By

Ianniello, Richard SÌý1

1ÌýUniversity of babyÖ±²¥app

In order to assess the resilience of the nuisance diatomÌýdidymosphenia geminatain relation to flood disturbances, a simulation technique was developed to measure the loss of algal material due to flooding over a period of time. The diatom is of interest due to its recent unexplained expansion of habitat, invasive capabilities and ability to form extracellular polysaccharide stalk material over the substrate of a stream that can cause substantial ecological damage. The simulation was done by placing rocks affected with didymo into a cylindrical container with water and turning the container to simulate bed movement during a flood. Rock samples were taken from Boulder Creek in babyÖ±²¥app, and processed with the simulation to provide water samples that were then analyzed for biomass, chlorophyll-a and number ofÌýdidymoÌýcells. Microscopic cell counts compared to ash free dry mass data showed that the diatom cells ofÌýdidymosphenia geminataÌýare less resilient and more prone to removal by disturbances than the polysaccharide stalk material that the cells create. This indicates that theÌýdidymospheniaÌýcells can be removed from the stalk material without removal of the stalk material itself. The possibility thatÌýdidymospheniaÌýdeveloped in a setting with higher velocity would create more resilience was also examined although the collected data failed to provide conclusive results.

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