-
Attached Algal Growth
in Carnation Creek:
A Coastal Rainforest Stream
on Vancouver Island
British Columbia
by John G. Slockner and
K. R. S. Shortreed
FISHERIES AND MARINE SERVICE
SERVICE DES PECHES ET DES SCIENCES DE LA M ER
TECHNICAL REPORT No.
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE N°
1975
558
.+
EnvIronment
Canada
Environnemenl
Canada
Fisheries
and Marine
Service
Service des peches
et des sciences
de la mer
t
Technical Reports
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be preserved, but which for some reason are not appropriate for primary scientific
publication. Inquiries concerning any particular Report should be directed to the
issuing establishment.
Rapports Techniques
..
Les rapports techniques sont des documents de recherche qui revetent une assez
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a
Department of the Environment
Ministere de l'Environnement
Fisheries and Marine Service
Service des Peches et des Sciences de la mer
Research and Development Directorate
Direction du Rechereche et Developpement
TECHNICAL REPORT No. 558
RAPPORT TECHNIQUE NO . 558
(Numbers 1-456 in this series
(Les numeros 1-456 dans cette serie furent
were issued as Technical Reports
utilises comme Rapports Techniques de lloffice
of the Fisheries Research Board of
des recherches sur les pecheries du Canada
Canada.
The series name was changed
Le nom de la serie fut change avec le
with report number 457)
rapport numero 457)
Attached algal growth in Carnation Creek:
A coastal rainforest stream on VanGouver Island,
British Columbia.
by John G. Stockner and K.R.S. Shortreed
This is the twentieth
Ceci est le vingtieme
Technical Report from the
Rapport Technique de la Direction du
Research and Development Directorate
Recherche et Developpement
Pacific Environment Institute
Institut de 1 lenvironnement du Pacifique
West Vancouver, B.C.
Vancouver-Ouest
1975
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Introduction
1
Methods ...................................................... 2
Re su1t 5 .....•.••...•....•.....•..............•.....•..•...•.• 5
Dis c us s ion .................................................. . 12
"References .................................................. 18
Tables ...................................................... 21
Fi gures ..................................................... 37
iii
LIST OF TABLES
Page
Table 1.
Salient information on Station locations in
Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
21
Table 2.
Water Chemistry, Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks.
22
Table 3.
Attached algal chlorophyll concentrations by
station in Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
Table 4.
Attached algal organic biomass in Carnation and
Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
Table 5.
23
24
Diatom species list, esUmated volume, and designated letter (for Figure 7 - 16) in Carnation
and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
Table 5a.
Non-diatom algae found in Carnation and Ritherdon
Creeks, 1974.
Table 6.
25
27
Total algal volume in Carnation and Ritherdon
Creeks, 1974.
28
Table 7.
Percent of total algal volume contributed by diatoms
29
Table 8.
in Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
Total number of algal cells ,cm- 2 in Carnation and
Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
30
Table 9.
.
Total dlatoms
cm -2 by station in Carnation and
Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
Table 10.
Attached algal growth (net production) by station
in Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
Table 11.
31
32
Diatom community similarity based on distance
index in Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
33
iv
List of Tables cont'd.
Table 12.
Density of benthic invertebrates in Carnation and
Ritherdon Creeks.
Table 13.
Page
34
Comparlsons of attached algal net production rates
in Carnation Creek with literature values from a
variety of temperate habitats.
35
y
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Figure 1.
Map of southern portion of Vancouver Island
showing location of Carnation Creek, and more
detailed map of Carnation Creek watershed with
station locations.
37
Figure 2a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Block with plexiglass plate on estuary fan.
Quadrats prior to sampling after 4 weeks growth.
Estuary of Carnation Creek looking seaward.
Estuary of Carnation Creek looking landward.
Station 8, Carnation Creek, under heavy canopy.
Ritherdon Creek, Station 9, clearcut watershed,
38
Figure 3.
Mean daily discharge in Carnation Creek, 1974.
Figure 4.
Stream temperature variation at B weir,
40
40
42
Annual variation in attached algal Chl
~
content,
43
Carnation Creek, 1974.
Figure 6.
39
39
41
Carnation Creek, 1974.
Figure 5.
38
Annual variation of attached algal biomass
(~g
organic cm -2 ), Carnation Creek, 1974.
Figure 7-16.Seasonal vatiatjoninabsoluteabcndance df
44
m~jor
diatom species (> 1% of total population) in
Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
Figure 17
45-54
Relation between percent light reduction by forest
canopy and mean attached algal Chl
station in Carnation Creek.
~
for each
Ritherdon values
(0)
not included in regression.
Figure 18.
55
Relation between percent light reduction by forest
canopy and percent diatom contribution to total algal
volume.
Station 8
(0)
not included in regression.
56
vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to acknowledge the continuing support of these
studies by the Carnation Creek Coordinating Committee, and the Pacific
Biological Station, Nanaimo.
Many persons have given generously of
their time to assist in aspects of this work.
Messrs. B. Andersen,
P. Neave, R. Leahey have assisted in field operations.
Drs. D.W. Narver,
M. Waldichuk and Mr. C. Scrivener have assisted in critical review of
this manuscript.
sincere thanks.
To these persons and agencies we extend our most
vii
ABSTRACT
Stockner, John G. and K.R.S. Shortreed.
Carnation Creek:
British Columbia.
1975.
Attached algal growth in
A coastal rainforest stream on Vancouver Island,
Fish. Mar. Servo Res. Dev. Tech. Rep. 558.
64p.
Attached algal growth in Carnation Creek and its estuary were monitored
in 1974 as part of the Carnation Creek Experimental Watershed Study.
The
purpose of the study was to document the autotrophi c prod.ucti on in the stream
prior to logging, scheduled to commence in 1975.
Greatest growth occurred on
the estuary where optimal nutrient and light conditions prevailed. Average
growth here was 24.1 ~g org. cm -2 day -1 as opposed to a Carnation Creek average of 3.9 ~g org. cm- 2 day -1
Algal growth in Ritherdon Creek, located on
an adjacent clearcut logged watershed, was slightly higher (5.9
.
day -1) than Carnatlon
Creek s average.
I
ductive habitat in the creek.
~g
org. cm -2
Riffles ten dd
e to be the least pro-
Poor light condition under the rainforest
canopy and extremely low nutrient values are thought to be chief factors
responsible for the paucity of algal growth.
Periodic freshets scour the
stream bed and remove significant accumulations of algae on most substrates,
thereby representing the major loss of algae from the system.
Diatoms domin-
ate the algal assemblage at most stations on most dates.
Dominant species
were Achnanthes
Diatoma heimaZe
minutissima~
and Eunotia pectinaZis.
Synedra
UZothrix~
ant filamentous green algae.
uZna~
Hannaea
arcus~
DraparnaZdia and Mougeotia were the domin-
Production in Carnation Creek is extremely low
when compared to attached algal growth in other British Columbia rivers and
lakes.
viii
~
~
RESUME
Stockner, John G and K.R.S. Shortreed.
Carnation Creek:
British Columbia.
1975.
Attached algal growth in
A coastal rainforest stream on Vancouver Island,
Fish. Mar. Servo Res. Dev. Tech. Rep. 558. 64p.
On a effectu~, en 1974 et dans le cadre de 1 '~tude experimentale du bassin
versant du ruisseau Carnation, un contr01e de la croissance des algues fixees
dans le ruisseau et son estuaire.
Cette etude avait pour but d'obtenir des
renseignements sur la production autotrophe du ruisseau avant le debut de la
coupe du bois, prevue pour 1975.
