Composition and structure of macrophyte vegetation of the Firehole River, Yellowstone National Park
as related to physical and chemical factors
by Sheila May Rasmussen
A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE in Botany
Montana State University
© Copyright by Sheila May Rasmussen (1968)
Abstract:
A study was made during the summer of 1967 to measure come physical and chemical properties
influencing floral distribution in the Fire hole River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. This
streams flows through the Upper, Midway and Lower Geyser Basinc.
Twelve transects were run across each of 10 stations along the Pire-hole River and 2 along major
tributaries, Iron Creek and Nez Perce Creek. Chemical and physical factors were measured at points
where vegetation was found.
Current speed and bottom type appeared responsible for the occurrence vegetation, but not for the
diversity of flora in the river. Although the species were shown to occur along a continuum, two floral
communities were easily distinguished on a physiognomic basis. One of these groups occurred above
the. geyser basins and the other within and below them. Physical conditions did not vary in such a
manner as to be responsible for this division of species. An interaction between total alkalinity and
temperature showed a distinct correlation with measurements of the two communities. cci:r- 0 3 i T : c:: A io schjctuhe o: , iachophyts \ g g sta tio it of the
FIHEHOIE HIVE?., YBIE OFSTOH F ATI CKAL PAEK
AS ALL JBD TC
PHYSICAL AKD uHEi-HCAL FACTORS
SHEILA JAY RASJUSSEK
A th e s i s s u b m itte d to th e G ra d u a te F a c u lty i n p a r t i a l
f u l f i l l m e n t o f th e r e q u ir e m e n ts f o r th e d e g re e
of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
in
L o tan y
A pproved:
H ead, Vs^sF.' D ep artm en t
G rad u ate Dean
MONTrU STATE UNIVERSITY
Bozeman, M ontana
D ecem ber, 196S
-iiiACKTkO'v LSDG-Ei-EKTS
Thr a u t h o r th a n k s Dr. J o h n W rig h t f o r h i s a s s i s t a n c e w i t h th e f i e l d
- o r ' ■ rn ‘ i;
Thrr.':a are a l s o jr.t'en t o D o .
p r e u o r in .: th e
H ic h e rd J . Graham, John K. Humely and Don D. C o l l i n s f o r t h e i r tim e c o e n t
r e v ie w i n g t h e m a n u s c r i p t .
h elp :
F e llo w g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s a r e th a n k e d f o r t h e i r
Ahraham H o r p e s ta d f o r s u g g e s t i o n s on p r o c e d u r e s i n o b t a i n i n g f i e l d
d a t a , Raymond S o l t e r o f o r g u i d i n g th e w a t e r a n a l y s i s and R o b e rt H e ll w i g
f o r i d e n t i f y i n g th e 'o r y o o h y te s .
F i n a l l y , a p p r e c i a t i o n i s e x te n d e d t o Mr.
Raymond Dolan f o r e n c o u ra g e m e n t and s u g g e s t i o n s t h r o u g h o u t t h e a u t h o r 1e
s tu d y of t h e b i o l o g i c a l s c i e n c e s .
T h is w ork was s u p p o r t e d by F e d e r a l W ater P o l l u t i o n C o n tr o l .A d m i n is ­
t r a t i o n R e s e a r c h G ran t Ho. WP-QO125 and T r a i n i n g G ra n t p T I-WP-I .
TA3L3 Oj 1 COlTTilTTG
Farm
V l t A ......................................................................................................................................................
ACKSbVTLEUG3K31'TT S ........................................................................................................................
Ii
I ll
TAB13 OF COlTTElTTS..........................................................................................................................
LIST CF TABLES...............................................................................
LIST. OF FIGURES................................
iv
v
vi
ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................................................. v i i
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................
I
DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA...................................................................................................
3
METHODS AND MATERIALS...........................................................................................................
$
P la n t D ata............................................................................................................ . . . .
P h y s ic a l D a t a .....................................................................................................................
Chem ical D a t a .....................................................................................................................
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.............................•.........................................................................
O ccurrence "by B a c in s .......................................................................................................
Canouy C over..................................................................................................................
PHYTC30CI0L0GICAL CONSIDERATIONS.......................................................................
Index o f S i m i l a r i t y . .....................................................................................
J o in t Occurrence Groups................................................................................
C o m p o sitio n a l I n d i c e s .....................................................................................
Index o f D i v e r s i t y ..........................................................................................
I n t e r r e l a t io n s h i p s "between Canopy Cover,
C o m p o sitio n a l -In d ices anT D iv e r s it y I n d i c e s .............................
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ..............................................................................................
PHYSICAL FACTORS..............................................................................................
Current Speed ..........................................................................................
Bottom T y p e ..............................................................................................
D e p t h ............................................................................................................
T e m p e r a tu r e ..................................................................................................
WATER CHEMISTRY.......................................................................................................
F ree CO,.......................................................................................................
D is s o lv e d M a te r ia ls ................................................................................
P la n t Community, Water C hem istry and
Tem oerature I n t e r a c t io n s ........................................................
SUMMARY.................................................................................................................................................
LITERATURE C ITE D ......................................................................................................................
9
10
11
13
13
19
19
19
22
27
29
30
30
33
35
37
3%
3S
39
39
1^
-V -
LIST 0" TATLTS
c!:r
C L i..«o
o / . T t u t i Onu i —... . . . .
Ta'.
. - v i I Uf
T a b le I I .
O v e r n l l f r e q u e n c y ( p e r c e n t o f t o t a l p o i n t s ) and
r e l a t i v e fr e q u e n c y (p e r c e n t o f o ccu p ied p o in tn )
f o r e a c h s p e c i e s ..............................................................................................
l6
T a b le I I I .
O ccu rren ces o f th e s u e c ie c
b a s i n s ......................
17
T a b l e IV.
Canopy c o v e r o f S t a t i o n s 1 - 1 2 .....................................................................
20
T a b l e V.
M a trix of in d i c e s
o f s i m i l a r i t y b e t w e e n s p e c i e s ......................
21
T a b le VI.
J o i n t o c c u r r e n c e g r o u p s ...................................................... ..............................
23
T a b le VI I .
C o m p o s i t i o n a l i n d i c e s f o r S t a t i o n s 1 - 1 2 ............................................
24
TabI c V I I I . D i v e r s i t y i n d i c e s f o r S t a t i o n s 1 - 1 2 ......................................................
22
T a b l e IX .
T a b l e X.
in th e g e y s e r
jl' i
P e r c e n ta g e o cc u r ren ce o f s o e c i e s a lo n g a c u r r e n t
g r a d i e n t ( m / s e c ) .......................................................
3%
P e r c e n ta g e o cc u r ren ce o f s p e c i e s a cc o rd in g to
b o t t o m t y p e ..............................................................................................................
3^
T a b le X I.
P e r c e n t a g e o c c u r r e n c e o f s p e c i e s w i t h d e a t h ( m ) .....................
3°
T a b le XI I .
C o r r e l a t i o n s c o m p a r in g p e r c e n t a g e c a n a u y c o v e r ( l ) ,
t e m p e r a t u r e ( 2 ) and t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y ( 3 ) ................................
T a b le X I I I .
C o r r e l a t i o n s c o m p a r in g c o m p o s i t i o n a l i n d i c e s ( l ) ,
t e m p e r a t u r e ( 2 ) and t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y ( 3 ) ...................................
T a b l e XIV.
C o r r e l a t i o n s c o m p a r in g d i v e r s i t y i n d i c e s ( l ) ,
t e m p e r a t u r e ( 2 ) and t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y ( 3 ) ................................
4l
ewVl-*
LIST OF FIGURES
F ig u te I .
F i Ku r e 2 .
. I" ''i o f bh« F iro h o Ir: B iv o y , Yo 11 o'-.';' to no n a t i o n a l P a rk ,
Wyoming, w i t h l o c a t i o n of rnmnlinp: R i t e s ......................................
C o m p o s it io n a l in d e x v a l u e s p l o t t e d a g a i n s t p e r c e n t
o c c u r r e n c e a t e a c h in d e x v a l u e f o r each s p e c i e s ........................25
5
-'Vi i —
ABSTRACT
A r-tu " ■ war aoc’e d u r i n g th e r.uraaer of 1967 t o m easure come p h y s i c a l
anu chenI.C- I u r o u o r t i e r . i n f l u e n c i n g f l o r a l d i s t r i b u t i o n i n th e F i r e h o l e
ii
.
/
...
U pper, Midway end L o v e r G e y s e r B a s i n s .
Twelve t r a n s e c t s w ere r u n a c r o s s e a c h o f 10 s t a t i o n s a l o n g t h e F i r e h o le R iv e r and 2 a lo n g m a jo r t r i b u t a r i e s , I r o n C reek and ITez P e r c e C re e k .
Chem ical and p h y s i c a l f a c t o r s were m e a su re d a t p o i n t s w here v e g e t a t i o n
v ae f o u n d .
C u r r e n t speed and b o tto m ty p e a p p e a r e d r e s p o n s i b l e f o r th e o c c u r r e n c e
o'" v e g e t a t i o n , b u t n o t f o r th e d i v e r s i t y o f f l o r a i n t h e r i v e r . A lth o u g h
th e s p e c i e s w ere shown to o c c u r a l o n g a co n tin u u m , two f l o r a l co m m u n ities
v c r e e a s i l y d i s t i n g u i s h e d on a p h y sio g n o m ic b a s i s .
One of t h e s e g ro u p s
o c c u r r e d above th e g e y s e r b a s i n s and t h e o t h e r w ith in , and below them .
P h y s i c a l c o n d i t i o n s d i d n o t v a r y i n s u c h a manner a s t o be r e s p o n s i b l e f o r
t h i s d i v i s i o n o f s p e c i e s . An
io n b e tw e e n t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y and
te m p e r a t u r e showed a d i s t i n c t c o r r e l a t i o n w i t h m easurem ents o f th e two
c o m m u n itie s .
INTRODUCTION
I n c r e a s i n g demand f o r w a t e r i n r e c e n t y e a r s hnc s t i m u l a t e d i n t e r e s t
i n t h e p r o d u c t i v i t y of s t r e a m s , t h e o rg an ism s in v o l v e d and t h e a s s o c i a t e d
causal fa c to rs .
I n an a t t e m p t to e v a l u a t e cue"., f a c t o r s , n s e r i e s o f
s t u d i e s i s "being c o n d u c te d on t h e U pper Madioon R iv e r S ystem i n s o u t h ­
w e s t e r n M ontana.
P r e v i o u s work on t h e P i r e h o l e and M adison R iv e r s h a s
i n c l u d e d s t u d i e s of r i f f l e
i n s e c t s ( A rm itage 1958) , d ia to m com m unities
(Boeder i 9 6 0 ) and. p r im a r y p r o d u c t i v i t y (Todd 1 9 6 7 , W rig h t and M i l l s 13S7 ) .
One a s p e c t of p r im a r y p r o d u c t i o n t h a t h a s n o t "been i n v e s t i g a t e d t o
any g r e a t e x t e n t i s t h e e c o lo g y of m a c r o o h y tic com m unities of f lo w in g
w a te rs.
The P i r e h o l e R i v e r , due t o t h e t o p o g r a p h i c a l and g e o l o g i c a l
c h a r a c t e r s o f i t s "basin, o f f e r e d an o p p o r t u n i t y t o m easure a v a r i e t y o f
b o t h p h y s i c a l and c h e m ic a l f a c t o r s t h a t may i n f l u e n c e p l a n t g ro w th .
Pond ( 1 9 0 3) h a s r e p o r t e d on t h e im p o r ta n c e o f th e s u b s t r a t e i n
a q u a t i c p l a n t g ro w th .
Pond (131S) a l s o s u g g e s t e d t h a t c o m p e t i t i o n among
s p e c i e s may have an e f f e c t on th e c o m p o s i tio n of a q u a t i c com m unities a n d
m e n tio n e d t h e p o s s i b l e im p o r ta n c e of t h e c h e m ic a l c o m p o s i tio n of th e
w a te r.
I n h i s e x t e n s i v e s t u d i e s of t h e e c o lo g y of E n g l i s h r i v e r s ,
B u tc h e r (1333) c o n c lu d e d t h a t c u r r e n t s p e e d i s th e m ost i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r
i n t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of m a c r o n h y te s .
R u t t n e r (1952) m e n tio n e d th e
r e s t r i c t e d d i s t r i b u t i o n of a q u a t i c m osses t o w a t e r s c o n t a i n i n g f r e e C0o .
W rig h t and M i l l s ( 1967) a t t r i b u t e d t h e dow nstream d e c r e a s e i n p r im a r y
p r o d u c t i v i t y i n t h e M adison R iv e r w i t h i n Y e llo w s to n e P a r k t o a p r o g r e s ­
s i v e l y d e c r e a s i n g c o n c e n t r a t i o n of f r e e CCg dow nstream .
The low er
p r im a r y p r o d u c t i o n was accom panied by a d e c r e a s e i n m a c ro p h y te s t a n d i n g
crop.
—2—
The p u r p o s e o f t h i s s t u d y was t o d e t e r m i n e t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e s e
v a r i o u s p h y s i c a l and c h e m ic a l f a c t o r s on th e o c c u r r e n c e of d i f f e r e n t
succiii
of m a c r o p h y te B i n th e F i r e h o l o R i v e r , and t o s t u d y th e community
s t r u c t u r e ac a f f e c t e d by t h e s e v a r i a b l e s .
d e sc r ip t io n ; o? study area
The E i r e h o l e R iv e r d m I n r th e v e s t - c e n t r a l r e g i o n o f Y e llo w s to n e .
R a tio n a l Park.
I t b e g i n s i n M adison Lake on th e M adison P l a t e a u a t an
r I c v e t i o n o f 3212 f o r t ( f 5°3
nO and flo w n i n n n o r t h e r l y d i r e c t i o n f o r
30 r i v e r m l le a ( ^ 3 .3 km) u n t i l i t j o i n s w i t h th e Gibbon R i v e r to form t h e
M adison R i v e r .
