The distribution and seasonality of the benthic aquatic macrophytes of the Pamlico River estuary, North Carolina / Steven E. Reed.
| Author/creator | Reed, Steven E. author. |
| Other author | Davis, Graham J., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 1979. |
| Description | 55 leaves : illustrations, maps, charts ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | The distribution and seasonal dynamics of the submersed vascular plants and macroscopic algae of the Pamlico River estuary, North Carolina, were studied from July 1973 through August 1974. Plants were restricted mainly to the sandy shallow margins in the upper two-thirds of the estuary with most of the biomass around 1 m depth. The estuary was divided into oligo-, meso- and polyhaline zones based on a rather unstable salinity gradient. In the oligohaline zone macrophyte communities consisted of Vallisneria americana, Potamoget̤n perfoliatus var. bupleuroides, Najas guadalupensis, and the muskgrasses Chara sp. and Nitella sp,; the mesohaline zone included V. americana, P. perfoliatus and Ruppia maritima; and some sheltered low energy environments of the polyhaline zone had small amounts of R. maritima. Line transects were used to sample biomass and community species composition during the seasonal studies. Salinity varied between 1 and 16°/oo depending on the rate of freshwater discharge from the Tar River, the principal tributary. Water temperature closely paralleled air temperature, ranging between 5° and 30°C. During the summer and early fall, the dominant macrophyte was Vallisneria americana, accounting for 80-90% of the total macrophyte biomass in the estuary. Ruppia maritima was dominant during the low temperatures of the winter months and in regions of high salinity, but at low biomass levels. Maximum biomass was recorded in September and October with minimal biomass occurring in February. Compsopogon coeruleus, a red filamentous alga, appeared in nuisance proportions in the oligo-mesohaline area during early summer; the green algae Cladophora sp. and Enteromorpha sp., reached maximum biomass later in the season. A direct relationship was found between water temperature and the biomass of all major species. |
| Local note | Joyner-"Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science n Biology." |
| General note | Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Biology |
| General note | Advisor: Graham J. Davis |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 1979 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-55). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | University Archives | ASK AT SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DESK | ✔ Available | Request Material |
| Electronic Resources | ✔ Available |