quantitative analyses of periphyton biomass and ... - SUNY Oneonta

Streams 16, 17, 20, and 6 were characterized as agricultural streams.
Based on the indices, higher values indicate more agricultural land and
generally higher nutrient concentrations.
Streams 15, 5, 9, and 4 were characterized as forested streams based
on the trophic level indices (Figure 7). The lower values indicate more forested
land than agricultural and generally lower nutrient concentrations.
Stream 2 was characterized as urban because it flowed through the
Village of Cooperstown. Of the ten sampling sites, the highest yearly average
concentrations of T.P0 4 (.334 mg/l) and CI (33.42 mg/I) were recorded for this
stream, which is typical of urban streams (Wetzel 1983).
Affects of the Parameters on Periphyton Biomass
The 'first two objectives of this study were to determine (1) if streams
flowing through agricultural areas have higher nutrient concentrations than
streams flowing through forested areas and (2) if streams with high
concentrations of nutrients supported high periphyton biomass.
Streams 16, 17, and 20, located in the Northern section of the Otsego
Lake Watershed, flow mostly through agricultural land. The reduced amount of
vegetated areas between the fields and stream banks allow more nutrients from
runoff to enter the stream and incident light to reach the stream which
provides energy for photosynthesis and warms the water. This situation
provides an ideal environment for periphyton growth. Figure 9 shows the
monthly averages of T-P0 4 and N0 3 concentrations during the collection year
in the agricultural streams. Appendix F lists the monthly average values. The
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