Date of Award
5-2022
Degree Type
Thesis
Department
Environmental Science
Advisor(s)
Emily Nodine
Abstract
Diatoms are well established in their usefulness to determine water quality and habitat assessments. In Central Florida, no research has been devoted to creating a baseline assemblage of freshwater diatoms. This study uses pH, conductivity, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen and total phosphorous to examine the relationship between environmental variables and diatom species composition among eight different sites. Environmental variables were not found to have a statistically significant impact on diatom assemblages in any of the water bodies; however, species composition was significantly different between sites, establishing a baseline of data for further studies to build upon. Although no species was found in every water body, the most common species among the study sites include Nitzchia amphibia, Staurosira construens, and an unknown diatom.
Recommended Citation
Mathews, Ashley, "Baseline Survey of Diatom Assemblages in Freshwater Bodies of Central Florida" (2022). Environmental Studies. 2.
https://scholarship.rollins.edu/honors-in-the-major-environmental-studies/2
