Abstract
Lynx Creek, a small intermittent creek in the Bradshaw Mountains of Arizona, is subjected to drainage from an abandoned copper mine. The mine‐drainage decreases the pH of the Creek about three units and greatly increases sulfate and heavy metal concentrations. Chemical recovery of the Creek occurs downstream through precipitation of metal hydroxides and dilution by tributaries. Changes in Creek chemistry are accompanied by changes in algal flora. Above the mine and downstream after substantial recovery, the flora is dominated by Tribonema affine4, Achnanthes spp., and Synedra ulna and several zygnematacean species. In the mine seep entering the Creek and in the Creek just below the seep the flora is reduced in species richness and dominated in abundance by Microthamnion kuetzingianum and Eunotia tenella.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 196-199 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of Phycology |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1982 |
Keywords
- acid mine‐drainage.
- algal distribution
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aquatic Science
- Plant Science