NON-DIATOM ALGAE 



Blackfoot River. Filamentous green algae dominated the 

 periphyton community at all three sites on the upper Blackfoot 

 River, and a different genus dominated at each site (Table 4) . 



Zygogonium dominated at the upstream site (Flesher Pass 

 Road) . This unusual alga, which is rare in periphyton samples, 

 is primarily aerial and grows on moist acid soils, rocks, and 

 peat (Smith 1950) . When growing on soil, it may develop in 

 patches several yards in diameter. "The remarkable capacity of 

 Zygogonium for taking up and returning large quantities of water 

 plays no inconsiderable role in colonization of bare soil by the 

 smaller phanerogams" (Smith 1950) . 



Diatoms ranked second in biovolume at BlckftR-01, followed 

 by Tolypothrix, a cyanobacterium that requires cool water. In 

 total, 12 genera of green, blue-green, and golden nondiatom algae 

 were found in the sample from this site (Table 4) . These algae 

 indicate cool waters with relatively low levels of nutrients. 



StigeocloniujT] dominated the periphyton at BlckftR-02, above 

 Landers Fork. This alga is often found in waters that are 

 enriched with organic wastes (Palmer 1969) . The source of this 

 organic load may be swampy areas upstream or old pit toilets at 

 the Forest Service campground (Aspen Grove) just above the 

 sampling site (Michael Pipp, MDEQ, pers . comm. ) . Diatoms ranked 

 2nd in biovolume at this site, followed by the cyanobacterium 

 Nostoc, which indicates cool waters where nitrogen is limiting. 

 A total of 9 genera of non-diatom algae in three divisions were 

 recorded at this site (Table 4) . 



Ulothrix dominated the periphyton community at BlckftR-03, 

 above Nevada Creek, followed by the cyanobacterium Oscillatoria. 

 These algae indicate increasing nitrogen enrichment. Diatoms 



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