ecological study of photoautotrophs in Lake Worth

Little Lake Worth (LLW) (800 m x 200 m x 8« m) is an artificially deep, monomictic marine basin. Pigments and other water quality parameters (O2, pH, T, S, NO3 -. etc.) were utilized to characterize phototrophic communities and water quality. The water column is dominated by diatoms except in the hypolimnon during stratification events (late Summer) when strong anoxia and H2S favors abundant Chlorobium sulfur bacteria. Results indicate nitrate-enriched freshwater baseflow indicative of septic tank seepage during the wet season. This also appears to lead to the accumulation of concentrated organic matter in the sediment. LLW is a potential threat to the health of the ecosystem and the humans using it recreationally. More research is required to verify the effectiveness of restoration options. The spatial and temporal distribution of Chlorobium (phaeovibiroides tent.) and their Bacteriochlorophyll-e homologues is described and compared to similar studies.