Along i t s c o u r s e i t p a s s e s th r o u g h and r e c e i v e s w a te r s
from t h r e e of th e m a jo r g e y s e r b a s i n s o f th e p a r k .
The d i s c h a r g e of
t h e r m a l w a t e r s e n t e r i n g th e P i r e h o l e h a s b e e n e s t i m a t e d by A lle n and Day
(1935) t o be 5^*92 c f s ( 1 .5 5 m ^ /sec ) .
Of t h i s t o t a l d i s c h a r g e , I S . JO c f s
•7
( 0 .5 3 ir k /s e c ) i s c o n t r i b u t e d by t h e U pper G ey ser B a s i n , 1 2 . 9U c f s
7
7
(O.3S m-' / s e c ) by th e Midway G e y s e r B a s i n and 23 -2 2 c f s ( 0 . 5 6 nr / s e c ) by
t h e Lover G e y s e r B a s in .
The a r e a d r a i n e d by th e P i r e h o l e •R iv e r i s b a s i c a l l y a r h y o l i t e
p l a t e a u of l a t e P l i o c e n e age ( F i s c h e r
i960) .
L ayers o f b l a c k o b s i d i a n
c o v e r p a r t s o f i t s s u r f a c e , and i n t h e t h e r m a l a r e a s s i l i c e o u s s i n t e r i s
c o n s t a n t l y b e i n g b u i l t up b y th e a c t i o n of t h e g e y s e r s and h o t s n r i n g s .
G l a c i a l g r a v e I e , p r i m a r i l y composed of r h y o l i t e p a r t i c l e s , a r e d i s t r i ­
b u te d a lo n g t h e r i v e r v a l l e y and s e r v e a s t h e g r o u n d w a te r r e s e r v o i r s f o r
th e g e y s e r b a s i n s .
W aters e n t e r i n g t h e P i r e h o l e R i v e r and i t s t r i b u t a r i e s
f lo w o v e r t h i s v a r i e t y of s u b s t r a t e s .
Tlie r i v e r f lo w s a l o n g a v a r y i n g g r a d i e n t w hich p r o v i d e s g r a d a t i o n s o f
c u r r e n t fro m w a t e r f a l l s and c a s c a d e s t o w id e , s e e m in g ly s low-moving
s t r e t c h e s of w a t e r .
The r i v e r b o tto m r a n g e s from r o u g h , i r r e g u l a r b e d ­
ro c k (la v a ) to f i n e l y s i l t e d se d im en ts,
i t p a s s e s t h r o u g h ru g g e d c a n y o n s ,
d e n s e l y - and s p a r s e ly - w o o d e d a r e a s and meadows.
T here i s a c o n t i n u a l
change i n t h e c h e m ic a l p r o p e r t i e s of t h e w a te r as i t t r a v e l s dow nstream ,
as' a r e s u l t o f t h e in-out of m i n e r a l - r i c h t h e r m a l w a t e r ( T a b le I ) .
C h e m ic a lly th e r i v e r may be d e s c r i b e d a s a s o d i u m - b i c a r b o n a t e - c h l o r i d e
ivt 'i*.
C alcium Bi-1 ma^ncflium arc
^reetint i n t r a c e c U a tt tlt le ts and i n
g e n e r a l a r e e x c e e d e d i n c o n c e n t r a t i o n b y p o ta s s i u m .
S u l p h a t e and
f l u o r i d e , a l t h o u g h p r e s e n t i n h i g h e r c o n c e n t r a t i o n s t h a n i n most n a t u r a l
w a t e r s , a r e m in o r a n i o n s .
S i l i c a i s p r e s e n t in c o n c e n tr a tio n s t h a t are
a t o r n e a r th e u p p e r r a n g e found i n n a t u r a l w a t e r s .
Ten s t a t i o n s w ere l o c a t e d a lo n g th e F i r e h o l e R iv e r and two j u s t
above t h e mouths of two of i t s
C reek .
t r i b u t a r i e s , I r o n C reek an a ITez P e rc e
T h e i r l o c a t i o n s w ere s e l e c t e d on t h e b a s i c of some n e w l y - i n t r o ­
d uced c o n d i t i o n ( t h e r m a l a c t i v i t y , e n t r a n c e of a t r i b u t a r y , e t c . ) .
T hese
a r e a s may be s e e n on th e map ( F i g u r e I ) and a r e d e s c r i b e d a s f o l l o w s :
S ta tio n I:
Above Lone S t a r G e y s e r .
s t u d i e d on th e r i v e r .
T h is was t h e h i g h e s t o o i n t
The a r e a i n v e s t i g a t e d was 0 . 1 m i l e ( 0 . 1 6 km) above
t h e e n t r a n c e of d r a i n a g e fro m Lone S t a r G e y s e r , th e h i g h e s t p ro m in e n t
t h e r m a l d i s c h a r g e on t h e r i v e r .
Above t h i s p o i n t , w a t e r e n t e r i n g th e
r i v e r comes from c o l d m o u n ta in t r i b u t a r i e s and a few s m a l l h o t s p r i n g s .
S t a t i o n 2;
Lone S t a r Road.
Samples w ere t a k e n 1 . 0 m i l e ( 1 . 6 km)
u p s tr e a m fro m th e b r i d g e on th e r o a d t o Lone S t a r G e y s e r .
At t h i s s t a t i o n
t h e r i v e r h a s r e c e i v e d t h e r m a l w a t e r fro m Lone S t a r G e y s e r and s e v e r a l
e m a il h o t s p r i n g s .
S ta t io n 3:
Lone S t a r B r i d g e .
T h is s t a t i o n was l o c a t e d on t h e down­
s tr e a m s i d e o f t h e b r i d g e w here th e r o a d le a d i n g t o Lone S t a r G eyser
c ro s s e s th e F i r e h o l e .
The w a t e r s u p p ly f o r th e Old F a i t h f u l area, comes
from t h i s s t r e t c h o f th e r i v e r .
GIBBON BIVSR
■•v.
iK-
Cr.ncn.dG3 o f th e
P irc h o le
ITez P e r c e Creel:
S e n t i n e l Creek
P a ir v
Creek
Lower
G eyser
B a s in
Midway G eyser
B asin
L i t t l e F i r e h o l e R iv e r
U pper
. G ey ser
I
B a s in
Iron
C reek
FIISK0L1 RIVER
F ig u re I .
Map of th e F i r e h o l e R i v e r , Y e llo w s to n e N a t i o n a l P a r k , Wyoming,
w i t h l o c a t i o n of s a m p lin g s i t e s .
S t a t i o n 4;
F i r e h o l e above L i t t l e F i r e h o I e R i v e r .
At t h i s p o i n t ,
th e
r i v e r i s v e i l i n t o t h e Upper G e y s e r B a s i n , h a v i n g p a s s e d t h r o u g h th e Old
F v i i/l.I u l Crr o u p .
Tht Uopcr Bar-Ir. i s t h e r e com) meet e z t e n e i v e th e r m a l
b a s i n a l o n g th e p a t h of th e F i r e h o l e .
S t a t i o n 4 was l o c a t e d 0 .2 m ile
( 0 .3 2 km) u p s t r e a m from th e c o n f lu e n c e of t h e L i t t l e F i r e h o l e w ith th e
F ire h o le R iv e r.
S ta tio n p :
I r o n C reek .
J u s t s o u th o f t h e B i s c u i t B a s i n A rea, I r o n
C reek j o i n s t h e L i t t l e F i r e h o l e R i v e r , w h ich f lo w s i n t o th e F i r e h o l e
a b o u t 0 . 1 m ile ( O . l o lcm) fro m t h e i r j u n c t i o n .
I r o n C reek d r a i n s I r o n
S p r in g s and o t h e r g e y s e r s and h o t s p r i n g s l o c a t e d on t h e w e s t e r n edge of
th e U pper B a s i n .
A c c o rd in g t o m easurem ents made i n 1932 ( A l l e n and Day
1939) 1 a p p r o x i m a t e l y 50)0 of t h e t h e r m a l w a te r d i s c h a r g e d by th e Upper
B a s i n e n t e r e d I r o n C reek above i t s j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e L i t t l e F i r e h o l e
R iv e r.
C o n s e q u e n tly 2 2 .5 $ of th e d i s c h a r g e o f I r o n C r e e k i s th e r m a l
w a t e r com pared to 1 2 .4 $ of t h e d i s c h a r g e o f t h e F i r e h o l e R iv e r below t h e
U oper B a s i n .
T hus, I r o n C reek i s more s t r o n g l y i n f l u e n c e d by th e r m a l
d i s c h a r g e t h a n i s th e F i r e h o l e R iv e r or any of i t s m a jo r t r i b u t a r i e s .
D a ta were t a k e n 20 m e te r s above th e c o n f l u e n c e of I r o n C re e k and th e
L i t t l e F ire h o le R iv e r.
S ta tio n 0 :
F i r e h o l e b elow L i t t l e F i r e h o l e R i v e r .
S am pling was
c a r r i e d o u t 10 m e te r s below t h e c o n f lu e n c e o f t h e F i r e h o l e and L i t t l e
F ire h o le R iv e rs.
The L i t t l e F i r e h o l e i s a c o ld s t r e a m w i t h a th e r m a l
w a t e r i n p u t a c c o u n t i n g f o r o n ly 2$ o f i t s d i s c h a r g e .
The d i s c h a r g e of t h e
L i t t l e F i r e h o l e a c c o u n t s f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 12$ of t h e d i s c h a r g e of t h e
F i r e h o l e R i v e r a t t h i s s t a t i o n ( A l l e n and Day 1935)-
T h e re was a d e f i n i t e
7.
I
t e m p e r a t u r e and f l o r i s t i c d i f f e r e n c e b e tw e e n th e e r s t and w e s t s i d e s o f
th e r i v e r , c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o th e two s tr e a m s t h a t had j u s t j o i n e d , w hich
L c< «: Ic.'.s prouOUttCfcd n* t h e two v/i.ters wll-ed.
S t a t i o n 7:
F o u n ta in F r e ig h t B rid g e .
An area, im m e d i a te l y u p s tr e a m
from th e b r i d g e c r o s s i n g th e r i v e r on t h e s o u t h end of t h e F o u n t a i n
F r e i g h t Eoad was s t u d i e d .
I m m e d ia te ly s o u t h o f th e s t u d y a r e a , a s m a ll
g ro u u of h o t s p r i n g s , th e s o u th e r n m o s t members of th e Midway G ey ser B a s i n ,
d isc h a rg e in to th e r i v e r .
On t h e w h o le , how ever, v e r y l i t t l e t h e r m a l
w a t e r s e n t e r e d t h e r e a c h o f r i v e r b e tw e e n S t a t i o n s 6 and 7S t a t i o n 2:
F e a t h e r Lake S o a d .
D a ta w ere o b t a i n e d fro m th e r i v e r a t
a p o i n t r e a c h e d by t r a v e l i n g 0 . 4 m ile ( 0 . 6 4 Ion) on t h e r o a d l e a d i n g to
th e F e a t h e r Lake p i c n i c a r e a
and c r o s s i n g
th e r i v e r .
l o c a t e d j u s t below t h e Midway G ey ser B a s i n
T h is s t a t i o n was
th e meadow below t h i s r o a d to
and had r e c e i v e d a l l o f th e th e r m a l d i s c h a r g e from th e b a s i n .
S ta t io n 5:
F i r e h o l e below S e n t i n e l C reek .
At t h i s p o i n t th e r i v e r
h a s p a s s e d t h r o u g h most o f t h e Lower G e y se r B a s i n .
The s p r i n g s i n t h i s
b a s i n c o n t a i n th e h o t t e s t w a t e r s i n th e p a r k and d i s c h a r g e t h e g r e a t e s t
amount of thermal w a te r i n t o
th e F i r e h o l e
E l v e r ( A l l e n and Day 1535)-
B e s i d e s t h e d i r e c t f lo w fro m a d j a c e n t s p r i n g s , th e r i v e r a l s o r e c e i v e s
w a t e r s from F a i r y and S e n t i n e l C r e e k s , w h ich d r a i n s m a l l e r th e r m a l a r e a s .
S t a t i o n 10:
lies P e r c e C reek .
from t h e m o u n ta in s t o t h e e a s t .
ITez P e r c e C reek j o i n s t h e F i r e h o l e
I t i s fo rm ed by t h e j u n c t i o n of S p ru ce
and J u n i p e r C r e e k s , n e i t h e r of w h ich r e c e i v e much t h e r m a l w a t e r .
Fez
P e r c e C reek i t s e l f d r a i n s a s m a ll amount o f th e r m a l a c t i v i t y am ounting t o
1 .6 6 c f s ( 0 .0 5 n P /s e c ) ;
D a ta were t a k e n 0 .1 m ile ( O .lS km) above t h e
i u n c tio n v i t h th e P i r e h o l e .
The c r e e k was n o t i c e a b l y n a r r o w e r , s h a l l o w e r
and much c o a r s e r i n b o tto m m a t e r i a l t h a n th e n e a r b y P i r e h o l e R i v e r .
S t a t i o n 11:
P i r e h o l e below tie s P e r c e C reek .
S t u d i e s w ere made
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 0 . 1 m ile ( 0 . l 6 lcm) below t h e j u n c t i o n o f S e z P e rc e C reek
and t h e P i r e h o l e R i v e r .
At t h i s s t a t i o n , p r a c t i c a l l y a l l o f th e t h e r m a l
w a te r h a d e n t e r e d t h e r i v e r .
S t a t i o n 12:
P is h in g A rea.
s t r e a m , war 2 . 7 m i l e s
T h is s t a t i o n , t h e f a r t h e s t one down­
km) above t h e C ascades of t h e P i r e h o l e , i n a n
a r e a o f t h e r i v e r t h a t was s u b j e c t t o h e a v y f i s h i n g p r e s s u r e .
