Effects of two Aroclor fractions on the productivity and diversity of algae from two lentic ecosystems

Abstract

During the summer of 1976, samples of the algal communities from Stony Brook Pond, Norfolk, Ma. and Norton Reservoir, Norton, Ma. were exposed in laboratory culture to various concentrations of Aroclor 1232 and 1254. Although the algal communities of the two systems were quite different in composition, the Aroclors exerted some similar effects upon both. Aroclor 1232 caused a significantly greater reduction in primary productivity than 1254 and the reduction, with both Aroclor fractions, was dose related. Algal populations were differentially affected by Aroclor exposure.