Le croissance est maximum dans l'estuaire,
ou la lumiere et les matieres nutritives sont les plus favorables. La
croissancemoyenne y a ete de 24.1 ~g d'organismes par cm 2 et par jour com2
parativement a 3.9 ~g d'org. par cm et par jour pour le ruisseau. Celle
du ruisseau Ritherdon, situe dans un bassin versant adjacent et ayant subi
une coupe a blanc, etait legerement superieure (5.9 ~g d'org. par cm 2 et
par jour).
Les habitats les moins productifs etaient surtout les gues.
pense que le faible ~clairement sous le couvert de la foret
a regime
On
pluvieux
et les faibles quantites de matieres nutritives sont les principaux facteurs
auxquels on peut attribuer la tres faible croissance des algues.
Les plus
grandes pertes d'algues sont causees par les inondations periodiques qui
lavent le lit du ruisseau et en arrachent des quantites importantes sur la
plupart des substrats.
La plupart du temps et dans la majorite des stations,
les diatomees sont en majorite par rapport aux autres algues.
Les especes
dominantes etaient: Achnanthes minutissima, Synedra ulna, Hannaea arcus,
Diatoma heimale et Eunotia pectinalis.
Ulothrix, Draparnaldia et Mougeotia
etaient les algues vertes filamenteuses dominantes.
fix~es
La production d'algues
du ruisseau Carnation est extremement faible comparativement
d'autres lacs et rivieres de la Colombie-Britannique.
a celle
INTRODUCtION
Carnation Creek flows into Barkley Sound on the west coast of Vancouver
Island.
The watershed ;s in the western hemlock b;ogeoclimat;c subzone
with a very high annual rainfall of 2.8 - 3.6 m (Narver 1974) (Fig.l). F10w
2
;s highly variable,ranging from summer low flows of 1.7 x 10- to 28 m3 sec- l
during freshet.
The stream supports small populations of resident cutthroat
trout (Salmo clarkii) in its upper reaches, and is accessible for only 3 km
to anadromous fish,namely chum salmon (Onchorhynchus keta), coho sa1mon
(0. kisutch) and steel head trout (Salmo gairdneri). The watershed area is
approximate1y 10 km 2 , contains no lakes, and at the time of writing is
wholly undisturbed climax vegetation.
Studies were initiated in March 1974 to assess attached algal growth and
production in Carnation Creek Experimental Watershed, Vancouver Island,
Briti sh Columbia .
The 1974 program was the fifth consecutive year of inten-
sive pre-logging data collection on Carnation Creek, and the last year the
waters hed will remain undisturbed.
The overa11 objectives of the Carnation
Creek study are:
1) liTo develop a better understanding of how undisturbed coastal rainforestsa1monid stream ecosystems work in order,
2)
to explain and quantify the impacts of timber production activities on
stream environments and their capacity to produce salmonid fishes in sufficient deta i 1 ,
3)
to provide continuous input to the further development of integrated re-
source management guidelines 'Narver,1974)1I.
Within the scope of these broad objectives was the assessment of pre-logging autotrophic stream production.
A necessary component of this work was
2
an examination of physical, chemical and biological factors which may exert
a rate-controlling influence on periphyton production.
Baseline studies of
spatial and temporal changes in algal standing stock and species composition
were an important part of this initial study of stream periphyton, and presentationof these results is the basic objective of this report.
METHODS
The sampler
The extreme ranges of flow common in Carnation Creek necessitated use
of samplers capable of withstanding considerable variation in flow velocity.
Concrete blocks 31 cm x 31 cm x 18cm with two threaded steel pins embedded
in their upper surfaces were constructed (Fig. 2a).
about 45 - 50 kg.
Each block weighed
Plates of 1 cm thick plexiglass were bolted to the pins,
5 to 7 cm above the surface of the block.
The upper surfaces of the plexi-
glass plates were roughened with fine steel wool and divided into 4, 100 cm 2
quadrants (Fig. 20).
These structures were placed at various locations in the creek and on the
estuarY,and embedded in gravel to a depth of 13 to 18 cm.
To reduce resis-
tance and ensure a more even flow over the plexiglass plate, the corner of the
block was placed perpendicular to the direction of stream flow.
Sampling Intervals
Sampling intervals varied from two weeks at times of high production
(strong light and low flow) to four weeks at times of low production (high
flow and/or weak light).
It was assumed that each sampling interval was of
sufficient duration to allow a stable population to develop.
3
Location of Samplers
Nine detailed study areas, ranging in length from 55 to 152 meters, were
previously established from the intertidal area to a hydrologic weir at the
upper end of the watershed (Narver 1974).
Since it was desirable to integrate autotrophic production closely with
other aspects of the ecosystem, all but three blocks were situated within
these predefined study areas. A critericin of importance in locating the
samplers was the extensive information on benthic fauna.
There was considera-
ble habitat variation among samplers, some in pools, other in riffles, etc
(Table 1, Fig. 1).
Two blocks were located in Ritherdon Creek in an adjacent watershed
that was clearcut logged in 1969.
One block was situated on the Carnation Creek estuary in Barkley Sound,
exposed on a 0.61 m tide (Fig. 2c).
Field Procedure
Sampling consisted of removing the plexiglass plate from the block,
scraping the accumulated growth from each quadrant into a glass jar, and
immediately replacing the cleaned plexiglass plate to the block. The most
efficient scraper was a clean glass microscope slide.
Laboratory Procedure
Chlorophyll a.
The contents of one jar were filtered onto a 5.5 cm,
One ml. of saturated Mg C0 3 solution was added
to prevent acidification prior to analysis. Filters were folded, placed
Whatman glass fibre filter.
in aluminum weighing dishes, and frozen.
Chlorophyll analysis was according
to the methods of Yentsch and Menzel (1963), with minor modifications used
4
when periphyton growth was exceptionally heavy.
Filters were macerated in a
tissue grinder with 10 ml of 90% acetone, and the filtrate analyzed for
chlorophyll
meter.
~
and phaeophytin on a Carey (Model 15) recording specrophoto-
The equation of Strickland and Parsons (1968) was used to calculate
chlorophyll
~.
Dry Weight.
The contents of one jar were filtered onto an ashed and
weighed 5.5 cm Whatman glass fibre filter.
aluminum weighing dishes, and frozen.
Filters were folded, placed in
Samples were dried at 105°C to constant
weight, weighed, ashed at 500°C for four hours in a muffle furnace, and weighed
again.
cm -2
Values are expressed as dry weight and ashfree dry weight (organic)
Net Production.
Net production was estimated by dividing total organic
accumulation per sampling interval by the number of days in the interval.
Values are expressed as ~g organic cm-2 day-1 . For purposes of comparison,
mg carbon was estimated at 50% of organic determinations.
Species Composition.
jars.
Lugol 's acetate solution was added to two of the
A portion of the algae from one jar was counted using a Zeiss inverted
plankton microscope.
algal groups.
This count determined relative abundance of major
Since diatoms were dominant, absolute counts were made of only
diatom species, other algal groups were counted and identified to genus only.
Permanent Hyrax mounts of diatoms were made from one 100 cm 2 quadrat.
Counts from these slides were converted to number of diatoms cm- 2 using
methods described by Stockner &Armstrong (1971).
The relative abundance of
diatoms and other algal groups calculated from the inverted microscope counts
were applied to this value to give total algal cells cm- 2 . Algal volumes
were determined using values calculated by Evans and Stockner (1972) and by
Nauwerck (1963), although direct volume estimates for certain species were
5
made by the authors.