I t i s w e ll
below a l l g e y e e r a c t i v i t y and r e c e i v e s w a t e r fro m c o l d s p r i n g s and a few
in t e r m i tte n t stream s.
MZTPODS AMD MATERIALS
P la n t D ata
D ata w ere o b t a i n e d u s i n g a m o d i f i c a t i o n of th e l i n e - i n t e r c e p t
BU ■ i
( CtvJi-J 4.4 li 2, 1 ^ 0 ) „
A
w i t h p o i n t s one m e te r a p a r t .
d Ofitc ^ " I r o c l^ U ic ttlin e v/ri.i IflaPlceid
The l i n e was a n c h o re d on b o t h s i d e s o f th e
r i v e r by two m e t a l f e n c e r o d s so t h a t i t was su sp e n d e d , as n e a r l y a s
p o s s i b l e , one f o o t above t h e w a t e r s u r f a c e .
R ead in g s w ere t a k e n a l o n g
th e l i n e b e n e a t h p o i n t s t h a t w ere o c c u p ie d by p l a n t s .
Twelve t r a n s e c t s
were made a t e a c h s t a t i o n , e a c h l o c a t e d 1 .0 m e te r d o w n stream from th e
p r e c e d i n g on e.
P l a n t s were p i n p o i n t e d w i t h t h e u s e of a w a t e r t e l e s c o p e f a s h i o n e d
from a r i g i d p l a o t i c j u i c e p i t c h e r .
g la s d isc
The b o tto m was rem oved and a. p l e x i -
marked w i t h c r o s s h a i r s was b o l t e d and g lu e d i n i t s
p la ce.
w ir e lo o p b o l t e d n e a r t h e t o p o f t h e p i t c h e r s e r v e d a s a s i g h t .
A
The
c r o s s h a i r s w ere a l i g n e d w i t h t h e p o i n t on t h e l i n e and any macr O phytic
v e g e t a t i o n below t h a t p o i n t was r e c o r d e d by s p e c i e s .
When more th a n one
l a y e r of v e g e t a t i o n was p r e s e n t , a l l s p e c i e s below t h e p o i n t were
reco rd ed .
P l a n t s were i d e n t i f i e d to s p e c i e s , w i t h th e e x c e p t i o n of two g e n e r a ,
J u n c u s and I I i t e 1 1 a .
Voucher sp e c im e n s o f t h e s e p l a n t s w ere f i l e d i n t h e
h e r b a r i u m a t M ontana S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , Bozeman, M ontana.
Work was b e g u n a t t h e u p p e r end of t h e r i v e r d u r i n g t h e second week
i n J u l y , as
:on as t h e l e v e l o f r u n o f f a l lo w e d s a f e i n v e s t i g a t i o n ,
and
was c o m p le te d i n th e low er r e a c h e s d u r i n g t h e second w eek i n S ep te m b er.
M acrophyte s t a n d i n g c r o p s do n o t change a g r e a t d e a l o v e r t h i s p e r i o d
( John C. W r i g h t , p e r s o n a l c o m m u n ic a tio n ) .
-1 0 P h y e i c a l D a ta
T e m n e r a t u r e , d e p t h , c u r r e n t s p e e d and b o tto m ty p e w ere r e c o r d e d a t
i'll p o i n t : . U i u l v r l a i n b y
TemoeraturT-'.
Till-n t . .
T e m p e ra tu re was m e a su re d w i t h an o r d i n a r y l a b o r a t o r y
c e n t i g r a d e th e rm o m e te r w hich war, h o u s e d i n - a b r a s s c a s e f o r p r o t e c t i o n .
De-oth and c u r r e n t s o e a q .
C u r r e n t s p e e d was m e a su re d above th e p l a n t
w i t h a G u r le y #622 c u r r e n t m e t e r .
The number of r e v o l u t i o n s of th e
b u c k e tv /h e e l was r e c o r d e d o v e r a 60- s e c o n d tim e i n t e r v a l , and t h i s f i g u r e
was l a t e r c o n v e r t e d t o a c u r r e n t s p e e d v a l u e w ith t h e u s e of th e t a b l e
i n c l u d e d w i t h t h e c u r r e n t m e t e r , and c o r r e c t e d f o r u s e w i t h t h e r o d .
D epth was r e a d d i r e c t l y fro m m a rk in g s on th e r o d of t h e G u rle y #622
c u rre n tm e te r and con v erted in to m e tric u n its l a t e r .
Width..
The w id th of t h e r i v e r a t e a c h t r a n s e c t was r e a d d i r e c t l y
from th e t r a n s e c t l i n e .
A lti tu d e .
A l t i t u d e r e a d i n g s were made u s i n g an a n e r o i d a l t i m e t e r
t h a t was c a l i b r a t e d w i t h t h e benchm ark s i t u a t e d a t t h e K e p le r C a s c a d e s ,
l o c a t e d b e tw e e n S t a t i o n s 3 and Ii-.
Bottom t y o e .
This, f a c t o r was 'e s tim a te d f o r t h e p o r t i o n of th e
s tr e a m b ed w here a p l a n t was r o o t e d .
P a r t i c l e s were e v a l u a t e d as f o l l o w s :
p i l V — any m a t e r i a l f i n e enough to r e m a in su sp e n d ed a f t e r b e i n g s t i r r e d
up by th e f o o t ;
sen d - m a t e r i a l s s e t t l i n g q u i c k l y a f t e r b e i n g s t i r r e d
up - 2mm i n d i a m e t e r ;
g r a v e l - 2mm - 5mm d i a m e t e r ;
r u b b l e - 5mm - Ipcm
d i a m e te r and b e d r o c k - any b o tto m m a t e r i a l l a r g e r t h a n 15 cm i n d i a m e t e r .
—T l -
C h cu ica l D ata
h a t e r eam yles ’.-ore c o l l e c t e d d u r i n g th e I a e t week i n A ugust, 1367.
V. j vov..- olx r.ined fro m the a:'.-'die of t h e c t r r o n .
O r io le ;: W r r
c o l l e c t e d i n o n e - l i t e r llN a lg e n e 11 s c r e w - c a p b o t t l e s w hich w ere r i n s e d
tw ic e i n t h e c u r r e n t , f i l l e d
a t h i r d tim e and capped w h i l e s t i l l
submerged ( R a i n w a t e r a n d T h a t c h e r , I 5 S0 ) .
Hydrogen io n c o n c e n t r a t i o n (pH) m easurem ents were made im m e d ia te ly
upon r e t u r n t o t h e l a b o r a t o r y a t West Y e llo w s to n e , M ontana, w i t h a
Beclaiian E xpandom atic Model
pH M eter.
A se c o n d s e t o f w a t e r saranlec was c o l l e c t e d d u r i n g t h e second week
i n S ep te m b er, 1967.
W ater was to k e n i n o n e - g a l l o n g l a s s j u g s from e a c h
o f •t h e tw e lv e s t a t i o n s f o l l o w i n g t h e p r o c e d u r e d e s c r i b e d a b o v e .
Upon r e c e i p t of t h e sam ples a t t h e l a b o r a t o r y i n Bozeman, M ontana,
r e s i s t a n c e was m easured w i t h a YSI c o n d u c t i v i t y b r i d g e .
These r e s i s t a n c e
v a l u e s w ere c o n v e r t e d to c o n d u c t i v i t y b y th e f o r m u l a :
K =
R
x
10°
W here;
K - c o n d u c t i v i t y i n m icro n h o s
■R r r e s i s t a n c e
i n ohms.
The s am p les w ere th e n f i l t e r e d t h r o u g h a 0 .8 u "Mil i u o r e " f i l t e r .
A n a ly s e s were made f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g c o n s t i t u e n t s :
to ta l a lk a lin ity ,
c a lc iu m , p o t a s s i u m , sodium , magnesium, s u l f a t e , b i c a r b o n a t e , c h l o r i d e ,
f l u o r i d e , o rth o p h o sp h ate ana s i l i c a .
-1 2 T o t a l a l k a l i n i t y , s u l f a t e , c h l o r i d e , f l u o r i d e , o r th o p h o s p h a t e and
r i l l c a d e t e r m i n a t i o n s w ere made a;; d i r e c t e d i n
a hard i h t h o ' ■ f o r
C alcium , p o ta s s iu m and sodium d e t e r m i n a t i o n s w ere made oy flam e
e m is s i o n u s i n g a Beckman DU fla m e s p e c t r o p h o t o m e t e r .
Magnesium d e t e r ­
m i n a t i o n s were made oy u s i n g th e a to m ic a b s o r p t i o n a c c e s s o r y on th e
Beckman DU.
T hese a n a l y s e s were c o n d u c t e d a c c o r d i n g t o p r o c e d u r e s g i v e n
i n t h e Beckman I n s t r u c t i o n Manual
F r e e c a r b o n d i o x i d e c o n t e n t was computed from t h e t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y
md -oH v a l u e s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e f o r m u l a of R a in w a te r and T h a t c h e r
^ COr, = I .5 8 9
x
IO^1
x
(i960):
ppm a l k a l i n i t y a s HCO^ \
A lth o u g h t h e f r e e COg was c a l c u l a t e d fro m pE and t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y
v a l u e s d e t e r m in e d a t d i f f e r e n t t i m e s , b o t h a r e of t h e same m agnitude as
d a t a c o l l e c t e d by ’,-'right ( p e r s o n a l co m m u n ic a tio n ).
TSSULTS AUD DISCUSS101*
Of th e 23 s p e c i e s e n c o u n t e r e d , t h e r e w ere I J a n g l o s p e rm s , ^ m o s s e s ,
2 a l g a # and I l i v e r w o r t .
B eca u se of th e d i f f i c u l t y o f k e y i n g i n th e
f i e l d , ..11 in..-.ribc-in of t h e g e n e r a .T-u-.c -• mud U i- ' H r w ere r e c o r f
J u n c u - co . end U f to lT n c 0. ,
re sp e c tiv e ly .
I an
r e s p e c t i v e l y , and t r e a t e d a s one ta x o n ,
Two v a r i e t i e s o f Gharn v u l n n r l r were f o u n d .
The p l a n t s
a r e l i s t e d i n o r d e r of t h e i r r e l a t i v e abundance i n T a b le I I .
O c c u rre n c e by B a s in s
Low t e m p e r a t u r e s , r a p i d c u r r e n t and a b o tto m composed of c o a r s e
oar t i d e s
and b e d r o c k c h a r a c t e r i s e d th e u p p e r r e a c h e s o f t h e r i v e r
( S t a t i o n s I , 2 and 3 ) .
P l a n t s w ere fo u n d i n p o c k e t s i n t h e r o c k where
t h e c u r r e n t was r e d u c e d a n a some s e d i m e n t a t i o n o c c u r r e v , o r Ln m e n t a ­
t i o n s a lo n g t h e b a n k w here t h e c u r r e n t vac slow .
r e l a t i v e l y low i n d i s s o l v e d s a l t s
( T a b le I ) ,
The w a t e r was
due t o t h e i n f e r t i l e
s u r r o u n d in g s u b s t r a t e s and l a c k of t h e r m a l a c t i v i t y .
The p l a n t s p r e s e n t,
i n t h i s p o r t i o n of th e r i v e r form ed a community d i s t i n c t fro m t h o s e f o u n d
once th e r i v e r e n t e r e d th e g e y s e r b a s i n s ( s e e T able I I I ) .
H iu c u r is ,
v u l g a r i s , C alarm o^rosti s c a n a d e n s i s and S c a n a n in u n d u l a t e were fo u n d o n ly
in t h i s s e c t i o n of th e r i v e r .
The r i v e r i n t h e U pper G ey ser B a s i n ( S t a t i o n s 4 , 5 a n ^ S) was
h i g h e r i n te m p e r a t u r e and g e n e r a l l y d e e p e r and w id e r t h a n t h e area,
p re v io u s ly d e sc rib e d .
T h ere was a n o t i c e a b l e i n c r e a s e i n c o n d u c t i v i t y
( T a b le I ) due t o th e a d d i t i o n of w a t e r - - i t h h i g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of
s o l u t e s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of t h e r m a l s p r i n g s .
was a d e f i n i t e change i n t h e f l o r a ,
A s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e s e ch an g e s
hom unculus
u a t i l i y , Cnrex
Tsfole I .
P h y s ic a l and c h e a tc..I p r o p e r tie s o f S ta tio n s 1-12.
S ta tio n
M
Average
current
speed
(m /s)
I
2328
0 .5 4 5
12.9
0 .3 0 3
10.4
85
4.5
0.60
7-1
2
2323
0 .2 9 7
1 5 .6
0 .3 4 2
15.4
SO
1.4
0.50
7.55
3
2315
0 ,4 5 5
1 5 .4
0 .3 6 0
1 1 .2
SS
1.3
0.55
7.6
U
2204
0 .2 6 0
1 5 .6
0 .4 5 2
i4.o
225
0.3
0.90
5 .4
5
2204
0 .3 5 4
2 1 .5
0 .3 2 7
15.0
263
0 .5
1.55
•
6
2203
0 .2 8 5
1 8 .3
0 .3 9 3
34.0
23 s
0 .2
1.05
3 .6
7
2130
0 .4 1 2
1 9 .0
0 .4 0 8
20.7
253
0.4
1.30
•3 .5
g
2175
0.275
27-3
0 .7 5 9
17.1
463
0 .7
2.35
S.5
5
2171
0 .3 1 1
2 1 .9
0 .3 4 9
46.4
487
0 .4
2.25
10
2162
0 .3 5 1
2 2 .6
0 .3 0 4
11.1
379
0.8
1.65
ii
2 lG l
0 .3 0 0
2 1 .6
0 .8 0 8
2 8 .2
487
0.7
2.20
s.7
8.3
8.1
12
2160
0 .3 3 0
2 0 .7
0 .7 5 S
37.s
379
0 .6
1.85
8.5
A ltitu d e
Average
Average
ten a enature depth
lil
Average
v ;id th
ConducF re e
tiv ity
COp
( v . i c r aiiho?) (nuri)
M .
