Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1975

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Abstract

Bimonthly benthic samples (April, 1972 to March, 1973) taken at eleven stations provide quantitative reference data on the benthic macrofaunal communities of Lake Worth in Palm Beach County, Florida. Distribution and structure in relation to sediment types and sources of pollution are discussed. One hundred seventy-one taxa were identified. The five top-ranked species were the bivalve Mulinia lateralis; the polychaetes Spiochaetopterus oculatus, Paraprionospio pinnata, and Glycinde solitaria; and the amphipod Cerapus sp. Stations were grouped as sand, silty-sand, mud, and outfall stations based on similarity of faunal composition and sediment type. The sand and silty-sand stations had the highest diversity (H') and species richness (spp/180) values. The mud and outfall stations had low H' and spp/180 values which were similar to values reported for pollution-stressed areas in other studies. The outfall station was dominated by the pollution-tolerant polychaete Capitella capitata.

Extent

182 p.

Comments

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1975.|Charles E. Schmidt College of Science|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1975.

Identifier

FADT13762

Format

pdf

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