The relative abundance of each diatom species was calculated and used
in a "distance" index (MacIntosh, 1967), to compare similarities between diatom communities in the stream.
Physical Parameters.
An extensive data base exists for temperature,
nutrient level, sediment load, and flow in Carnation Creek (Scrivener, 1975).
These data were used extensively in interpreting results from this study.
Light to the canopy (overstory) was measured using a Belfort recording
pyroheliometer placed on a clearcut logged hill above the estuary (Fig. 2c).
A
second pyroheliometer was placed for two weeks beside the first (for calibration), and for two week intervals beside each stream sampler under the canopy
Using these data,percentage of total light reaching the samplers was calculated for each sampling interval (Table 1).
3
Current velocity was measured at only one level of flow (0.23 m
sec- l ) by measuring the time taken for a small stick to travel one meter.
RESULTS
To simplify presentation of results, tidal portions of Carnation Creek,
containing Stations
and 2, will be referred to as Zone A (Fig.
2t,d)~
Zone
B contains Stations 3 to 8 and consists of the freshwa t er portion of Carnation Creek (Figs. 1 & 2e).
Zone C is Ritherdon Creek , and includes Stations
9 and 10 (Fig. 2f).
Light
Percentage of total available light which actually reached the samplers
ranged from 5% at Station 8 with heavy canopy and understory to 47% at Station 3
with moderate canopy openi ngs and 1ittl e overhangi ng streams i de vegetat ion (Tabl e 1 ).
Stations 4, 5, 6 and 7 had similar canopy cover with light reduction percentages
6
of 40, 39, 40 and 32% respectively.
Station 1 was well out on the estuary
and received full sunlight, while Station 2, on the edge of the estuary, received 65% of available iight.
Both stations in c1earcut-1ogged Ritherdon
Creek received 72% of total available light.
Streamflow
Flow velocity over the samplers was determined only at a discharge of
0.23 m3 sec -1 .
Station 1 on the estuary fan was away from any direct cur-
rent influence, but was subject to considerable wave action. Velocity of
flow in Carnation ~anged from 4 cm sec- l at Station 8 to 64 cm sec- l at
Station 6 (Table 1).
An arbitrary classification of current velocities
into pool (0 - 20 cm sec- 1), run (21 - 45 cm sec- l ), and riffle (46 - 100 cm
sec- 1 ) was made. Stations 3, 5, and 8 were located in pools, Stations 2, 4,
7 and 10 (Ritherdon) in runs, and Stations 6 and 9 (Ritherdon) in riffles.
The scheme is probably an accurate representation of conditions during
summer low-flows, but not during most winter flows or freshet periods.
Winter discharges in Carnation Creek are highly variable around a mean of
1.56 m3/sec (Fig. 3). In 1974 discharge fluctuated widely until early
June, and except for two minor freshets, was consistently low «0.5 m3 sec- l )
from this period until early November, when fall freshets commenced.
Temperature
Water temperature at B weir (Fig. 1) ranged from lows of 2.0°C in January to highs of 12°C in August (Fig. 4).
Diurnal stream variation did not
exceed 2.0°C even in summer, possibly due to shading provided by the heavy
forest canopy.
Temperature variations in Ritherdon were more extreme be-
cause of the open exposure to full sunlight.
7
Water Chemistry
Concentrations of major ions and nutrients in Carnation and Ritherdon
Creeks were generally low (Table 2).
Mean Values for Carnation for a three
year period show calcium, bicarbonate, sodium, chloride, silicates and sulfate as dominant ions, while only trace amounts of iron, manganese, potassium
and magnesium occur.
The extremely low total dissolved solids values in
both creeks are indicative of the very oligotrophic nature of surface water
discharges from both watersheds.
Average and near maximum values of nutrients in both creeks are very low,
with silicate the most abundant nutrient (Table 2).
An~onia
seasonal variation with an average concentration of 0.30
~g
showed little
atoms liter -1 .
Almost all of the total phosphorus measured was dissolved orthophosphate with
~g
1
·
-1
atoms liter- , ranging from <0.01 to 0.29 ~g atoms liter .
The mean nitrate concentration was 2.5 ~g atoms liter- l , with concentrations
varying from lows of 0.5 to highs of >6.0 ~g atoms liter- l . Silicate ranged
a mean of 0.05
from 10 to 70 ~g atoms liter- l with a mean of 35.
With the exception of some freshet periods, nitrate and silicate concentrations showed a significant inverse relation with discharge (Scrivener 1975).
Ritherdon Creek displayed slightly higher values of most dissolved constituents on September 28 1971, the only day when conparable measurements of water
chemistry from both streams are available.
Chlorophyll a
Mean chlorophyll a values in Carnation Creek (Zone B) ranged from a seasonal low of 0.06 ~g Chl ! cm -2 at Station 8 to 0.34 ~g Chl ! cm -2 at Station 7 (Fig. 5, Table 3).
Mean concentrations at Stations 3 to 6 were very
similar to the grand mean for Carnation Creek, 0.19
~g
Chl a cm -2
8
Stations 1 and 2 on the Carnation Creek estuary (ZoneA)had mean chlorophyll
a concentrations of 1.96 and 1.38,respectively, with a grand mean of 1.67,
which was almost an order of magnitude greater than that calculated for Zone
B. Mean chlorophyll ~ in Ritherdon Creek (Zone C) was 0.26 ~g Chl a cm- 2
slightly greater than the Carnation mean.
Stations 1 to 7 showed maximum chlorophyll
~
concentrations in September
and October, with the exception of Station .6, which stopped sampling (i.e.
was left dry by low flows), at the end of July.
Highest chlorophyll
~
values
at Station 8 in Carnation and at Stations 9 and 10 in Ritherdon were recorded
in June and July, respectively.
Chlorophy11 a concentrations were plotted against time and then integrated
to yield
~g
Chl a cm -2 year -1
The sampling techniques used, and the extra-
polations required at certain stations, do not permit reliable use of these
data on an absolute basis, but rather as a comparison among stations. Annual
chlorophyll ~ production for the estuary was 385 ~g cm -2 year -1 (mean of
Stations 1 and 2).
from a low of 10.5
In Carnation Creek annual chlorophyll
~g
at Station 8 to a high of 57.3
Values at Stations 3 and 5 were
rel~tively
was 34.6
~g
chlorophyll
47.7
~g
cm
-2
production ranged
cm -2 at Station 7.
high, 45.4 and 50.2
respectively, while those at Station 4 (32.4
were considerably lower.
~g
~
~g)
cm -2 year -1
and Station 6 (11.9
The mean annual chlorophyll
~
~g)
production in Zone B
.
1ess than t hat 0 f t he estuary.
cm -2,about ten tlmes
~
~g
Annual
production in Ritherdon (Zone C), was 23.7 at Station 9 and
.
at Station 10, with a mean of 35.7, similar to the mean for
Zone B, Carnation Creek.
Ash-Free Dry Weight
Mean ash-free dry weight (organic) in Carnation ranged from 32 ~g cm- 2
9
at Station 8 to 132 ~g cm- 2 at Station 3.
Mean for Station 6 was 34, while
Stations 4, 5 and 7 had means of 94, 130 and 93 ~g cm- 2 , respectively (Fig.6,
Table 4).
Dry weights in the estuary were much higher, 799
269
~g
cm
-2
.
at Statlon 2.
~g
cm -2 at Station 1 and
Ritherdon values were 114 and 144
Station 9 and Station 10, respectively.
~g
cm
-2
at
Grand mean ash-free dry weight in
Carnation (86) was lower than that in Ritherdon (129), and considerably lower
than on the estuary (534).