T o tal
a lk a lin ity
(nsen/l)
nH
T a b le I ( c o n t i n u e d ) .
-i-f
Ca
S ta tio n (!meo /I )
Orfcho-
Kt
(rieo /I )
( n e o /l)
,
\
( m e s /l'
SO1,(n ec ' l )
HOC-”
(.-neQ/Ir)
Cl
(neo / I )
F
p h o sp h a te
(n e o /l)
12221
SiOp
( tj 60
I
0 .1 0
0 .1 0
0 .33
0.17
0.0 8
0 .6 0
O.23
0 .1 0
0 .0 7
7 1 .0
2
0 .0 5
0 .1 0
o .4 o
0.17
0 .0 3
0 .5 0
0 .2 2
0 .1 0
0 .0 5
6 4 .0
3
0 .1 0
0.10
0 .46
0.17
0 .0 5
O.5 5
0 .2 3
0 .1 0
0 .0 3
73.0
4
0 .0 7
0.13
1 .5 4
0 .1 6
0 .1 2
0 .8 3
0 .2 6
0 .1 1
O.13
7 2 .0
5
0.07
0.1 3
2 .0 4
0 .17
0 .12
0 .5 1
0 .5 5
0 .1 2
O.26
3 4 .0
6
0.05
0 .1 4
1.76
o .l4
0.1 2
1 .0 1
0 .9 5
0 .1 1
0 .2 1
3 6 .0
7
0.07
0. Io
1 .3 3
c .i4
0 .12
1 .2 6
.
0 .1 2
0 .2 3
11 0 .0
S
0.07
■ 0.22
2.7 3
0.12
0 .15
2 .2 5
1 .7 4
0 .1 2
O.55
11 6 .0 ■
3
0 .03
0 .2 4
2 .3 4
0.1 2
0 .1 s
2 .1 5
1 .8 3
0 .1 2
0 .5 5
3 1 .0
10
0 .1 1
0.25 .
2 .1 2
0.12
0 .5 5
1 .6 2
1.15
0 .1 2
0 . 2-o
3 6 .0
11
0 .1 0
0 .2 3
2 .6 4
0.12
0 .2 1
2 .1 7
1.80
0 .1 2
0 .5 5
1 3 6 .0
12
0 .1 0
0 .24
2 .2 0
0.12
0 .4 6
1 .3 0
1 :2 1
0 .1 2
0 .3 6
3 0 .0
T a b le I I .
O v e r a l l f r e q u e n c y ( n e r c c n t o f t o t a l p o i n t s ) and r e l a t i v e
fr e q u e n c y ( p e r c e n t o f o cc u p ied o o in t o ) f o r each c n e c ie e .
P la n t
P o t a 'iOfTOto n e t r i o t l f o l i u c Bonn.
O v e ra ll
f r e n u rricv
R e la tiv e
Zx...-. ...Locr
1 0 .5
2g :j
P o t r iogotbn f i l i f o r m i s P e r - '.
54,
1 5 .9
C h n n v u l g a r i s L.
5-9
M'r i o p h y I Ium e x a l b e o c e n s P e r n .
4 .7
15.7
1 2 .5
I T i t P l l a ap.
2 .2
5 .s
B c r u l n e r e c t a (Huds) Cor.
1 .9
5 .2
F o n t i n n l i r n e o - m e r ic n n a 3 & L.
1 .2
3 .2
RnnunCulur n o u a t i l i s L.
1 .0
2 .6
C- l a m r g r o r t i e c r m a d e n s is (K iohx) B eau v .
0 .9
2 .4
P i s s i l e n r grand i f ronr, S r i d .
0 .8
2.U
P o tam ogeton p e c t i n a t u s L.
0 .4
1 .2
P o t r Mo-: a t on n o d o -n c P o i r s t
0 .3
0 .9
E u o o ia m a r L tiisa L.
0 .3
0-9
Z n n u i c h e l l i a p a l u s t r i s L.
0 .3
0 .7
TTippuri 3 v t i l e a r i e L.
0 .2
Ju n c u e DP.
0 .2
0 .5
Ccapnrm a un@ulm.ta (L) Dumort
0 .2
0 .4
Hygrohypnum no l u s t r e (Eudc) Loeske
0 .1
0 .4
H le o e h m ris n c i c u l n r i e (L) R & 3.
o .l
0 .3
C rro x n e h r a a k e n s i s Dewey
0 .1
0 .2
F o a t i n a l i s a n t i a y r e t i c n Hedvr.
0 .1
0 .2
U t r i c u l a r ' . a v u l g a r i s L.
0 .1
0 .2
R o r ip p a n a s t a r t i a m ^ a q u a t i oun (L) S ch in z & 0 .0 3
T h e ll.
•
0 .5
0 .0 1
-1 7 T a b le I I I .
O c c u r r e n c e s c f t h e s p e c i e s i n th e g e y s e r b a s i n s .
*-4
V,
.2
CC
PA
<1
>
O
Oj
•H
O
PA
U
Qj O
rt"5 3 r-l
s s
I
Hi J i u r l f v
r V,
£• Irr." ;■ v:: Li:- c
" . r.iSc-1
i *!. u n c ul at n .
R'-aur-culu.: --’u a t i l i r
Qrrcx n r b r a p x c r n i s
Far. I : r - Li r no Q-'. .T-Xicrna
i o r u ' cro.cta
H- T lo ah y llu ia c x o l b e s c c n s
Fotc'iao-.etcn r - t r l c t l f o l l i r
Qhrrn Vull--Qrir
h o t r go. ebon l i l l f o r a l o
HI o o c h a r I r .--clcularir,
J u n c u s Sp.
F o n t i n a . ! ' r- o n t i n y r e t i c M
P.or l n
nor tn r t lu m - o ^ a .- ticnin
F ie ld '" : ::
U pper B a s i n ,
also
F o n tin alir
occurred
n eo -n o x ic - n
h ere
.
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
^ r o n c i f rcm-
X X X
X X X
K i t o l l a ep.
Ruonin n o r i t l n n
U c r i c u l a r l " vulpo.rl
hau^'.ro.T to n no near.
Fotoao^cton r o c t i n - tu r
n . h r ^ o V n r r l r and
x
a,
w hich
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
w ere found above t h e
Ho’-'ever, c i n c e t h e s e s p e c i e s v e r e n o t
e n c o u n t e r e d i n t h e lo w e r r e a c h e s , t h e i r p r e s e n c e i n t h i s s e c t i o n
i n d i c a t e s a t r a n s i t i o n r e g i o n t o t h e more d i v e r s e community round i n th e
-IE U p p e r Baeiitt nnd s u c c e e d i n g s t a t i o n s dow nstream .
T his l a t t e r community
*'as c h a r a c t e r i s e d "by th e dominance o f I y r lo u h y l lu r a e y n l h e s c ^ n r ..
"ox '
t r v. r t r i ^ " "fol i' 's , j=. :'ih_ ‘ '■- r r t " one1. Cl - "r v . - ' . r - r i ' . a lo n g w i t h
o t h e r l e s s a b u n d a n t s p e c i e s , a - shown i n T ab le I I I .
W aters e n t e r i n g th e r i v e r fro m th e Midway B a s in ( S t a t i o n s 7 and 8)
added an amount of d i s s o l v e d m a t e r i a l s com parable to t h a t c o n t r i b u t e d by
• B asin .
T ab h
I
T h is can be s e e n by c o m p arin g t h e f i g u r e s l i s t e d i n
'o r S t a t i o n 7, w hich I s l o c a t e d j u s t a s th e r i v e r e n t e r s th e
b a s i n and S t a t i o n 8 , a t i t s n o r t h e r n e d g e .
The most, n o t i c e a b l e change i n
t h e v e g e t a t i o n was th e d i s a p p e a r a n c e of s i x s p e c i e s fo u n d i n th e Upper
B a s in (R an u n c u lu s a q u a t i l i s , C rre x n e b r a r b o n s i r . B o n r i n r l i e n c o - m e x ic a n e .
J n n c u s s o . , R o r lo p a n a s t u r t i u n - a o u a t i cura and B o n t l n r l i s a n t I u y r e t i c a ) and
th e a p p e a r a n c e o f t h r e e new s p e c i e s ( F i s s i d e n s g r a n d i f r o n s , Z a n n ic h e I l i a
p a l u s t r i s and I T l t e l l a s o . ) .
The Lower G e y s e r B a s in ( S t a t i o n s 9 , 10 and 11) a d d ed s t i l l more
d i s s o l v e d s o l i d s , b u t t h e e n t r y of ITez P e r c e C reek i n t o t h e P i r e h o l e h a d
a d ilu tio n e ffe c t.
F o u r s p e c i e s of p l a n t s were e n c o u n t e r e d h e r e t h a t
w ere n o t f o u n d i n th e u p p e r r e a c h e s ( Ilu w ia . r a a r i t i m a , U t r i c u l r r i a
v u l g a r i s , P o trm o a p to n nodosus and F . - o e c t i n g t u r .
The e n v iro n m e n t of
ITez P e r c e C re e k ( S t a t i o n 1 0 ) , due t o t h e s m a l l amount of th e r m a l a c t i v i t y
a s s o c ia te d w ith i t ,
d i f f e r s from t h e a d j a c e n t F i r e h o l e .
The low er
m i n e r a l c o n c e n t r a t i o n of th e c r e e k i s p a r t i a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r th e
d iffe re n c e in f l o r a .
Cnce th e r i v e r l e f t th e g e y s e r b a s i n s , t h e r e was l i t t l e
change i n
t h e f l o r a l o r c h e m ic a l components of t h e w a t e r e x c e p t f o r a g e n e r a l
f.l i g
h t d il u tio n of io n s .
19 -
T h ree m inor s p e c i e s ( B e - u la e r e c t , - , SI;: o c l a r i ^
n.cl n u l e r i s and J" icur; s o . ) were l o s t fro m th e Lower B e s i n f l o r a ,
cut th e
o v e r e i l dom inant cornu or i t io n w,no v e r y s i m i l a r .
Canopy Cover
An i n d i c a t i o n o f th e s u i t a b i l i t y o f an a r e a f o r p l a n t h a b i t a t i o n i s
r e p r e s e n t e d by t h e p r o p o r t i o n o f i t s
s u r f a c e t h a t i s a c t u a l l y o c c u p ie d .
T ab le IV g i v e s t h e p e r c e n t a g e of th e t o t a l p o i n t s of e a c h s t a t i o n a t
w hich one o r more p l a n t s w ere fo u n d .
The a c c u m u l a t i o n o f n u t r i e n t s end h e a t r e c e i v e d by t h e F i r e h o l e was
accom panied by a g e n e r a l i n c r e a s e i n canopy c o v e r as th e r i v e r p r o g r e s s e d
n o r th w a r d .
ITez P e r c e C reek ( S t a t i o n 10) s t a n d s out i n h a v i n g th e h i g h e s t
canopy c o v e r o f a l l s t a t i o n s c o v e r e d .
I t s s h a llo w d e p t h , n a rro w w i d t h ,
c o a r s e b o tto m m a t e r i a l s and lo w er l e v e l s of d i s s o l v e d s u b s t a n c e s i n t e r ­
a c t e d t o s u p p o r t a u n i f o r m l y d i s t r i b u t e d f l o r a t h a t d i f f e r e d from th e
a d j a c e n t F i r e h o l e R i v e r i n b o t h ab undance and c o m p o s i tio n .
PHYT03OCI OLOCI CATL CCYCI OFRAT10113
In d e x of S i m i l a r i t y
7,ri t h th e e x c e p t i o n of f o u r s p e c i e s ( C arex n e b r a s k e n s i s , F a n ti n e .lis
a n t i c . ^ r e t I c a , U t r l c u l a r l a v u l g a r i s and R a r i n o a n a s t u r t l u m - a i u n t i c u m ) ,
i n d i c e s o f s i m i l a r i t y were com puted f o r a l l c o m b in a tio n s o f two s p e c i e s .
T h e s e ’ s p e c i e s were d e l e t e d b e c a u s e of t h e i r i n f r e q u e n t o c c u r r e n c e and t h e
c o n s e q u e n t u n r e l i a b i l i t y of t h e s m a l l amount of d a t a .
p r o p o s e d by K u lc z y n s k i (1927) was u s e d :
The f o r m u l a
—cO—
T ab le IV.
Canopy Cover of S t a t i o n s 1-12 ( p e r c e n t a g e or. t o t a l j o i n t s
o c c u p i e d Dy P l a n t s ) .
OtatxoU
Canopy umvuT
I
1.7
2
30.4
I
34.7
4
15.0
5
22.5
6
23.6
7
19.9
S
32.1
S
47.7
10
6G.3
Ii
%-7.9
12
56.4
Wher e :
a =
number o f t r a n s e p t c i n
w hich t h e f i r s t s p e c i e s i s fo u n d
b s
number o f t r a n s e c t s i n
w hich t h e seco n d s p e c i e s i s found
c =
number of t r a n s e c t s i n
w h ich t h e two o c c u r j o i n t l y .
The r e m a in in g i n d i c e s were a r r a n g e d a c c o r d i n g to t h e i r c l o s e s t
s i m i l a r i t i e s and a r e shown i n T ab le V.
p.
02
d
*-3
ri
Pk 3
r-f
W M
U
bn
C hcra v u l g a r ! r-
7
7
C
2
O
O
P o t e a c ^ e t o a s t r i e t i f o l lv.e
7
5
O
O
9
10
O
r o t pm g c t or. f ii:.:'orr.~' ,
9
6
I - I ite lla so.
