Periphyton Communities in Headwater Streams of Different Water Chemistry in the Central Appalachian Mountains

Abstract

Abstract To examine impacts of acidification, we studied periphyton communities in three West Virginia streams whose mean pH varied from 4.2 to 7.8. We measured algal composition, cell densities, chlorophyll a, ash free dry weight, and areal and chlorophyll-specific production in the winter and spring of 1993 and 1994. The most acidic stream had the lowest species richness and few diatoms and was dominated by a green-alga. The most alkaline stream had the highest species richness and was dominated by Chlamydomonas. Chlorophyll a and ash free dry weight were significantly lower in the most acidic stream. Areal production was not different between streams, whereas chlorophyll-specific production was highest in the acidic stream.