Planimetered estimates of total annual organic content are subject to
the same limitations as those for chlorophyll
poses provide useful information.
172.3 mg org. cm
-2
year
-1
~,
but for comparative pur-
Greatest biomass was on the estuary (Zone A),
at Station 1, and 61.5 mg org. cm
-2
at Station 2.
Annual Carnation Creek values ranged from 3.03 at Station 6 to 30.4 at
Station 3.
The annual value at Station 8 was 6.97. Station 7 - 13.9, Station
5 - 29.2, and Station 4 - 15.3 mg org. cm -2 . Mean annual organic content in
Carnation was 16.5, slightly lower than the mean of 18.4 in Ritherdon
(Station 9 - 8.31; Station 10 - 28.57), but considerably lower than the
mean for the estuary, 116.9 mg org. cm -2
Algal Species Composition
Diatoms were the dominant algal group in Both Carnati on and Ritherdon
with Achnanthes rrrinutissima the most abundant at all
ocations except Stations
1 on the estuary and 6 in a riffle (Figs. 7 - 16 &Ta l e 5) . Stations 1
wa~
predominantly marine and had a more complex diatom community with no single
species dominant.
The most common diatoms on the estuary wete Cocconeis
spp., Licmorpha spp., Nitzschia spp., Navicula spp., Gnd Synedra tabulata.
Hannaea arcus was the most common diatom at Station
n.
Other diatoms
occurring commonly throughout Carnation Creek were D&atoma
Fragilaria sp.,
Eunotia
pectinalis~
E.
tenella~
hiemale~
Gomphonema
parvulum~
10
Synedra
ulna~
and Tabellaria flocculosa.
Synedra ulna and Diatoma elongatum
were more abundant in Ritherdon than in Carnation Creek.
The most common non-diatom algae were Microcystis sp. and an unidentified
flagellate in a gelatinous matrix closely resembling ChPomuZina sp. (Table 5a).
Filamentous ch1orophytes such as Draparnaldia sp., Mougeotia sp., and
Ulothrix sp. were more prevalent in Ritherdon than Carnation, at times form-
ing a mat covering large areas of creek bed.
The rhodophyte Batrachospermum
sp. was observed at irregular intervals in both Carnation and Ritherdon
Creeks.
Ulothrix sp. was common at Station 2 in early spring and late fall,
but was rarely observed in summer months.
Algal Volume
Mean algal volume (mm 3 cm- 2 ranged from a high of 1.75 at Station 1 to
a low of 3.94 x 10-3 at Station 8 (Table 6). Highest mean volume in Carnation Creek (Zone B) was recorded at Station 7, 1.25 x 10- 1 , followed by
Station 4 with 9.21 x 10 -2 . Stations 3 and 5 were very similar ( 8.03 x 10-2
and 7.98 x 10- 2 ), while Station 6 had a considerably lower mean volume
4.79 x 10- 2 . Grand mean algal volume in Carnation Creek (7.15 x 10- 2 ) was
.
1ess
less than that of Ritherdon ( 1.9 5 x 10 -1) and an order of magnltude
than that recorded in the Carnation estuary (Zone A), 1.50 mm 3 cm -2.
The percentage of total vblume contributed by diatoms varied from 1 to
99% (Table 7).
Diatoms were least important early in the year but during
low flow periods, which prevailed from mid-July until the end of October,
they increased steadily, at times representing over 90% of the total volume.
Mean percentage of total volume for the season was 80% in the Carnation
estuary and in Ritherdon Creek, but only 60% in Carnation Creek.
11
Algal Density
The total number of cells cm -2 were estimated from microscope counts
and appear in Table 8.
Greatest algal density was on the Carnation Creek
estuary; most inotably Stations 1 & 2 from August to October.
Algal densities
in Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks were very similar, but nearly an order of
magnitude less than on the estuary.
There was no clearly defined period of
maximum algal abundance, but at certain ,stations in Carnation Creek fall
increases were noted.
Maximum algal densities occurred at Stations 1 & 2 in
October and the minima at Station 8 in July (Table 8).
Diatom densities were similar in pattern to that just described for
total algae, however there were a few notable exceptions (Table 9).
Totai
diatom density was much greater in Ritherdon Creek and on the Carnation
estuary than in Carnation Creek (Fig. 7 - 16 and Table 9).
Station 1 and 2
in marine and brackish water locations had by far the greatest number of
diatoms, nearly an order of magnitude greater than Ritherdoil.
Maxima occur-
red in April and September at Station 1 and in Octobe r at Station 2.
Dia-
tom numbers showed no clear seasonal trends in absolute abundance at most of
the Carnation Creek stations.
Algal Net Production
The greatest growth was noted on the estuary, particularly ,in July and
September (Table 10).
The trend at all stations in Carnation was for in-
creased rates of growth in July and August with a leveling off or stabilization period in September-October.
In Ritherdon the greatest growth occurred
in July.
The highest rate occurred at Station 1 in September on the estuary,
where the average daily increase was 155 ~ g org cm- 2 . The greatest rate in
Carnation was at Station 7 in August where daily growth during the period
12
was 11.5 ~g org cm -2
In Ritherdon the highest daily rate was 17.1
-2
cm during the Juiy sampling period.
~g
org
Diatom Community Similarity
MacIntosh's (1967) "distance" index was used to estimate similarity of
diatom communities on artifical substrate throughout the stream (Fig. 7-16
and Table
10).
A
numerical index of zero indicates that the communities
are the same, and the greater the value the less the similarity between
communities.
Stations 3, 4 and 5 in Carnation Creek were the most s"imilar,
with mean indices ranging from 21 to 28.
Station 1, on the estuary in
Barkley Sound, as one would suspect was quite different from any other, but
was most similar to the other estuary plate at Station 2 (x Djh
= 60).
Stations 2, 6 and 8 did not exhtbit an index of less than 50 with any other
station, indicating 1 ittle structural similarity between these and among
other stations sampled.
DISCUSSION
~Factors
influencing autotrophic production in Carnation Creek
Physical-chemical
Light.
If light were the sole limiting factor to algal growth then
removal of the forest canopy should result in an immediate increase in
production.
That this has, in fact, not happened in the adjacent clearcut
logged Ritherdon watershed suggests that perhaps nutrients are as important
as light in limiting algal growth in these oligotrophic systems. The importance of light to algal growth in Carnation cannot be refuted and is
evidenced in the significant positive relation between mean chlorophyll a
and percent total light reduction by the canopy at each station (Fig. 17).
13
The points from Stations 3 - 8 in Figure17 are clustered near the ordinate,
and represent a low light - low chlorophyll condition.
Stations 1 and 2 on
the estuary are separated from the others by quite a gap which we suspect is
not simply a high light - high chlorophyll situation, but rather represents
the influence of a high nutrient - high light situation, because when Ritherdon values are plotted the relation is no longer significant.
This is so
because nutrients, not light, prevent substantial growth, and produce a high
light - low chlorophyll condition.
The higher the light intensity the greater the contribution of diatoms
to the total algal volume (Fig. 18). This suggests that diatoms as a group
are better adapted to a moderate to high light situation, than perhaps to the
diffuse light condition under the canopy.
This fact has been well documented
in lakes, most notably by Lund (1949, 1954).
Temperature.
There was little temperature variation in Carnation, and
among parameters assessed, it appeared to be one of the most predictable.
Ritherdon, because of a more open exposure to full sunlight, exhibited
diurnal temperature variations as well as a wider range of seasonal temperatures.
Mean temperatures between streams did not differ greatly, and it is
difficult to see how temperature could playa growth-limiting role in either
creek.