O
6
10
Myri c--ohy I l u a e x a lh e s o e n s
O
5 e ru la e re c ts
O
e tin e tu s
ID
Cv
$
O
•H
W
O
CS
O
O4
C
ti
O
d
A N
4
5
O
7
O
2
O
O
4
11
O
O
O 10
O
O
O
10
O
9
I
O 12
C
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Z a n n ich e l l i a o a l u s t r i s
C
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
F u n n ia a r r i v i n g
o'
O
O
C
O
O
O
O
O 15
O 15
F o ta a o re tc n nedosur
O
O
O IS
O
O
O•
O
O
F o n t i n a l i s r .e o -m e ric rn a
O
O
O
O 22
Banunculu'- a a ur.tr' ! i s
9
O
O
O 25
25
C a l a a j r r o s t i s c a n a d e n s is
O
O
O
O 19
IS y
H ionnr i r v u l g a r i n
O
O
O
O
Fcan an i a ur.c1u.latn
O
•o
O
O
O 25
10
F o te n ie re to n
Ju n o us s p .
ZI eo c h a r i s r c i c n l a r i s
O
H ygrohypnua n a l u s t r e
10
C
P;
O
Pm
H W
O C
G; >s
n
J-I
P
Cl
4
Se:
*H
C-i
O
Pk
15
Io
l6
lG
28 * 42
5C 53
IS
IS
3
3
4
!3
l4
20
23
23
22
13 *U5
20 ! 54
55 71,
64 y Z
O
O
4
23
22
Io
31
21 ‘ 39
O
O
4
n
37
21
15
11
9
O
O 17
O 13
10
1 3 /
’47
4^»>
O
Pk
.q
o
75 ^
y'
O
Z
:r"
59 y
l4 /
O
•
T ac le V.
3
>
24
M a tr i x of i n d i c e s of s i m i l a r i t y
rn ecier.
S
O
CS
N
I
I
F i e s l Ien r gr a n I l f r o n s
CO
a
C
cS
d
E
O
3
Pk ■Pd
I ir\
r
§
O
T a b le V i l l u s t r a t e a two s e p a r a t e f l o r i a t i c a f f i n i t i e s (e n c lo s e tf by
ro li i
. eg ).
The g r o u p in g o f s p e c i e s i n t h e u p p er r i g h t c o r n e r i s
. '
__ _
-
• •' : , Potnraogeto n . ■ i-' r ■.: .
L. ,
f I l l f o r r a i B . Ni__
. j.
j . y r I QTihyllura e x a lb e r ,c e n f ( s e p a r a t e d fro m th e o t h e r s by t h e d o t t e d l i n e )
a r e th e d o m i n a n ts , a s i l l u s t r a t e d by t h e i r h i g h e r i n d i c e s .
The s p e c i e s
w i t h lo w e r i n d i c e s a r e l e s s i m p o r t a n t , b u t a l l c o n t r i b u t e t o th e d i v e r s i t y
of t h i s g r o u p .
The o t h e r g ro u p c o r r e s p o n d s to th e community g ro w in g above the
.e y se r b a s in s .
T h is a s s o c i a t i o n i s im p o v e r is h e d f l o r i s t i c a l l y i n com­
p a r i s o n to t h e one d e s c r i b e d a b o v e .
C alam ag ro sti:- c a n a d e n s i s . v Q n t i n e l i ?
n c o - n e r ' cana and R anunculus a p u c t i l l s 'd o m in ate t h i s com munity.
Boeder (IS)Gn) fo u n d a s i m i l a r s i t u a t i o n w i t h d i a t o m s .
The i n d i c e s
-
of s i m i l a r i t y b e tw e e n d ia to m s p e c i e s w ere g r e a t e s t i n b o t h t h e F i r e h o l e
and Gibbon R i v e r s above th e g e y s e r b a s i n s th a n below them.
J o i n t O ccurrence Groups
F o llo w in g t h e p r o c e d u r e of S w in e d a le and C u r t i s (1 '3 5 7 )» an o r d i n a t i o n
of p l a n t s p e c i e s was s e t up i n w hich t h o s e s p e c i e s t h a t w ere fo u n d t o ­
g e t h e r were l o c a t e d a t o p p o s i t e ends o f t h e l i s t .
T h u s , p l a n t s a t one
end o f t h e l i s t would n o t o c c u r w i t h t h o s e a t th e o t h e r e n d , w h ile t h o s e
i n t h e c e n t r a l p o r t i o n were commonly fo u n d t o g e t h e r .
was d i v i d e d i n t o 6 j o i n t o c c u r r e n c e g r o u p s (T a b le V I ) .
The l i s t of s p e c i e s
-2 3 T ab le VI.
J o i n t occurrence g ro u p s.
I
C':C
U' "0j •'' •I.. i.rFont i n . ""i r, nnl i :y ^ t i c n
U t r i c u l a r in v . . -n rif’
~r I r . n r t u - t : . a c u a t i c u .:
2
Hygr^hynnura o a l u r t r e
S c a n a n i r u n -iu ln ta
H io o u r ic v u ] g a r i s
C a la r a n c r o r tl;, c nr-'an s i r,
3
H a n u n cu lu r aq u a t i l l s
- O nti n a . i l r n e o - :ie "lcann.
C hara v u l g a r i s
?ot.-:iio,-.nton I ' . t r i c t i f oliur,
U
F o ta r a o q e ton F i l i i o r a u l s
F i t e 11a. s o .
M y rloohyllura e:r,albescens
HuttoI a mar i 11 ..ia
5
J s c r u la e r e c t,a
Polajior-Oton topc t i n a t us
Potarnogeto n noclor.us
Z a n n i c h e l I i a. a a l u o t r l s
6
S le o c h a rls a c x c u la rls
J u n c u s op.
F i s s l d e n r c r a n e IFrono
C o m p o s it io n a l I n d i c e s
A c o m p o s i t i o n a l i n d e x was com puted f o r e a c h s t a t i o n by m u l t i p l y i n g
t h e r e l a t i v e f r e q u e n c y ( p e r c e n t of t o t a l o c c u p ie d u o i n t 3) o f e a c h
s p e c i e s i n t h e s t a t i o n by i t s
j o i n t o c c u r r e n c e number ( T a b le V I ) .
T h is
v a l u e t a k e s i n t o a c c o u n t b o t h t h e abundance of th e com ponentc of th e
f l o r a o f . t h e s t a t i o n and t h e i r s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p t o o t h e r s p e c i e s .
The c o m p o s i t i o n a l i n d i c e s f o r th e 12 s t a t i o n s a r e l i s t e d i n T ab le V I I I .
T ab le V I I I .
C o m p o s it io n a l i n d i c e s f o r S t a t i o n s 1 -1 2 .
S ta tio n
C o m p o s itio n a l
In cex
200
2
257
3
CU
U
362
5
LTX
OJ
r^ v
6
297
7
U51
?
3U2
5
372
CJ
r—
I
10
ii
373
12
3U0
C o m p o s it io n a l i n d e x v a l u e s w ere p l o t t e d a g a i n s t th e r e l a t i v e
f r e q u e n c y of e a c h s p e c i e s a t e a c h s t a t i o n ( S w inedale ^and C u r t i s 1557)•
A s e r i e s of i r r e g u l a r c u r v e s r e s u l t e d ( F i g u r e 2 ) , i n d i c a t i n g th e abu n d an c e
o f e a c h of th e 2J> s p e c i e s a t v a r i o u s d e g r e e s of f l o r a l v a r i e t y . . F i g u r e 2
t t h e t a x a p r e s e n t i n th e r i v e r above, t h e g e y s e r b a r
( E i n o u r i r v u l g a r ! r , C a l a m a g r o s t i s c a n a d e n s i s , R an u n cu lu s a c s m t i l i r .
-2 5 -
i
m
1
F ig u re 2.
■
C o m p o s itio n a l i n d e x v a l u e s p l o t t e d a g a i n s t p e r c e n t o c c u r r e n c e
a t each in d ex v a lu e f o r each s p e c ie s .
Dominant s p e c i e s a r e
i n t h e l a r g e r t y p e . 3 e . e r . « B o r u l a e r e e t a , C a . c a . e CeIarrng r o s t i a c a n a d e n s i s , C i . n e . u Carox no o r a a k o n r - in , C h .v u .s O hara
v u l g a r i s , 3 1 . o c .= E l e o c h a i'I r n c i c u l a r l s , F i . g r . a J l r r i d e n s
g r a n e. i f r o n e , P o . o n .= I ' o n L i i a i l l r roiLi r r - t i c a , F o . n o . n i o a L i r a l i " :
no
c.v~a, E i . v u . n Klo our I e vu l . p a r i r , H y . p a . s Eyarohyonum
- o a l u r t r e , J u . s p . s J u n c u • s p . , M y.ex.= K y rio o h y I Ium oy a l l - r c o n s 3
h i . o p . z K i t e l l a cx>., F o . f i . = P o ta :o;.;oton f i H f o r a l a , F o .n o .= P .
nod or uv., P o .p c . - P. . ■e t l n a t u r , p o . s t . e ? . r t i - i c L ' fo] iu r ,
B a . s o . - Rrnunciilnr. a c u a t l l i r , B o . n a . s R o r l r oa n a s t u r t i u m - ,
sous 11 cum, Ku. ms..= Bu-oria m a r i t i m e , Sc .u n .= S c a o a n i a u n d u l a t r . ^
Ut .Vu.= U t r l c u l a r i a v u l g a r i s , Z a i p a . = Z n n n i c h o l l i s onIu^ b r i o .
IOO
\Hi.vu.
g
Po. st.
50
V9V Kx
Po. p a . /
Po. on.
Ca"nr
300
COMPOSITIONAL
INDEX
-2 7 -
v
L
i
r. nec-mc~:lcnn-n.t Scnncni,-' undul -^tn.) compose co m m u n ities w i t h low
c o m p o s i t i o n a l i n d i c e s , w h ile t h e m id d le an d hi&h i n d e x r a n g e s a r e made up
o. L p o ciea Io u n d i n Lho U ierm a l a r e a s ( r o i a m o / e t o a s t r c Li i o I i u: , C hora
•. Ul -;ri..-, H y rio o h y llu m exr-.l'oer-ceno, H l t e l l a s p . and l e s s common s p e c i e s ) .
The g r e a t e r d i v e r s i t y o f th e l a t t e r community i c i l l u s t r a t e d Dy th e
number of s p e c i e s of low r e l a t i v e f r e q u e n c y p r e s e n t i n t h e r i g h t s i d e of
F ig u re 2.
I t can be s e e n by com paring T a b le V and F i g u r e 2 t h a t a l t h o u g h
a v e g e t a t i o n continuum e x i s t s ,
th e p l a n t s of t h e F i r e h o l e R iv e r a r e
p h y s io g n o m ic p .lly d i v i d e d i n t o two c o m m u n itie s .
On th e b a s i s of t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e v a r i o u s s p e c i e s a t th e
d i f f e r e n t c o m p o s i t i o n a l i n d e x v a l u e s , i t may be p o s s i b l e t h a t c o m p e t i t i o n
w i t h o t h e r s p e c i e s i s a f a c t o r i n t h e ' o c c u r r e n c e of n l a n t t n x a , as
s u g g e s te d by Pond ( 1 9 1 8 ) .
I f t h i s i c s o , M yrionhyllum e x a l b e s c e n s , Ch=TR
v u l f . - a r i paid P otcm ogeton s t r i c t i f o l i u s w ere e i t h e r t h e m ost o r th e l e a n t
s e n s i t i v e t o t h i s i n f l u e n c e , b e i n g t h e most w i d e s p r e a d members of th e
flo ra .
Index of D iv e r s ity
Au in d e x of community d i v e r s i t y was c a l c u l a t e d f o r e a c h s t a t i o n b y
m e a n s .o f t h e f o r m u l a of M a r g a le f ( 1 9 5 1) :
d =
(m - I )
In K
Whe r e :
m = number o f s p e c i e s r e c o r d e d f o r t h e s t a t i o n
IT = number of o c c u p ie d p o i n t s a t t h e s t a t i o n .
-2 8 -
I n d ic e p of d i v e r s i t y m easure c o m p a r a t i v e l y th e amount o f f l o r a l v a r i e t y
i n on a r e a .
T a b le V I I I l i s t s t h e d i v e r s i t y i n d i c e s f o r t h e 12 s t a t i o n s .
T a b le V I I I .
D i v e r s i t y i n d i c e s f o r S t a t i o n s 1 -1 2 .
S ta tio n
D iv e rsity
in d e x
I
0 .0 0 0 0
2
1.3187
3
.1.3231
4
1 .2 0 0 6
5
i.37%5
6
1 .3376
7
1.0 5 0 7
S
I . 4843
9
1 .2 7 2 1
10
1.8417
ii
1.2 2 6 5
12
1 .6 2 1 6
Those s t a t i o n s w i t h h i g h d i v e r s i t y i n d i c e s have th e i n d i v i d u a l s
p r e s e n t d i v i d e d among more s o e c i e s th a n t h o s e w i t h lo w e r in d e x v a l u e s .
Only one s p e c i e s wan n r e s e n t a t S t a t i o n I , i n d i c a t i n g no d i v e r s i t y ; t h e r e ­
f o r e th e i n d e x v a l u e i s 0 .
A lth o u g h t h e r e a r e some e x c e p t i o n s , d i v e r s i t y
i n d i c e s w ere g e n e r a l l y h i g h e r w i t h i n and b elo w th e b a s i n s t h a n above
them.
I n t e r r e l f - t i o n n h i p G "between Canopy C over, C o n n o s i t i o n a l I n d i c e s and
D iv e r s ity In d ic e s
S in c e n i l t h r e e of t h e s e f a c t o r s d e a l with, community s t r u c t u r e and
c o m p o s i tio n , i t was th o u g h t t h a t some c o r r e l a t i o n m ight e x i s t among th e
t h r e e m e a su re m e n ta .
