and
lakes. II. (K danske Vidensk. Selsk.) Biol. Sci. 7:293.

Palmer, C. M. 1969. A composite rating of algae tolerating organic
pollution. J. Phycol. 5:78-82.

Pielou, E. C. 1966. The measurement of diversity in different types
of biological collections. J. Theor. Biol. 13:131-144.

Prescott, G. W. 1970. How to Know the Freshwater Algae. William C.
Brown Company. Dubuque. 348 pp.

Sager, P. E. and A. D. Hasler. 1969. Species diversity in laucustrine
phytoplankton. I. The components of the index of diversity from
Shannon's formula. Amer. Natur. 103(929):51-59.

Shannon, C. E. and W. Weaver. 1963. The Mathematical Theory of
Communication. University of Illinois Press, Urbana. 117 pp.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1975. National Eutrophication
Survey Methods 1973-1976. Working Paper No. 175. Environmental
Monitoring and Support Laboratory. Las Vegas, Nevada, and
Corvallis Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon.
91 pp.

Zand, S. M. 1976. Indexes associated with information theory in water
quality. Journal WPCF. 48(8):2026-2031.

10