Flow.
Export of particulate matter increased as a linear function of
flow (Neave, personal communication), but most of this material is allochthonous.
Stream bed movement during high flow situations (> 200 cfs) will
scour gravel and small rocks, effectively removing or burying most
attaches algae.
Any accumulation of periphyton 1 cm in length is more
14
susceptible to export when flow increases suddenly.
However, Carnation is
basically so unproductive that such large accumulations are seldom seen, except on the estuary.
The magnitude of autochthonous export during the main
growing season (May - October) has not been estimated, but we suspect the
amounts, when compared to total autochthonous production during this period,
are small «10%).
Nutrients.
In combination with reduced light, nutrients may limit pro-
duction at certain periods in Carnation, but likely at all times in Ritherdon.
Nutrient content of both systems is remarkably low, in fact all dissolved
constituents are at extremely low levels, especially phosphorus.
Greatest
growth occurred at Station 1 and 2 on the Carnation Creek estuary, which
receives, in addition to plentiful light, an abundant supply of phosphorus:
concentrations of this constituent on the estuary are often an order of
magnitude greater than in the creek.
Nitrate values in Carnation and Rither-
don are not too low, but phosphorus values are very low, and it . is likely
that phosphate, in combination with low light,
limits growth at some stations
in Carnation, and that phosphate alone limits growth in Ritherdon.
Experi-
ments to test these hypotheses are part of the 1975 program.
Biological.
Grazing.
There is a rather low density of invertebrates in both Carna-
tion and Ritherdon when compared with other British Columbia streams
(Table~).
The direct utilization of attached algae by several species,
notably the stonefly AZZoperZa
severa~
and the mayflies Cinygmula sp. and
Baetis sp., has been well documented (Chapman and Demory 1959, Neave and
Shortreed, unpublished data).
D
In the absence of feeding rate data, estimates
15
of the proportion of autotrophic growth lost to grazing cannot be made, but
from "in situ" observations on our samplers, it appears not to be substantial,
i.e. not greater than 5 - 10%.
It is interesting to note that Alloperla sp.
in other British Columbia streams has a one-year life cycle, but in Carnation
it has a two-year cycle.
This can be taken as further evidence of the
ultra-oligotrophic nature of the stream.
Competition.
If growth in both systems were more rapid and biomass
greater, competition for stable substratum could play some role in limiting
certain species population and, in fact, on the estuary this may be happening.
However, nutrients, light and perhaps grazing, prevent algal populations from
reaching a density.where space limitation becomes a problem.
Communities of algae
There was nothing
unu~ua]
about the composition of attached aigal commun-
ities in Carnation or Ritherdon Creeks.
Aehnanthes~
Many of the dominants, namely
Synedra and Diatoma are also abundant in the Alsea Watershed on
the Oregon coast (Hansmann 1969).
At the species level there are, as one
would suspect, differences, but the nature and composition of the communities
with respect to major groupings are remarkably similar.
Some species
dis~
played rather clear habitat preferences in Carnation and Ritherdon.
Aehnanthes minutissima was common in all locations in Carnation under the
canopy, except in riffles, where Hannaea areus was dominant.
Diatoma heimale
was common throughout the Carnation system, but not in Ritherdon where D.
elongatum was common.
S. ulna and Tabellaria flocculosa were more common in
Ritherdon than in Carnation, suggesting a preference for high light conditions.
It is interesting to note that in ultra-oligotrophic lakes, diatoms tend
16
to be less common than small motile chrysophytes and dinoflagellates
(Schnidler &Holmgren 1971).
In Carnation, although diatoms were common,
there was a greater number of algae from other groups, namely chlorophytes.
In Ritherdon and the Carnation estuary, diatoms were the dominant group
throughout the year.
One is tempted to draw the conclusion that in both
lentic and lotic aquatic habitats, poor nutrient conditions reduce the relative importance of diatoms in both number and volume, to the overall algal
\
community.
The composition of algal communities on the Carnation estuary at Station
was strictly marine, while Station 2 had species known to be tolerant to
brackish water e.g. MeZosira
nummuZoides~
Synedra tabuZata and SurireZZa
· ovata (Pomeroy 1974).
Comparison of Carnation production with other systems
To appreciate the amounts of organic matter produced over a given unit
of time one must see them in relation to other aquatic systems, where
similar measurements have been made.
It should be noted that a variety of
methods exist to estimate net production, and to normalize to common units
begs some assumptions, none of which invalidates the comparison, but which
do increase the confidence limits of any given value.
Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks are the lowest reported values and are
most similar to pheriphyton production on the oligotrophic Lake Superior
western shoreline (Table 13).
Values from the Alsea Watershed are consider-
ably higher, and this may be due to the higher nutrient contents that exist
in these streams, or to methodological differences (Hansmann 1969).
Pro-
duction in the Carnation estuary is well below Squamish estuary values
from Howe Sound on the lower mainland of British Columbia, but are
17
similar to average Okanagan Basin Lakes periphyton values.
By far the
greatest production occurs in flowing thermal waters, but this is not
surprising and has been well documented in the literature
Brock & Brock 1969).
(S~ckner
1968, .
While hot springs are near the upper limit of flowing
water production, Carnation Creek appears near the lower limit.
18
REFERENCES
Brock, T.D. and M. Louise Brock.
1969.
Effect of light intensity on ph9to-
synthesis by thermal algae adapted to natural and reduced sunlight.
Limnol. Oceanogr. 14: 334-341.
Chapman, D.W. and R.L. Demory.
1959.
Seasonal changes in food ingestion
by aquatic insect larvae and nymphs in two Oregon streams.
Eco1. 44(1):
140-146.
Evans, D. and John G. Stockner.
1972.
Attached algae on artificial and
natural substrates in Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba.
J. Fish. Res. Bd . .
Canada 29: 31-44.
Fox. J.L., T.O. Odlang, and T.A. Olson.
in western Lake Superior.
1968.
The ecology of periphyton
r. Taxonomy and distribution. Univ. Minn.
Water Resour. Res. Center Bull. 14: 99 p.
Hansmann, E.W.
1969.
The effects of logging on periphyton communities
. of coastal streams.
McIntosh, R.P.
1967.
Ph.D. thesis, Oregon State University, 120 p.
An index of diversity and the relation of certain
concepts to diversity.
Narver, D.W.
1974.
1963.
im See Erken.
Pomeroy, W.M.
1974.
392-404.
Carnation Creek Experimental Watershed project, Annual
Report for 1973.
Nauwerck, A.
Ecology 48:
Fish. Marine Serv., Pac. Biol. Station Rept. 23 p.
Die Beziehungen zwischen Zooplankton und Phytoplankton
Symb. Bot. Upsal. 17:
163 p.
Distribution and primary production of benthic algae
on the Squamish River · Delta, British Columbia.
M.Sc. Thesis, Univ.
of Manitoba, 191 p.
Schindler, D.W. and S.K. Holmgren.
1971.
Primary production and phyto-
plankton in the Experimental Lakes area, northwest Ontario, and other
low-carbonate waters, and a liquid scintillation,imethod for determining
19
14C activity in photosynthesis.
Scrivener,
J.C.
1975.
J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 28: 189-201.
Water, water chemistry, and nutrient budgets for
Carnation Creek Watershed, July 1971 to May 1974.
Fish/Marine Servo
Tech. Rep. (in press).
Strickland, J.D.H., and T.R. Parsons.
Seawater Analysis.
Stockner, J.G.
stream.
1968.
1968.
A practical Handbook of
Fish. Res. Bd. Canada Bull #167.
