The influence of Daphnia spp. on resuspended sediments in shallow prairie lakes

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atmire.migration.oldid3271
dc.contributor.advisorJackson, Leland
dc.contributor.authorElgin, Erick
dc.date.accessioned2015-06-10T15:53:49Z
dc.date.available2015-11-20T08:00:30Z
dc.date.issued2015-06-10
dc.date.submitted2015en
dc.description.abstractLow water transparency in shallow lakes, which may limit macrophyte growth, is usually attributed to excessive phytoplankton biomass. However, abundant resuspended sediments also contribute substantially to reductions in water clarity. The ability of the large-bodied zooplankter, Daphnia to increase water clarity by reducing phytoplankton is well studied, but less is known about Daphnia’s effect on resuspended sediments. To evaluate Daphnia’s ability to reduce suspended detritus and inorganic particles and the resulting effect on late summer macrophyte biomass, I combined field observations with a field enclosure experiment. My field results suggest that abundant Daphnia can reduce detritus concentrations and that this effect is most pronounced in the spring. I also demonstrate that summer macrophyte biomass and plant species richness increases with lower spring turbidity. My field enclosure experiment confirms that Daphnia are capable of clearing resuspended sediments during both low and high turbidity conditions in spring.en_US
dc.identifier.citationElgin, E. (2015). The influence of Daphnia spp. on resuspended sediments in shallow prairie lakes (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/28206en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/28206
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11023/2297
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectEcology
dc.subjectLimnology
dc.subject.classificationDaphniaen_US
dc.subject.classificationshallow lakesen_US
dc.subject.classificationmacrophytesen_US
dc.subject.classificationresuspended sedimentsen_US
dc.subject.classificationwater clarityen_US
dc.titleThe influence of Daphnia spp. on resuspended sediments in shallow prairie lakes
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineBiological Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
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