Poster Details
SEASONAL VARIATION OF LAKE LITTORAL ZONE BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES IN FOUR LAKES IN SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK
In this study, we examined four lakes in suburban Westchester County, New York from April through October 2009 and April through October 2010 to determine if species assemblages of benthic macroinvertebrates in the littoral zone demonstrated seasonal variation. Species richness, relative abundance and diversity were examined by season for each lake and between the lakes. In addition, physicochemical factors were also examined to determine if there was any significant variation among means of physicochemical factors in the lakes throughout the seasons. One of the lakes was in separate hydrological drainage, which we hypothesized would result in differences in diversity and species richness. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found no significant differences in species diversity or in physicochemical variables between the lakes. We did detect seasonal patterns in species assemblages.
Tami Cloherty (Primary Presenter/Author), Penn State Abington, tmc31@psu.edu;