Algal growth and primary productivity in a thermal
J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 25(10): 2037-2058.
Stockner, J.G. and F.A. J. Armstrong.
Lakes area, northwestern Ontario.
Stockner, J.G. and T.G. Northcote.
1971.
Periphyton of the Experimental
J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 28: 215-229.
1974.
Recent limnological studies of
Okanagan basin lakes and their contribution to comprehensive water
resource management.
J.Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 31: 955-976.
Yentsch, C.S., and D.W. Menzel.
1963.
A method for the determination of
phytoplankton chlorophyll and phaeophytin by fluorescence.
Res. Oceanogr. Abstr. 10: 221-231.
Deep-Sea
Table 1: Salient information on Station locations in Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
STATION
No.
ZONE
A
extreme edge
of estuarine
fan
C
A
R 2
-25 m
A
T 3
0 4
U
5
6
7
8
630 m
1150 m
1480 m
2000 m
2350 m
"-4500 m
N
B
C
LOCATION
R 9
I 10
T
H
E
R
0
0
N
DESCRIPTION
predominantly
marine 10 m.
from creek channel exposed on a
2 ft. tide
brackish fast run
CURRENT VELOCITY
cm sec- l (at low
flow)
PERCENTAGE AVAILABLE LIGHT
100
37
65
tail of a pool
run
tail of a pool
riffle
fast run
pool
9
24
47
40
39
40
32
5
ri ffl e
run
56
26
11
64
36
4
r
72
N
22
Table 2:
Water Chemistry,
Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks a
Mean values
Carnation
July 1971May 1974
Major Ions
Ca 2+
(mg 1-1)
Ml+
Na+
K+
C1
Fa 3+
Mn2+
S024
HCO3
Nutrients
(~g-at
3.0
0.5
2.0
O. 1
2.4
0.04
<0.01
3.7
8.4
5.0
0.8
2.5
0.2
2.5
0.02
<0.01
2.6
8.5
l.2
2.3
0.3
l.5
0.1
<0.01
4.3
2.50
0.30
0.05
34.0
5.18
0.50
0.03
34.7
8.14
0.70
0.04
33.3
25.0
38.6
48.5
1-1 )
NOj(N)
NH3
TP
Si0 2
TDS
September 28, 1971 b
Carnation
Ritherdon
Creek
B weir
(mg 1- 1 )
a.
after Scrivener 1975.
b.
Summer low flow conditions, near maximum values for both creeks.
Table 3:
Attached algal chlorophyll concentrations by station
(~g Chl ~.cm-2)
Date
1974
RITHERDON
CARNATION CREEK
STATION
4
3
5
2
in Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
6
7
8
Mean
10
9
. 12
17/4
0.20
0.08
0.06
0.09
9/5
0.02
0.12
0.04
0.08
0.008
31/5
0.13
0.41
0.33
0.08
0.16
0.02
0.01
0.03
25/6
0.11
1. 01
0.15
0.08
0.24
0.07
0.17
16/7
0.20
0.38
0.20
0.17
0.27
0.40
30/7
0.08
0.62
0.07
0.05
0.11
0.23
0.06
~05
0.23
0.06
.15
0.05
0.40
0.36
.26
0.41
0.17
0.28
1.38
.39
0.22
0.04
0.06
0.08
.16
0.02
21/8
0.80
0.88
0.22
0.12
0.17
0.66
0.16
0.31
.42
10/9
5.81
1. 71
0.38
0.21
0.19
0.23
0.01
0.06
1.07
1/10
3.53
3.76
0.13
0.39
0.33
0.06
0.006
0.03
1.03
29/10
8.74
4.83
0.45
0.95
0.03
0.14
2.24
0.34
0.06
0.56
--- -~-
Mean
1. 96
~
Grand
Mean
1.38
'f
1. 67
0.20
0.16
...
0.15
0.22
,/
V
0.19
N
w
/
0.24
I."
0.28
v
0.26
I
Attached algal organic biomass in Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974 (~g.org.cm-2 (ash-free
dry we; ght) )
Table 4:
Date
1974
2
CARNATION CREEK
STAT ION
3
4
5
RITHERDON
6
7
8
17/4
374
38
61
11
9/5
145
123
68
54
·9
31/5
85
88
70
28
71
9
18
22
25/6
94
304
367
83
247
14
110
16/7
62
143
107
120
78
96
91
10
9
12
Mean
99
16
54
67
65
32
49
65
174
213
167
49
157
359
143
N
~
30/7
11 00
179
36
105
109
21/8
422
282
124
143
10/9
3260
310
126
1/10
882
876
216
29/10
1570
343
140
799
269
Mean
Grand
Mean
l_
Y
534
j
8.
132
53
27
167
242
59
144
120
94
43
48
176
36
336
219
68
32
113
514
221
29
24
37
301
201
134
36
100
361
34
130
Y
86
93
59
32 .
)
114
t
144
=y
129
..J
25
Table 5: Diatom species list, estimated volume, and designated letter
(for Figure 7 - 16) . in Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
Species
Volume
~3
Designated
Letter
Achnanthes ZanceoZata (Breb). Grun.
50
Achnanthes minutissima Klitz
30
a
Achnanthes s p.
20
h
Cocconeis pZacentuZa Ehr.
240
aa
CyrribeZZa turgida (Gregory) C1 eve.
200
Capartogramma crucicuZa (Grun. ex C1.) Ross
CymbeZZa ventricosa Kutz
2500
n
Cymbe ZZa s p .
500
o
Diatoma hiemaZe (Roth) Heib.
450
f
250
v
1500
u
700
c
(Lyngb.) Ag
Diatoma eZongatum
Eunotia diodon
Ehr.
Eunotia Zunaris (Ehr.) Grun.
Eunotia pectinaZis (Kutz.) Rabh.
Gru n.
Eunotia perpusi ZLa
Eunotia sudetica
o.
Mu ~ ' l .
300
200
t
50
d
100
b
FrustuZia rhomboides var. saxonica (Rabh.) Oet.
3000
x
FrustuZia rhorriboides var. capitata (A. Mayer) Patr.
2000
Eunotia teneZZa (Greve) Cleve
Fragi Zaria
S p.
GOmphonema constrictum
(Ehr.) V.H.
Gomphonema ZanceoZatum
Ehr.
GOmphonema parvuZum
Hannae.a
Kutz.
arcus (Ehr; Patr.
Meridion circuZare var. constrictum (Ralfs) V.H.
300
e
500
g
200
y
26
Table 5 cont: Species found on estuary of Carnation Creek
Species
Volume
~3
Agardh.
Achnanthes brevipes
Amphiprora surrirelloides
1000
Hendey
Designated
Letter
mm
jj
Amphora sp.
Ehr.
Biddulphia laevis
Caloneis
sp.
Cocconeis placentula var. lineata (Ehr.) V.H.
Cocconeis
sp .
gg
70
hh
Ehr.
Coscinodiscus radiatus
Diploneis
240
sp.
Grammatophora serpentina Ehr.
Licmorpha gracilis (Ehr.) Grun.
Agardh
Melosira Juergensii
Agardh
Melosira nummuloides
Navicula
7000
4000
7000
sp.
ff
Wm. Smith
Nitzschia bilobata
Pleurosigma elongatum
Rhoicosphenia
cc
Wm. Smith
sp.
Surirella ovata Kutz
Synedra pulchella
Synedra tabulata
1500
Kutz
(Agardh.) Kutz
3000
r
27
Table 5: cont'd.
Volume
Species
)13
Designated
Letter
Navicula sp.
