Tracking the effects of limnological changes using chironomids and Chaoborus from Lake Annie, Florida

Authors

Elaine Gaspar Fontes, Florida International University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Environmental Studies

First Advisor's Name

Michael Ross

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Michael McClain

Third Advisor's Name

William Anderson

Fourth Advisor's Name

Evelyn Gaiser

Date of Defense

6-27-2008

Abstract

Water transparency decrease and dissolved oxygen concentration are some of the limnological trends observed in Lake Annie. Chemical and physical alterations are well documented; associations between environmental variables and the aquatic biota are however unknown. The goal of this research is to assess the relationships of physical variables with chironomids and Chaoborus. During a period of one year, samples were collected every month from 2 sites, and t-tests and correlations were used to compare the assembled data. A sediment core dating back to 1938 was also analyzed for midge remains.

Chaoborus larvae from modem dataset were con-elated to environmental variables; however some correlations were low and sediment type could be an important factor driving their abundance and distribution. Chironomid remains which are indicators of warm taxa and eutrophication showed highest percent abundances at the 10 cm interval, which corresponds to 1976. All Chaoborus remains were from the same species, which suggests that fish assemblages haven’t changed much through the years in Lake Annie.

Identifier

FI15101418

Recommended Citation

Gaspar Fontes, Elaine, "Tracking the effects of limnological changes using chironomids and Chaoborus from Lake Annie, Florida" (2008). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3333.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3333