A c c o r d in g l y , c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t s were
c a l c u l a t e d "between pairs- o f t h e t h r e e p a r a m e t e r s .
c o e f f i c i e n t s were as f o l l o w s ;
The c o r r e l a t i o n
cano oy c o v e r and c o m p o s i t i o n a l in d e x ;
r a 0.4E S , c o m p o s i t i o n a l i n d e x and d i v e r s i t y in d e x ;
d i v e r s i t y in d e x and c a n o ">y c o v e r ;
r * 0 .3 4 7 .
r a O.UlS
and
Sone of t h e t h r e e
c o e f f i c i e n t s was s i g n i f i c a n t t o t h e 5/j l e v e l .
T h is d o e s n o t mean t h a t t h e r e may "be no s i g n i f i c a n t c o r r e l a t i o n s ,
s i n c e th e sample s i z e was l i m i t e d .
On t h e o t h e r h a n d , i t w ould be
n o s G ib le t o have 100$ cano oy c o v e r made up of one s p e c i e s ( z e r o d i v e r s i t y )
b e l o n g i n g t o a j o i n t o c c u r r e n c e g ro u p o f h i g h number ( o r low n u m b e r).
It
i s a l s o c o n c e i v a b l e t h a t one c o u ld f i n d 100$ canony c o v e r c o m p rise d o f
s e v e r a l s p e c i e s and t h a t t h e c o m p o s i t i o n a l in d e x c o u l d v a r y d e u e n d in g on
t h e p e r c e n t a g e f r e q u e n c y and th e j o i n t o c c u r r e n c e g ro u u o f t h e s n e c i e s
in v o lv e d .
The v a r i o u s c o m b in a tio n s t h a t c o u ld e x i s t m i g h t, how ever, be
r e l a t e d t o some o t h e r v a r i a b l e t h a t d o es n o t a f f e c t t h e t h r e e p h y to s o c i o l o g i c a l m e asu re m en ts i n t h e same m anner.
SITVIP.OE.I32:?AL S ACTORS
PHYSICAL FACTORS
C u r r e n t Sneod
The sp e e d o f th e c u r r e n t o f t h e S i r e h o l e R iv e r a p p e a r s t o he th e
most i m p o r ta n t f a c t o r d e t e r m i n i n g w h e th e r o r n o t p l a n t s w i l l grow .
Vthercver th e s u b s t r a t e i s s u i t a b l e , v e g e t a t i o n i s p r e s e n t , and i n t h i s
s tr e a m , th e c o n s i s t e n c y of t h e s u b s t r a t e i s d e p e n d e n t upon t h e sp eed of
t h e w a t e r moving o v e r i t .
The s lo w e r t h e w a t e r i s m oving, th e lo w e r i s
i t s c a p a c i t y and th e more o f i t s l o a d w i l l be d e p o s i t e d .
T h is i s
e s p e c i a l l y p o i n t e d o u t i n t h e s t a t i o n s above th e g e y s e r b a s i n s .
T here
a r e s h a r p c o n t r a s t s b etw ee n b e d r o c k c o n t i n u o u s l y swept b a r e by s w i f t
w a t e r and th e san d y a r e a s w here th e c u r r e n t i n s lo w e r and v e g e t a t i o n i s
p re se n t.
The e f f e c t s o f c u r r e n t s p e e d on th e 2p s p e c i e s a r e i n d i c a t e d i n
T a b le IX.
When th e p e r c e n t a g e o c c u r r e n c e s of th e s p e c i e s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of t h e
R i r e h o l e R i v e r above t h e U pper B a s in ( s p e c i e s 1-4) a r e compared w i t h
t h o s e of t h e dom inant s p e c i e s o c c u r r i n g i n and below t h e b a s i n s
( s p e c i e s 5-9)> %o c l e a r c u t d i s t i n c t i o n i n a p p a r e n t .
W hile th e m edian
p e r c e n t a g e o c c u r r e n c e of R a n u n c u lu s n q u a t i I i n was a t t h e h i g h e s t r a n g e o f
s p e e d , th e m edian o c c u r r e n c e of K i n o u r i s v u l g a r i s was a t t h e lo w e s t
range.
F o n t i n a l i s ne o -m e x ic a n a and C a l a m o g r o s ti r c a n a d e n s is , (found, above
t h e b a s i n s ) h ad a m edian p e r c e n t a g e o c c u r r e n c e i n th e same r a n g e as t h a t
of r o ta m o c e t o n f I l i f orm ls and I I i t e l I a s o . (fo u n d w i t h i n th e b a s i n s ) .
P otam ogeton s t r i c t i f o l i u s and :-lyrio^ hyIlum e n a l b e s c e n e w ere i m p o r ta n t
-3 Z—
S a o le IX.
P e r c e n t a g e o c c u r r e n c e o f s p e c i e s a lo n g a c u r r e n t g r a d i e n t
(n /s e c ).
I—I
P la n t
6
CU
4
A
lfh
kO
C-
J
d
—
——
——
•
——
tA
•
——
•
CO
J
•
•
—
I . P o n t i n a l i s n e o -rn e x ic a n a
O
12
15
32
15
6
15
0
2 . R an u n cu lu s a o u a t i l i s
3
17
l4
10
24
17
4
0
3. Calarangr os t i e c a n a d e n s is
7
14
4
32
12
7
7
0
33
Io
16
i6
0
0
16
0
A verage of ! , 2 , 3 , 4 ----- - l i
15
12
23
l4
S
li
0
is
31
19
•15
4
I
0
4. H ir m u r is v u l g a r i s
5 . P o trm o g e to n s t r i c t l f o l i u s
13
6 . P o ta n o g e to n f i l i f o r n i r
2
S
21
32
20
10
5
0
7 . Chars v u l g a r i s
5
27
22
22
17
5
. 2
.0
S. M yrio eh y llu m .exal.bescene
9
12
28
21
19
6
4
0
9. M ite lln sp.
3
6
11
28
4l
6
2
0
15
26
27
9
l6
6
3
0
10. C arex n e b r a s k e n s i s
100
O
O
0
0
0
0
0
11. Juncus so.
100
o'
O
0
0
0
0
0
12. U tr ic u la r i a v u lg a ris
100
C
O
0
0
0
0
0
13. Z a n n i c h e l l i a p a l u s t r i s
0
50
13
13
25
0
0
0
l4 . P le o c h n ris a c i c u la r i s
0
O
50
50
0
0
0
0
19. P o n t i n n l i s a n t i p y r e t i c s .
0
O
50
0
0
50
0
0
lG. F o tam o g eto n n o d o su s
O
O
30
6o
0
10
0
0
17. P'O taao g cto n p e c t i n a v a s
O
O
55
36
0
0
0
12. B e r u l a e r e c t a
O
3
9
12
24
26
21
l4
0
19. R u p p ia m a r i ti m e
O
10
30
20
4o
0
0
0
2 0. F i s s i d e n e g r a n d i f r o n s
O
O
4
17
26
22
17
13
21. S can an ia u n d u la ta
O
O
O
0
16
33
16
33
22. Hygrohypnum p a l u n t r e
O
O
O
C
33
33
0
33
2 3 . R o r io n a n a s t u r t i u m - a a u a t i c u r a
O
O
O
0
0
100
0
A verage of 5 » 6 . 7 . 3 , S----- -
0
-3 2 -
i a a s l i g h t l y lo w e r r a n g e .
The i n t e r v a l a t w hich C h err v u l g a r I r
o c c u r r e d most f r e q u e n t l y was lo w er th a n t h o s e of t h e o t h e r d o m in a n ts i n
th e O: nI
.
Whan t h e f o u r B p o cies c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of th e P i r e h o l e above th e
b a s i n s and th e f i v e d o m in an ts w i t h i n t h e b a s i n s were c o n s i d e r e d as two
s e p a r a t e co m m u n ities and th e p e r c e n t a g e o c c u r r e n c e s w ere a v e r a g e d , t h e r e
was no n o t i c e a b l e d i f f e r e n c e b etw ee n t h e a v e r a g e s ( T a b le IX ).
When t h e m inor s p e c i e s a r e com pared, s t r i k i n g d i f f e r e n c e s a r e
ap p are n t.
C arex n c b r n s k e n s i s . J u n c u s s o . and U t r i c u l n rj.- v u Iga--Is were
e n c o u n t e r e d o n ly i n s lo w ly moving w a t e r .
Cf t h e s e , C arex n o b ra k o n s is
was fo u n d i n q u i e t w a t e r above t h e b a s i n s and th e o t h e r two were w i t h i n
th e b a s in a re a .
In c o n t r a s t ,
th e t h r e e b r y o p h y t e s P i e s i d e a s g r a n d i f r our:, C cnoania
un.lul - t a and Kyxrohyonum n a l u s t r o w ere most f r e q u e n t l y e n c o u n t e r e d i n
sw ift c u rre n t.
Of t h e s e t h r e e s u e d e s , o n ly Ccnonnin u n n u l a t n was
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of t h e r i v e r above t h e b a s i n s .
Cf the r e m a in d e r of t h e s p e c i e s w h ic h o c c u r r e d i n s w i f t w a t e r , o n ly
B e r u l a e r e c t a o c c u r r e d i n t h e two r e g i o n s of th e r i v e r .
The e f f e c t o f t h e v e g e t a t i o n on t h e s p e e d of f lo w m ust a l s o be
c o n ;id e re d .
I f p l a n t g ro w th i s d e n s e , t h e s p e e d w i l l be r e d u c e d and
f i n e r s e d im e n ts w i l l be d e p o s i t e d ( G e s s n e r 1955)•
T h is e f f e c t was
o b v io u s a t S t a t i o n s 11 and 12, w here l a r g e m asses of Potampgo to n s o p . and
Chare v u l g a r i s were fo u n d g ro w in g i n s i l t b ed s e l o n g a t e d p a r a l l e l to t h e
c u rre n t.
3-
C o n s i d e r i n g th e d a t a p r e r e n t e d , th e epeed of th e c u r r e n t a p p e a r s t o
he a l i m i t i n g f a c t o r on t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of v e g e t a t i o n i n t h e F i r e h o l e
BI vt; , hub Vhiu v f I ; uic does n o t o ypv. .r Vi u-. th e do . I a t v e f a c t o r
a c c o u n t i n g f o r th e f l o r a l d i f f e r e n c e i n th e two r e g i o n s o f th e r i v e r .
Bottom Type
T ab le X p r e s e n t s d a t a showing th e p e r c e n t a g e o c c u r r e n c e s of s u e d e s
. w i t h t h e v a r i o u s b o tto m t y p e s .
Sand was t h e most f r e q u e n t l y o c c u p ie d s u b s t r a t e f o r t h e m a j o r i t y of
s o e c i e s ( 15) , and 2 s p e c i e s o c c u r r e d e q u a l l y as o f t e n on sa n d and s i l t .
T h is i s i n a c c o r d a n c e w ith th e te n d e n c y of t h e s e s u e d e s t o be ore s e n t i n
g r e a t e s t ab undance a t t h e m e d ia l r a n g e s of c u r r e n t s p e e d .
An e x c e p t i o n
i s R o riu o e n a s t u r t i um-anu a d c u m , w hich was r o o t e d i n th e s a n d of an
isla n d .
I t was d a n g l i n g i n w a t e r t h a t was moving f a s t e r t h a n would be
e x p e c t e d f o r .m a in te n a n c e of a sand s u b s t r a t e .
when t h e s p e c i e s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f th e r i v e r above t h e b a s i n s a re
compared w i t h t h o s e w i t h i n o r below t h e g e y s e r b a s i n s , t h e r e i s l i t t l e
a p p a r e n t d i f f e r e n c e betw ee n t h e two a r e a s w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e b o tto m t y p e
o c c u p ie d by t h e two co m m u n ities (T a b le X ).
on s a n d .
A l l o c c u r r e d m ost f r e q u e n t l y
F o n t i n a l i r n e o -m e x ic a n a was e x c e p t i o n a l s i n c e i t was fo u n d on
r u b b l e and b e d r o c k f r e q u e n t l y .
However, t h e o t h e r f o u r b r y o p h y t e s a l s o
t e n d e d t o o c c u r on t h e c o a r s e r b o tto m t y p e s , j u s t as t h e y w ere more
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of th e s w i f t e r w a te rs .
I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o te t h a t
S c a u a n i a u n d u l a t a , w h ic h grew a t t h e s t a t i o n j u s t above t h e b a s i n s , was
most f r e q u e n t l y e n c o u n t e r e d on g r a v e l , w h e re a s F o n t i i . ? U r a n l i o y r e t i c a ,
-3 U Ta b l e X.
p e r c e n ta g e o c c u r r e n c e o f s p e c i e s a c c o r d in g t o b ottom ty p e .
P la n t
S ilt
Sand
G ray el
SaA k.
I . P o n t i n a l i s noo-mc- I c a n a
5
Ug
12
2U
11
2 . Ba.;. ra c u la s a a u a t i l i s
3
63
2U
11
3. C n la m ag ro rtia can a d e n sis
Io
60
13
3
U. K ip n u ri 9 v u lg a r is
U3
43
lU
0
0
0
0
A verage of 1 , 2 , 3 , ^ — — - 19
54
i5
10
3
28
59
IQ
3
7
73
16
7. C hsra v u lg a r is
29
50
17
U
U
g. K yriophyllum e x a lte s c a n s
12
63
21
3
5
Average o f 5 » 6 ,7 » 2 ,9 ------ ~ 16
70
19 '
5
63
17
3
lAl. B o rip tia na.s t u r t iur-i-aquat i cum
0
100
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
15. C arer n e b ra s k e n s is
0
100
0
0
0
l 6 . P o t r iogeto n nodonus
0
100
0
0
0
1 7. P otam ogeton P e c t i n a t u s
0
100
0
0
0
I S . B u p p ia m a ritim e.