400
s
Nitzschia sp. A
800
P
Nitzschia sp. B
50
g
Stauroneis phoenicenteron (Nitz.) Ehr.
bb
Stauroneis sp.
Synedra ulna
(Nitz. ) Ehr.
3300
j
Synedra sp.
Tabellaria fenestrata (Lyngb. ) Klitz)
3000
(Roth.) Kutz.
1000
Tabellaria flocculosa
Table 5a:
Non-diatom algae found in Carnation and Ritherdon Creek - 1974
Batrachospermum sp.
sp.
Draparnaldia
sp.
Microcystis
Mougeotia
sp•
Oscillatoria
sp.
Rhizoclonium
sp.
Ulothrix
k
sp.
Unidentified colonial flagellate
(mm 3 .cm- 2 )
Table 6: Total algal volume in Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974
CARNA TION CREEK
STATION
Date
RITHERDON
2
3
17/4
1.53 x 10°
8 . 82 x 10-2
1.35 x 10 -2
3.07 x 10- 3
9/5
4.10 x 10- 1
2.07 x 10- 1
4.46 x 10- 2
6.89 x 10- 2
31/5
1.15 x 10- 1
2.37 x 10- 1
1. 76 x 10- 1
l.10xlO- 2
7.77 x 10- 3
25L6
2.09 x lO-l
2.41 x 10- 1
9. 02 x 10- 2
1 .25 x 10- 1
1 . 17 x 10- 1
16/7
3.09 x 10- 1
3.64 x 10- 1
5.41 x 10- 2
1.13 x 10- 1
3.25 x 10- 2
30/7
6.52 x 10°
7.37 x 10- 1
4 . 31 x 10- 2
2.95 x 10- 2
2.20 x 10- 2
21/8
1. 51 x 10- 1
1. 74 x 10°
7 . 41 x 10- 2
1.20 x 10- 1
10/9
4.93 x 10°
1.30 x 10°
4.88 x 10- 2
1/10
1.33 x 10°
6 . 70 x 10°
l.20 x 10- 1
29/10
1.43 x 10°
9 . 28 x lO-l
1.39 x 10- 1
Mean
1.75
1974
1.25
Y
Grand
Mean
1. 50
)
(8.03 x 10
4
-2
6
5
7
8
2.22 x 10- 2
9
10
5.43 x 10- 3
5.27 x 10- 2
3.45 x 10- 3
2. 33 x 10- 3
9.55 x 10- 2
1
2.35 x 10- 3
7 . 06 x 10- 1
6.09 x 10- 1
7.66 x 10- 2
1.98 x 10- 1
9. 86 x 10- 3
2.81 x 10- 1
1.83 x 10- 1
4.49 x 10- 2
2. 12 x 10- 2
5.54 x 10- 3
3.70 x 10- 2
1 .35 x 10- 1
2.27 x 10- 1
4.26 x 10- 1
4.55 x 10- 3
3.77 x 10- 2
5.09 x 10- 2
6.03 x 10- 2
4.18 x 10- 2
l.52 x 10- 4
2. 42 x 10- 2
l.95 x 10- 1
l.87 x 10- 1
1.55 x 10- 2
1.44 x 10- 3
2.73 x 10- 2
7. 21 x 19- 2
4.89 x 10- 2
2. 66 x 10- 3
3.59 x 10- 2
9.21 x 10
-2
7.98 x 10
T
7.15 x 10- 2
-2
1.21 x 10-
4.79 x 10
-2
1.25 x 10
-1
2.57 x 10- 1
3.94 x 10- 3
.J
\
1 .33 x 10- 1
)
Y
1.95 x 10
-1
N
00
29
Table 7: Percent of total algal volume contributed by diatoms in Carnation
and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974.
Date
1974
2
CARNATION CREEK
STATION
4
5
3
17/4
93
1
8
5
9/5
93
56
33
9
31/5
85
24
11
70
40
25/6
97
85
50
15
45
16/7
91
99
89
48
77
30/7
99
82
74
69
73
21/8
95
99
91
98
10/9
99
99
88
1/10
98
99
64
29/10
34
78
87
Mean
~8
Grand
Mean
,
80
72)
~
60
RITHERDON
6
7
8
Mean
10
9
27
20
22
31
38
31
38
33
42
8
51
99
98
61
37
13
50
96
93
69
77
80
85
95
99
83
86
69
82
89
89
88
72
81
51
78
82
93
72
59
89
96
84
84
73
91
78
75
55
61
69
56
45
V
' 60
)
l
82
77
y
80
J
Table 8: Total number of algal cells .cm-
2
in Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974
CARNATION CREEK
STATION
Date
1974
2
6
4.55 x 10
17/4
5
9/5
8.33 x 10
31/5
4.37 x 10
25/6
7.40 x 10
16/7
1 . 00 x 10
30/7
3.00 x 10
.
21/8
1. 08 x 10
10/9
5.03 x 10
1/10
2.50 x 10
29/10
9.19 x 10
Mean
1-2.84 x 10
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6.48 x 10
1 . 27 x 10
2.11 x 10
1.64 x 10
5
6
6
6
4 . 63 x 10 5
1 .43 x 10
6
6
1 . 27 x 10
. 5
6.09 x 10
3.98 x 10
2 . 00 x 10
6
7
'
6
3.34 x 10 I
'Y
Grand
Mean
3
3.09 x 10
6
9.83 x 10
3 . 48 x 10
1.25 x 10
5.84 x 10
3.46 x 10
5.70 x 10
6.31 x 10
(, 9.74 x 10
5
6
6
5
5
5
5
1. 72 x 10
1 .73 x 10
3.42 x 10
1.91 x 10
6.07 x 10
6.57 x 10
5.04 x 10
9.87 x 10
5
6
6
5
5
5
5
6
5
6.83 x 10
3.53 x 10
5.66 x 10
4.33 x 10
5.49 x 10
6.69 x 10
1. 18 x 10
6
1 .09 x 10
.,
8
9
10
5
6
4.38 x 10 5
5
4
6
2.99 x 10
6
5
1. 18 x 10
5
4.29 x 10
6
5
5.67 x 10
2.85 x 10
3.82 x 10
5
4.46 x 10
6
3.54 x 10
5
1.39 x 10
6
9.76 x 10
1 .31 x 10
3.23 x 10
6
1.30 x 10
1.31 x 10
7
6
1 . 48 x 10
5
5
2 . 68 x 10
1 .29 x 10
5
4
3.41 x 10
RITHERDON
6.82 x 10
5
5
1 .87 x 10
6
5
6
5
5
6
6
5.42 x 10
2.72 x 10
1 .67 x 10
4 . 80 x 10
5.16 x 10
7.10xl0
8.64 x 10
2.67 x 10
5
1. 15 x 10 6
4
1 .46 x 10
4
8.22 x 10
4
1.38 x 10
4
3 . 48 x 10
6
5
6
5
4
1.02 x 10
1.56 x 10
5.11 x 10
6.77 x 10
4
4.05 x 10
4
1 . 37 x 10
4
4
5.70 x 10 I
4
4.67 x 10
7.45 x 10
I
1.00 x 10
6
6
5
5
5
5
5
5
6.95 x 10"
y
8.48 x 10
6
5
w
0
em -2
Table 9: Total diatoms
by station in Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks,
1974.
