Carol Pollard (M.S.) The
effect of substrate on nutrients and suspended algae in Advisor: Dr. J. R. Jones Water quality is a
growing issue in this country and around the world. To be able to tell whether a stream or
river has been impacted by pollution (particulary
nitrogen and/or phosphorus), we need to be able to
predict its unimpaired condition. To
do this we need to understand what natural factors effect the abundance of
nutrients and suspended algae in a stream.
One factor which may have an effect is the material the streambed is
composed of, whether it be rock, sand or mud. Algae will attach to and grow on rock,
while it won’t on sand or mud. The
purpose of this study is to investigate whether streambed material causes
differences in the level of nutrients or suspended algae in unimpaired
streams.