0
62
32
0
0
19- C capania u n d u late.
0
32
50
12
0
2 0 . B eru la e r e c t a
1
7
52
Uo
0
21. P o n t i n a l i s a n t Itirn-C t i c a
0
0
33
33
33
22. P issid e n s g ra n d ifro n s
0
12
28
U
56
2 3 . Hy rohyonum p a l u s t r e
0
0
0
0
100
5. .,-Ota 'iogcton s t r i c t i f o liu s
6. Potnm ogeton f l l i f o r m i s
9. K ite lla sp.
10. "C leocharis a c i c u l a r i s
67 '
33
0
0
11. U tr ic u la r ! a . v u lg a r is
67
0
0
12. Z a n n ic h a llia p a l u s t r is
UU
Uo
33
Uh
12
0
60
0
0
13. Juncus sp.
‘
■
P l.-'
■r ^ n d iP rnnr, and K yarohy^nnn n a l u e t r r , fo u n d w i t h i n t h e h a s i n s ,
zaorit f r e q u e n t l y o c c u p i e d m a te r ia l? , c o a r s e r t h a n g r a v e l .
0 ’ t'aei i ; i g i oiviierJnr-» o n l y
g r a v e I ond. r u b b l e .
"
r ,
, t -■ - -py ■ n a -, ; t ■- m o f r e q u e n t l y
on
E le o c h a r x ? n c l c u l a r l f -md U x r i c u l e r i a vv: I g a r Ir. w ere
found more a b u n d a n t l y on s i l t .
In c o n s i d e r i n g b o tto m ty n e and c u r r e n t , i t i s l i k e l y t h a t th e l a t t e r
i s t h e more i n d i r e c t and b o tto m t y p e t h e d i r e c t i n f l u e n c e on th e
v e g e ta tio n .
Pond (1303) d i s c u s s e d th e n e e d f o r a p r o p e r s u b s t r a t u m , and
i n d i v i d u a l s p e c i e s v a r y i n some r e g a r d i n t h e i r p r e f e r e n c e s f o r c o n s i s ­
t e n c y of b o tto m m a t e r i a l .
Ar, i n th e c a s e o f c u r r e n t s p e e d , b o tto m ty p e i s i n f l u e n t i a l i n
I i m i t i n t, p l a n t g ro w th b u t does n o t a c c o u n t f o r th e d i f f e r e n c e i n v e g e t a t l o n a l c o m p o s i t i o n above and w i t h i n and below t h e b a s i n s .
Dep t h
The P i r e h o l e E i v e r i s i n g e n e r a l a s h a ll o w s tr e a m .
L arg e ly because
of t h i s , most o f t h e s p e c i e s had modal p e r c e n t a g e o c c u r r e n c e s i n w a te r
0 . 6 m e te r s o r l e s s d e p t h ( T a b l e X I ) .
T here a r e , h o w ever, some f e a t u r e s
of p l a n t d i s t r i b u t i o n r e l a t e d t o d e p t h t h a t a r e w o r th n o t i n g .
Ju n cu s s o .,
C a r e r n cb r a s k e n s i a , R o r iu e a n a r - t u r bI u n - nou a t i c u m , Calazxna r o - t i r cannderu '
and E l e o c h a r i s a c l c u l a r i s a r e t y p i c a l l y em erg en t f o r m s , an d , as can be
s e e n i n T a b le XI, t h e s e s n e c i e s a r e f o u n d a t s h a l l o w e r d e p t h s th a n th e
r e m a in d e r o f t h e s p e c i e s ( su bm ergent f o r m s ) .
There a r e e x t e n s i v e deep r e a c h e s i n t h e F i r e h o l e , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n
t h e Lower G e y s e r B a s i n .
The two s p e c i e s fo u n d o n ly i n w a t e r d e e p e r t h a n
T ab le X I.
P e r c e n t a g e o c c u r r e n c e of PUa C ie s ^ l th - d e p t h (m ).
P la n t
O-. 2 . 2- . U .'H-. 6
. 6 - .8
1.2
T. 0—
*
and
.8 - 1 .0 1 ,2 above
Jun.cur e j .
100
O
O
O
0
O
O
C arex n e b r a r k e n r I r .
100
O
O
O
0
O
O
R o r i nor n r o t u r t i u ra -c a u n tIcum
100
O
O'
O
0
O
O
Cr.lr.no . r o o t ' r c a n n S e n e is
39
50
4
0
O
O
T Jtric u ln rin v u lg a ris
33
67
7
O
O
O
O
O
XleOChnri s a c i c u l a r i s
35
33
33
O
O
O
O
Gc a o a n i. a unduI a t a
20
6o
20
O
O
O
O
M y r io n h y llu "• e x a lb e e c e n o
17
Hg
23
4
4
I
O
F o tam o g eto n s t r i c t i f o l i u a
13
S
28
25
2
13
7
O
6
75
15
4
O
O
Chxra v u l g a r i s
S
33
26
10
11
9
3
Xontin.-T Ie n c o - n e x i c e n a
I
31
37
26
O
O
O
X is siie n e g rn n d ifro n s
U
35
39
22
O
O
O
R a n u n cu lu s a o u a t i l i s
3
55
in
O
• O
O
O
X i t e l l -: cp.
3
6
6
l6
2S
25
p o t oiaorc t on f I H f o r mi s
2
17
15
24
21
14
6
H iuuuriR v u l g a r i s
O
67
33
15
O
O
O
O
Rupui c ?u• r i t i m a
0
55 -
33
11
O
O
O
Xont i n a I i p ■-n t l u y r e tic n .
O
50
50
O
O'
O
C
Z o n n ic h e llia u sl u s t r i e
O
25
13
50
O
O
O
Rygrohyonum o a l u s t r e
O
O
'6 7
33
O
O
O
P o ta h o ^ e to n nod or,us
O
O
O
33
44
11
P o tam o g eto n u e c t i n a t u s
O '
O
O
15
69
15
B eru la e recto
H
0
-3 7 O.'f m e t e r s ( r - :tth ir
r e g io n .
t o n n o o o ru n a n 5 F . • n e n tin -e tu p ) w e r e r e s t r i c t e d t o
The c e n t r a l p o r t i o n o f t h e r i v e r a t S t a t i o n s
11 end 12
c o n n u .n o a chan:. I . lov/1 .g "be b v. n uhv s i l t - e l . i l v - f d m a s s e s o f l h. ■ . . y
r.pp. and Char", v u l . f ^ r i ^ .
tn
T h i s c h a n n e l w as th e d e e p e s t p a r t o f t h e r i v e r .
I t s "bottom was s w e p t n e a r l y c l e a n o f v e g e t a t i o n "oy a s w i f t c u r r e n t .
The
.
T e m p e r a tu r e
A l t h o u g h t h e r e was a g r a d u a l i n c r e a s e
p r o g r e s s e d d ow nstream ,
th e e f f e c t
in tem p eratu re a s th e r iv e r
of tem p era tu re a lo n e
i s a d i f f i c u l t f a c t o r to e v a lu a t e .
T h i s i s "because t h e i n c r e a s e i n
t e m p e r a t u r e w as a c c o m p a n ie d "by an i n f l u x o f m i n e r a l s ,
oth er in t e r a c t in g f a c t o r s .
g e y s e r s and h o t s p r i n g s ,
In s p i t e
on t h e v e g e t a t i o n
d i s s o l v e d g a s e s an d
o f t h e c o n s t a n t d i s c h a r g e from
t e m p e r a t u r e , c h a n g e s w ere e v i d e n t a t t h e same
s t a t i o n "between e a r l y m o r n in g and a f t e r n o o n a s a. r e s u l t
h ea tin g .
of ra d ia n t
The s a m p l i n g o f t e m p e r a t u r e done i n t h i s s t u d y d o e s n o t
r e p r e s e n t a t r u e p i c t u r e o f t h e s e a s o n a l and d i u r n a l r a n g e o f t e m p e r a t u r e s
t o w h ich th e p l a n t s w ere s u b j e c t e d , h u t th e r e s u l t s a r e c o n s i s t e n t w it h
t h o s e fo u n d "oy J o h n C. W r ig h t ( p e r s o n a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n ) .
'/ATSR GHSMISTRY
F r e e CO?
The f r e e COp c o n t e n t o f th e r i v e r d e c r e a s e s -o ro g re e stiveI y downstream,
accom panied by i n c r e a s i n g am ounts of v e g e t a t i o n ( T a b l e s I and I V ) .
Most
of t h e a q u a t i c m osses o c c u r w i t h th e h i g h e s t c o n c e n t r a t i o n s , w hich a g r e e s
w i t h t h e s t a t e m e n t s of E u t t n e r ( 1 9 5 2) t h a t t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of a q u a t i c
mosses i s d e p e n d e n t on th e p r e s e n c e of f r e e COg.
These date, do n o t a p p e a r to a g r e e w i t h t h e f i n d i n g s of './r ig h t and
/ ' . i l l s ( 1 9 6 7 ) i n t h e i r s t u d i e s on th e M adison E i v e r dow nstream from th e
c o n f l u e n c e of t h e F i r e h n l e w i t h t h e G ibbon.
They fo u n d a d e c r e a s i n g
amount o f v e g e t a t i o n accom panying t h e d e c r e a s e i n f r e e COp.
T h is can
-oerhaps b e e x p l a i n e d by com paring t h e f l o r a l d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e s e two
riv e rs.
The F i r e h o l e was more o r l e s s b a r e of v e g e t a t i o n a t i t s u p p e r
end and p l a n t c o v e r i n c r e a s e d dow nstream .
The amount o f CCg e x t r a c t e d
fr o m th e w a t e r ( p r o b a b l y f o r p h o t o s y n t h e s i s ) can be e x p e c t e d t o be
g r e a t e r w here p l a n t g ro w th i s more a b u n d a n t .
The M adison ( a c t u a l l y a
c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e F i r e h o l e ) had d ense s t a n d s of m a c ro p h y te s a t i t s
u p p e r r e a c h e s ( th e low er r e a c h e s o f th e F i r e h o l e ) , and v e g e t a t i o n became
l e s s d en se dow nstream .
The d e n s e s t a n d s i n th e u p s tr e a m r e g i o n s removed
c o n s i d e r a b l e am ounts of COg t h e r e , l e a v i n g p r o g r e s s i v e l y s m a l l e r am ounts
as t h e p l a n t c o v e r d i m i n i s h e d d ow nstream .
-3 5 -
D is so Iv c :a Ii a t c r i n l f i
As i s e v i d e n t from T a b le I , th e s o l u t e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of t h e F i r e Loli
R iv e r g e n e r a l l y lncrea.:.ed dow nstream .
One o f t h e m ost marked
ch an g e s was th e i n c r e a s e i n c o n d u c t i v i t y once th e r i v e r r e c e i v e d ' -therm al
..I Group ( S t a t i o n h ) .
I t i s a lso ev id en t th a t
above S t a t i o n 4 th e r i v e r was c o o l e r , h a d lo w e r pH v a l u e s , h i g h e r f r e e
COp c o n c e n t r a t i o n s , lo w e r t o t a l a l k a l i n i t i e s and l e s s e r c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f
o r t h o p h o s p h a t e t h a n t h o s e be low i t .
These c o n d i t i o n s a r e r e f l e c t e d i n
t h e F O-r. t i i\: -,He-Renun c u In c -C a I r :■■a g r o s t i s community above t h e b a s i n s , i n
c o n t r a s t to t h e Ch n r - - F o t a m o a e t o n -h I t o l l a - k y r Io ch y 11urn-do m in a te d f l o r a , i n
and below t h e b a s i n s .
P l a n t Community, W ater C h e m is try and T e m p e ra tu re I n t e r a c t i o n s
T o t a l a l k a l i n i t y was s e l e c t e d as a c r i t e r i o n of t h e d i s s o l v e d
s u b s t a n c e f. i n th e w a t e r b e c a u s e i t i s most e f f e c t i v e on p l a n t g ro w th .
In
t h e pH r a n g e o f t h e F i r e h o l e R i v e r , t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y i s due m o s tl y t o t h e
c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f HCOv- , w hich in u t i l i z e d by many n I a n t e as a c a rb o n
source in p h o to s y n th e s is .
C o n d u c t i v i t y was n o t u s e d b e c a u s e i t m e a su re s
th e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f o t h e r s u b s t a n c e s , most n o t a b l y sodium c h l o r i d e .
T here i s an o b v io u s s e p a r a t i o n o f th e com m unities above t h e b a s i n s
and w i t h i n and below them t h a t c o r r e s p o n d s with, th e c h e m ic a l and t h e r m a l
d i f f e r e n c e s p r e v i o u s l y m e n tio n e d .
However, i n view of t h e h ig h c o r r e l a ­
t i o n b e tw e e n t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y and t e m p e r a t u r e , i t i s d i f f i c u l t to d e t e r ­
mine w h e t h e r t e m p e r a t u r e o r w a t e r c h e m i s t r y o r an i n t e r a c t i o n betw ee n t h e
two i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r th e f l o r a l d i f f e r e n c e s .
A eerier
car.c >y c o v e r ,
i n d i c t t,,
of co r r e la tio n
c o e f f i c i e n t s w e r e c a l c u l a t e d convoaring
tem p era tu re and t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y
V--IpCi-Ufctre and t o t a x o I Ku! i n i iy
i n d i c e s , te m n e n a t u r e and t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y
Trfole X I I .
( T aole X I I ) ,
(T a b le k i l l ) ,
an'
co m p o sitio n a l
d iv e r sity
( T a b l e XI V) .
