Species composition of diatoms occurring on Elimia livescens of Burt Lake and Douglas Lake, Michigan.

Abstract

Diatoms are sensitive organisms, and their presence or absence can provide information about the habitat sampled. They are commonly found in epiphytic form, and are present on the shells of the snail Elimia livescens. Two lakes were chosen in Cheboygan County, MI for a diatom community structure analysis of diatoms on the backs of E. livescens. An initial assessment was made of the diatom community structures on the shells of E. livescens. There were signficant differences in the diatom flora of both lakes, with Epithemia argus being heavily dominant in Douglas Lake and Gomphonema intricatum being dominant in Burt Lake. A reciprocal transplant experiment was also conducted using snail enclosures to determine levels of diatom growth and competitive ability of diatom communities on the backs of these snails. Differences in nutrient levels of the water as well as other factors were assessed to explain these differences across the two bodies of water. The reciprocal transplant of E. livescens showed the diatom community structure growth between lakes, as well as the differences in competitive ability of diatom species on the shells of E. livescens. It was shown that factors across the bodies of water drove the community structure of diatoms on the shells of E. livescens, as well as change already existing diatom community structures on the shells of E. livescens.