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LEWIS SMITH LAKE - Auburn University

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found at concentrations ranging from 31 to 76 Ilg/L and 22 to 102 Ilg/L, respectively. Highest<br />

concentrations ofboth metals were found in Brushy Creek embayment (station 8).<br />

Phytoplankton densities in 1995 ranged from a low of357 organisms/ml at station I during the<br />

spring 1995 to 2,294 organisms/ml at station 3 during the summer 1995. Highest densities occurred<br />

during the summer and fall and lowest densities during the spring. Seasonal mean densities were usually<br />

similar among stations within a season and mean embayment densities were similar to nearby mainstem<br />

station densities. In 1995, seasonal mean phytoplankton densities were about twice what they were at the<br />

same locations in 1986. On an annual basis, mean densities were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in 1995<br />

at all locations except at mainstem at Duncan's Creek (station 5) and mainstem downstream from the<br />

confluence ofSipsey Fork and Brushy Creek (station 7).<br />

Numerical dominance was shared by green algae (Division Chlorophyta) and diatoms (Division<br />

Chrysophyta) at mainstem sampling stations. Diatoms were generally more abundant in spring months<br />

and green algae more abundant in summer and fall months. The blue-green algae (Division<br />

Cyanobacteria) were the third most abundant algal Division. This pattern ofalgal dominance is common<br />

in Alabama lakes (Bayne et al. 1993a, 1993b, and 1995). Fifty-four algal taxa were identified from<br />

samples taken from Smith Lake. These taxa are generally common constituents of lake phytoplankton<br />

communities in this region (Taylor et al. 1979). Among the dominant phytoplankton genera, all occur<br />

with great frequency in reservoirs ofthe southeastern United States (Taylor et al. 1979).<br />

Phaeophytin-corrected, chlorophyll '" concentration is an indicator ofphytoplankton biomass and<br />

is a variable often used to determine the trophic status oflakes in the absence ofmacrophytes (Carlson<br />

1977 and EPA 1990). Corrected chlorophyll '" concentrations from about 6.4 to 56 J.Lg/L are indicative of<br />

eutrophic waters (Carlson 1977). Waters having concentrations> 56.0 J.Lg/L are considered<br />

hypereutrophic and waters with concentrations offrom 1.0 to

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