C o r r e l a t i o n s c o m p a r in g p e r c e n t a g e c a n o o y c o v e r ( I ) ,
t e m p e r a t u r e ( 2 ) and t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y ( 3 ) •
S im p l e c o r r e l a t i o n
c o e ffic ie n ts
T12 ~ 0 .5 5 0
r ij; = o . Gob- ''
rg ? = O.E96 **
P a r tia l co r r e la tio n c o e ffic ie n ts
r 12.
—0 . 0 2 5
^ 1 3 .2 — 6 .3 0 1
M u ltip le c o r r e la t io n c o e f f i c i e n t
j . 27 = 0 . Go ( *
The s in r o le c o r r e l a t i o n
a l k a l i n i t y was s i g n i f i c a n t
P a r tia l co r rela tio n s
c o e f f i c i e n t b e t w e e n c a n o p y c o v e r and t o t a l
to th e 5% l e v e l .
c o m p a r in g c a n o p y c o v e r ,
a l k a l i n i t y w e re n o t s t a t i s t i c a l l y
sig n ific a n t.
t e m p e r a t u r e and t o t a l
The p a r t i a l c o r r e l a t i o n
c o e f f i c i e n t b e t w e e n c a n o p y c o v e r and t e m p e r a t u r e w as p r a c t i c a l l y
zero.
The f a c t t h a t t h e s i m p l e c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t b e t w e e n c a n o p y c o v e r an d
* C o r rela tio n s
** C o r r e l a t i o n s
s i g n i f i c a n t to th e 5$ l e v e l
sig n ific a n t
t o t h e V/o l e v e l
t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y war. s i g n i f i c a n t "but t h e p a r t i a l c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t
v.-ar n o t may i n d i c a t e t h a t o t h e r f a c t o r s
.
,;J-cu
- L u c a n o p y c o v .• ,^I ro .
c o e f f i c i e n t was p r a c t i c a l l y
s u c h a s c u r r e n t an d b o t t o m t y p e
. B u t , p i n o th o m u l t i p l e
co r rela tio n
t h e same a s t h e sir.role c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t
b e t w e e n c a n o p y c o v e r an d t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y ,
i t w ould a p p e a r t h a t t o t a l
a l k a l i n i t y woe t h e more s i g n i f i c a n t f a c t o r .
T a b le X I I I .
C o r r e l a t i o n s c o m p a r in g c o m p o s i t i o n a l i n d i c e s
t e m p e r a t u r e ( 2 ) and t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y ( 3 ) .
S im p le c o r r e l a t i o n
(l),
c o e ffic ie n ts
r 1 2 = 0 .627 *
r-jj a 0 . 6 2 6 *
r 2, = 0 .6 9 6 **
P a r tia l co r r e la tio n c o e ffic ie n ts
=12 -3 =
r . -. e g --
j i
M u ltip le c o r r e la t io n c o e f f i c i e n t
= 0 .6 4 5 *
S im o l e c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t s
among c o m p o s i t i o n a l i n d i c e s ,
t e m p e r a t u r e and t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y w e r e s i g n i f i c a n t t o
w ere p r a c t i c a l l y
i d e n t i c a l (T a b le X I I I ) .
not s t a t i s t i c a l l y
fa c to r s b e sid e s
sig n ific a n t.
t h e 5 > l e v e l and
P a r t i a l c o r r e l a t i o n s w ere
T h i s a g a i n may i n d i c a t e
th a t oth er
t e m p e r a t u r e a n d t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y w e re, a f f e c t i n g
x C o r rela tio n s s i g n i f i c a n t
t o t h e 5)0 l e v e l
** C o r r e l a t i o n s s i g n i f i c a n t t o
t h e l'j l e v e l
th is
in d e x .
S ince the lo w est c o m p o s itio n a l i n d i c e s were fo u n d i n th e upper
re a c h e s where co ld te m p e ra tu re s and l o x h a l k a l i n i t i e s were p r e s e n t and th e
-u— 1 I n i i v .
.
v.-ru
in
1 1*0
loxvc r ,
r and
. x'c m in e r a l—r i c h ./a t e r
(T a b le s I an c VI I ) , raid, s in c e th e r e wan a continuum of th e i n d ic e s alo n g
th e te m p e ra tu re and a l k a l i n i t y g r a d i e n t , th e c o e f f i c i e n t s o b ta in e d co u ld
v e r y , w e l l be e x p e c te d .
T his may i n d i c a t e t h a t t h i s p a r t i c u l a r method of
o r d i n a t i o n i s n o t s u i t a b l e f o r u se i n s e p a r a t i n g s i g n i f i c a n t e n v iro n ­
m e n ta l f a c t o r s t h a t a re r e s p o n s i b l e f o r th e d i f f e r e n c e s i n communities.
The m u l t i p l e c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t i s
' th e same o r d e r of magnitude as
th e sim ple c o r r e l a t i o n s .
XIV.
C o r r e l a t i o n s comparing
and t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y ( 3 ) .
sits in d i c e s ( l ) , tempe.........
Simple c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t s
^12 = 0 - ^ 3
r I j = 0 .7 8 9 **
r £ -, = 0 .8 9 6 **
P a r tia l c o rre la tio n c o effic ien ts
= - 0 .8 6 0 **
^ 13 -2 = 0 .9 3 3 **
M u ltip le c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t
B i . p p = 0 . 9 ^ 6 **
** C o e f f i c i e n t s s i g n i f i c a n t to t h e l c/o l e v e l
'vhen c o r r e l a t i o n i . o e f f i c i e n t e w ere computed among d i v e r s i t y i n d i c e s ,
t e m p e r a t u r e and t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y ( T a b le XIV), i t vras f o u n d t h a t th e
t-ii-to l#
tm d
... c
i.'V p 2 .r.itlo ;j.
g p u ^ f i g i c bU p
b e t--".
a l k a l i n i t y w ere s i g n i f i c a n t to t h e 1)6 l e v e l .
d iv o y c iify
6 —d
t o t a l
Cn t h e o t h e r h a n d , th e
s im p le c o r r e l a t i o n "between d i v e r s i t y and t e m p e r a t u r e was n o t s i g n i f i c a n t .
A n e g a t i v e p a r t i a l c o r r e l a t i o n s i g n i f i c a n t to t h e 1$ l e v e l was fo u n d
"between t h e d i v e r s i t y i n d i c e s and t e m p e r a t u r e .
S in ce t h e - p o s itiv e
p a r t i a l c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t "between d i v e r s i t y and t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y
was g r e a t e r th a n th e s im p le c o e f f i c i e n t , i t seems h i g h l y l i k e l y t h a t
i n c r e a s i n g t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r th e g r e a t e r s p e c i e s
d i v e r s i t y i n and "below th e b a s i n s .
I n t h i s s t u d y o f m a c ro p h y te s of th e I ' i r e h o l e R i v e r , i t was
e s t a o l i shed t h a t t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f v e g e t a t i o n a p p e a r s t o h e d e te rm in e d
m a in ly hy t h e g r a d i e n t o f t h e s t r e a m , a c t i n g th r o u g h th e c u r r e n t sp eed
and b o tto m t y p e .
Cnce p l a n t g ro w th i s - o r e s e n t, i t can a l t e r t h e r a t e
of flo w and c e a s e s e d i m e n t a t i o n , w h ich con i n t u r n c a u s e l o c a l changes
i n t h e s tr e a m g r a d i e n t .
C u r r e n t and b o tto m ty p e do n o t , how ever, d e t e r ­
mine w hich s p e c i e s w i l l be p r e s e n t ( T a b l e s IX and X ) . •
W ith in t h i s s t u d y , t e m p e r a t u r e a l o n e i s n o t as i m p o r t a n t as o t h e r
f a c to r s in sp e c ie s o ccurrence.
The t e m p e r a t u r e can v a r y 5 ° C betw ee n
m orning and a f t e r n o o n a t t h e same s t a t i o n .
However, th e a v e r a g e
te m p eratu re a t each s t a t i o n c o r r e l a t e s s i g n i f i c a n t l y w ith i t s t o t a l
a lk a lin ity .
Tlie c o m p o s i t i o n a l i n d e x , d i v e r s i t y in d e x and canopy c o v e r a r e
m easurem ents of d i f f e r e n t a s p e c t s of th e v e g e t a t i o n .
" M u ltip le c o r r e l a ­
t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t s computed com paring an i n t e r a c t i o n b e tw e e n t o t a l
a l k a l i n i t y and t e m p e r a t u r e w i t h e a c h of t h e s e m easurem ents shows -a s i g n i ­
f i c a n t c o r r e l a t i o n ( T a b l e s X I I , X I I I and X IV ).
Thus t o t a l a l k a l i n i t y and
te m p e r a t u r e a p p e a r to be i n f l u e n t i a l i n d e t e r m i n i n g w h ic h s n e c i e s a r e
p re se n t.
From t h i s d i s c u s s i o n , i t a p p e a r s t h a t t h e th e r m a l w a t e r s d i s c h a r g e d
fro m th e g e y s e r b a s i n s of Y e llo w s to n e M a t i o n a l P a r k add m i n e r a l s to th e
F i r e h o l e R i v e r w hich a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e v a r i e t y i n m acrophyte f l o r a
of th e r i v e r .
L l?3?jvru?3 CITED
A l l e n , 3 . T . and A r t h u r L. Day, 1935- h o t S o r in g s o f t h e Y e llo w s to n e
l a t i o n a l P ark.
C a r n e g ie I n s t i t u t e o f W ash in g to n , D .C ., P u b l i c a t i o n
Mo. US6. Vfaverly P r e s s .
3^3
A m erican P u b l i c H e a l t h A s s o c i a t i o n , I 3G3 .
-DxaJain a t i o n of W ater and Mi
7^9 no.
S t a n d a r d M ethods f o r th e
.
A rn iite g o , K en n eth B. , 195“ • E co lo g y o f t h e R i f f l e I n s e c t s of th e
F i r e h p l e R i v e r , Wyoming. E c o l . 39:571-379«
B u t c h e r , R .W ., 1933- S t u d i e s on t h e E c o lo g y of R i v e r s .
I . On th e
D i s t r i b u t i o n o f M a c ro p h y tic V e g e t a t i o n i n t h e R iv e r s o f B r i t a i n .
' J o u r n . E co l. 2 1 :5 3 -9 1 .
C a n f i e l d , R .K .,
19’'2 .
S am pling Ranges by t h e Line I n t e r c e p t Method.
. L .., T ucson,
27 PT).
F i s c h e r , W illia m A ., i 9 6 0 . Y e l l o w s t o n e 's L i v in g G eology.
P r i n t , I n c . B i l l i n g s , M ontana.
W e s te rn L i t h o -
K u l c z y n s k i , S . , 1 9 2 7 . Z e s p o ly r o s l i n w P i e n i n a c h . (D ie F l a n s e n
a s s o c i a t i o n e n d e r P i e n i n e n ) . B u l l . I n t e r n . P o lo n . Acad. S c i . L e t t . ,
C l. S c i . M ath, e t I J a t . S e r . B. SuppI .
1 1 :5 7 -2 0 3 .
M a r g a l e f , R . , 1351. D i v e r s i d a d de e s p e c i e s en l a s coiaunidad.es n a t u r a l e s .
p . I n s t . B i o l . , A p l. 9 : 5 - 2 7 .
Pond, Raymond H ., 1 3 0 3 . The B i o l o g i c a l R e l a t i o n s o f A q u a ti c P l a n t s to
' th e S u b s tr a tu m . P u b l i c a t i o n s o f th e U n ite d S t a t e s Commission of F i s h
and F i s h e r i e s , p p . USU-.5 2 6 .
Pond, Raymond H ., 19I S . The L a r g e r A q u a tic V e g e t a t i o n .
F r e s h w a t e r B io l o g y . John W iley & S o n s . 1111 P p.
Ward and W hipple
R a i n w a t e r , F .E . and L .L . T h a t c h e r , i 9 6 0 . Methods f o r C o l l e c t i o n and
A n a ly s is of W ater S am ples. G e o l o g i c a l S urvey W ater S u p p ly P a p e r # 1 4 5 4 .
U n ite d S t a t e s Government P r i n t i n g O f f i c e . 301 Pu.
Roed e r , Theodore S . , i 9 6 0 . E c o lo g y of t h e Diatom C om m unities of th e
U pper M adison R iv e r S ystem , Y e llo w s to n e R a t i o n a l P a r k . PhD t h e s i s
( u n p u b l i s h e d ) , M ontana S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y . 85 PPR u t t n e r , F r a n z , 1952. F u n d a m e n ta ls o f Lim nology. T r a n s l a t e d by D.G.
F r e y a n d F . E . J . F r y . U n i v e r s i t y of T o ro n to P r e s s . 295 tdo.
-4 6 -
S w in e d n le , D e ll e 27. and Jo h n T. C u r t i n , 1957l a r g e r S u h n erg ed P l a n t s i n W is c o n s in L a k e s .
P h y t o s o c i o l o g y of th e
S e a l. 3 C (3 ):;;7 -^ 0 7 .
Todd, Z l s t o n K ., I 9 S7 . P r im a r y P r o d u c t i v i t y of th e HaAis on E i v e r i n
Y fllo v d o n e E n t i o r a l P a r k , V.'. ow ing. P2:D t h e s i s ( u n p u b l i s h e d ) ,
Montana _ t a t a U n i v e r c i t y .
IhO up.
W r ig h t, J o h n C. and I . K . M i l l s , I 9 S7 . P r o d u c t i v i t y S t u d i e s on th e
M adison l i v e r , Y e llo w s to n e ' a t i o n a l P a r k . L im nol. and Cceanog.
1 2 : 560- 5 7 7 .
I
Jlit
N378
R184
cop. 2
Rasmussen, S. M.
Composition and
structure of macrophyte
vegetation of the Fire
hole River, Yellowstr
National Park __
I^AMt ANO Aef
d td /
,PR 4
QMljLd'
iii \ m ' t ' h % £ p
J fc e
W
N S18,
(2 1 ^
CBf