Date of Award

1997

Degree Name

Biological Sciences

College

College of Science

Type of Degree

M.S.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Leonard J. Deutsch

Second Advisor

Donald C. Tarter

Third Advisor

Tom Pauley

Fourth Advisor

Dean A. Adkins

Abstract

A study of the benthos of weir ponds draining watersheds of the Fernow Experimental Forest (FEF) was conducted in 1994-1995. The objectives of this study were: (1) to relate differences in weir pond faunas to watershed treatments on the FEF, and (2) to compare current weir pond faunas to those described in 1973 by Steve Harris. In 1971-1972, there were fewer invertebrates but greater taxa richness than in 1994-1995. Total density varied among weir pond and between studies with numbers in the 1971- 1972 study ranging from 26,168 to 79,259 individuals collected, while numbers in the 1994-1995 study raged from 72,779 to 103,743 individuals collected. Mean density among weir ponds in 1994-1995 was not significantly different. In 1971-1972, the weir ponds differed greatly with most of the differences between weir ponds of forested and deforested watersheds. The family Chironomidae was the most abundant group in all four weir ponds in 1971-1972. In the 1994-1995, study the family Chironomidae was only most abundant in weir ponds 3 and 4. Zooplankton populations were very high in the 1994-1995 study, which accounted for 58 percent and 66 percent of the total density for weir ponds 1 and 6.

Subject(s)

Ponds.

Benthos – West Virginia.

Watershed – Research.

Fernow Experimental Forest (W. Va.)

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