The impacts of herbicides on the diatom communities found within the But Lake Channel.

Abstract

A study was done of a channel off of Burt Lake to study the impacts of the herbicides being dumped into the area for human recreational purposes. Diatoms in particular were studied due to their ability to indicate environmental conditions of a system. Samples were done utilizing a plant squeezing technique and cellular counts. Shifts of multiple genera were discovered throughout the channel as the lake was approached. These shifts suggest a change in nutrient and pH levels from the first site to the last.