CARNATION CREEK
STATION
DATE
1974
2
17/4
3.53 x 10
9/5
4.55 x 10
31/5
1.39 x 10
25/6
6.45 x 10
16/7
5.26 x 10
30n
2.68 x 10
21/8
7.60 x 10
10/9
4 . 49 x 10
2.08 x 10
29/10
2.14 x 10
Grand
Mean
\1.74 x 10
5
5
5
5
6
5
6
6
1/10
Mean
6
6
6
1.75 x 10
5
1.45 x 10
5
3.44 x 10
6
1.32 x 10
5
4.42 x 10
4.63 x 10
1. 14 x 10
5 . 13 x 10
2.82 x 10
1.05 x 10
1.77 x 10
Y
1.76 x 10
3
3
6
5
6
5
6
7
6
)
8.18x10
4.10 x 10
1 .43 x 10
4.01 x 10
4.35 x 10
1 . 71 x 10
3.42 x 10
1 .15 x 10
2.48 x 10
5 . 45 x 10
\2.45 x 10
4
5
3
5
5
5
5
5
5
2.10 x 10
1 .29 x 10
1.31 x 10
4.50 x 10
2.06 x 10
4.97 x 10
3.15 x 10
4.80 x 10
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
1 .40 x 10
4
5
8
4
5
2.13 x 10
6.95 x 10
1.03 x 10
1 .09 x 10
5
5
5
6.12 x 10
5
7.41 x 10
5
7 . 46 x 10
V
2.07 x 10
1 .37 x 10
2.58 x 10
5
2.80 x 10
1.53x10
1 .29 x 10
5
2.09 x 10
2
4
2.63 x 10
5
3.50 x 10
2.63 x 10
5.85 x 10
5
7 . 10 x 10
2.99 x 10
1. 19 x 10
4
2.83 x 10
2.99 x 10
7
6
9
10
3
1.76 x 10
4
5
RITHERDON
5
4
3.33 x 10
5
5
6
5
4
5
5
1.76 x 10
2.34 x 10
4
2 . 63 x 10
3
3
8.05 x 10
3
6.70 x 10
4
2.33 x 10
1.32 x 10
1.35 x 10
2.61 x 10
2.61 x 10
7.82x10
7.75 x 10
4
1 . 24 x 10
4
2 . 85 x 10
5
6
5
2.63 x 10
9.10 x 10
1.33 x 10
4.05 x 10
4
5.03 x 10
3
1 .37 x 10
5
6
5
5
5
4
9.17 x 10
3
3
4.78 x 10
3
)
3
\
5.69 x 10
5
5
4.32 x 10)
v
5.01 x 10
5
5
w
......
32
Table 10:
.
Attached algal growth (net production) by station
and Ritherdon Creeks, 1974 (~g org. cm- 2 day-1)
Date
1974
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
17/4
10.4
1.0
1.7
0.3
9/5'
6.3
5.3
2.9
2.3
0.4
31/5
4.0
4.2
3.3
1.3
3.4
0.4
0.9
1.0
25/6
3.6
11.7
14.1
3.2
9.5
0.5
4.2
16/7
2.9
6.8
5.1
5.7
3.7
4.6
30/7
78.6
12.8
2.6
7.5
7.8
3.1
21/8
20.0
13.4
5.9
6.8
10/9
155.2
14.7
6.0
1/10
32.6
32.4
8.0
29/10
56.1
12.2
5.0
Mean
\36.9
Y
Grand
Mean
24.1
11 .4) \- 5.5
in Carnation
10
9
0.3
Mean
2.7
2.3
2.9
3.1
1.5
2.3
2.5
6.7
8.2
6.4
4.6
2.3
7.5 17.1
6.0
3.8
1.9
4.2
7.9
11. 5
2.8
6.8
4.4
4.5
0.7
3.4
12.6
1.7
16.0
10.4
3.2
1.5
5.4
24.4
8.2
l.1
0.9
1.4
11. 1
7.2
4.8
1.3
3.6
12.9
4.3
1.4,)-
5.7
y
3.9
1.8
, 5.4
"(
5.9
6.5.1
Table 11: Diatom communi ty simi1ari ty based on distance index
Ritherdon Creek, 1974.
a
in Carnation and
(as il1dex increases similarity between communities decreases).
1
2
60
2
3
76
50
3
4
77
53
27
!
4
w
,
.
a
w
5
77
50
21
28
5
6
69
60
71
69
72
6
7
82
56
4}
41
46
45
7
8
80
67
57
60
55
63
48
9
92
65
53
62
46
83
~
85
10
89
57
36
31
29
70
1_41
59
MacIntosh (1967)
--
-
~
I
8
9
L
_c
34
Table 12:
Density of benthic invertebrates in Carnation and Ritherdon
Creeks a . (No.m- 2 )
Location
May
1971
Ju1yAug.
1971
Ju1yAug.
1972
May
1974
June
1974
5800
4900
6000
6600
5800
5600
5500
7200
6300
7300
3700
2600
4000
Carnation Creek
630 m
(Stn. 3)
1200 m
(Stn. 4)
1480 m
(Stn. 5)
4000
4000
2000 m
(Stn. 6)
2400
2600
2350 m
(Stn. 8)
Upper
Weir
(Stn. 8)
600
Ritherdon (Stn. 9
& 10)
aScrivener, unpublished data,
9000
11 00
11 00
5500
9700
200 ~ mesh net.
2400
35
Table 13:
Comparisons of attached algal net production rates in Carnation
Creek with 1iterature val ues from a vari ety of temperate habi tats.
Method
Present Study
(averages)
Carnation Creek Estuary (Zone A)
121
Carnation Creek
(Zone B)
20
Ritherdon Creek
(Zone C)
29
Alsea Watershed Study, Oregon
(Hansmann, 1969)
Deer Creek (ave) patch-logged
385
Needle Branch (ave) clear-cut
415
Flynn Creek (ave) Control
580
Sguamish Estuary, B.C.
(Ave.)
(Pomeroy, 1974)
Okanagan Basin Lakes
(Stockner & Northcote 1974)
Okanagan Lake
Ka 1ama 1ka Lake
500
Wood Lake
240
_,Skaba 'Lake
115
oxygen
harvest
178
Ohanapecosh Hot Springs, Washington
(Stockner, 1968)
Spring 4
2500
Spring 6
2000
Lake Superi or
(Fox et al
West shoreline
diurnal O2 curves
110
62
Osoyoos Lake
harvest
diurnal O2 curves
1969)
61
harvest
FIGURE LEGEND
Figure 1.
Map of southern portion of Vancouver Island showing location of
Carnation Creek, and more detailed map of Canration Creek Watershed with station locations.
Figure 2a.
Block with plexiglass plate on estuary fan.
b.
Quadrats prior to sampling after 4 weeks growth.
c.
Estua ry of Carnati on Creek 1ooki ng seaward.
d.
Estuary of Carnation Creek looking landward.
e.
Station 8, Carnation Creek, under heavy canopy.
f.
Ritherdon Creek, Station 9, clearcut watershed.
Figure 3.
Mean daily discharge in Carnation Creek, 1974.
Figure 4.
Stream temperature variations at B weir, Carnation Creek, 1974.
Figure 5.
Annual variation in attached algal Chl.
~
content, Carnation
Creek, 1974.
Figure 6.
Annual variation of attached algal biomass
(~g
organic cm -2 ),
Carnation Creek, 1974.
Figure 7-16. Seasonal variation in absolute abundance of major diatom species
(> 1% of total population) in Carnation and Ritherdon Creeks,
1974.
Figure 17.
Relation between percent light reduction by forest canopy and
mean attached algal Chl
~
for each station in Carnation Creek.
Ritherdon values (0) not included in regression.
Figure 18.
Relation between percent light reduction by forest canopy and
percent diatom contribution to total algal volume.
(0)
not included in regression.
Station 8
37
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