Ontogeny and Littoral Structure of Lakes Created on Phosphate Mined Lands of Central Florida Chrysoula Mitraki University of South Florida, [email protected]
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University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School January 2012 Ontogeny and Littoral Structure of Lakes Created on Phosphate Mined Lands of Central Florida Chrysoula Mitraki University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons, and the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons Scholar Commons Citation Mitraki, Chrysoula, "Ontogeny and Littoral Structure of Lakes Created on Phosphate Mined Lands of Central Florida" (2012). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/4167 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Ontogeny and Littoral Structure of Lakes Created on Phosphate Mined Lands of Central Florida by Chrysoula Mitraki A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Integrative Biology College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: Thomas L. Crisman, Ph.D. Susan Bell, Ph.D. Valerie J. Harwood, Ph.D. Mark Brenner, Ph.D. Date of Approval: May 17, 2012 Keywords: water quality, benthic invertebrates, macrophytes, lake age, lake morphometry Copyright © 2012, Chrysoula Mitraki ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Acknowledgments belong to the lake managers, who allowed and facilitated lake sampling and graciously shared their expertise. Mr. Timothy King and Mr. Danon Moxley from the Tenoroc Fish Management Area Mr. Charles Cook from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Mrs. Rosemarie Garcia and Mrs. Jessica Solis from The Mosaic Company Mr. David Royal from the Clear Springs Land Management Company LLC TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ....................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ....................................................................................................... v Abstract ............................................................................................................... vi Introduction: Ontogeny and Littoral Structure of Lakes Created on Phosphate Mined Lands of Central Florida .......................................................... 1 Florida Lakes Natural Florida Lakes ..................................................................... 1 Lakes Created on Phosphate Mined Lands .................................... 4 Questions ................................................................................................. 8 Hypotheses............................................................................................... 9 Ontogeny of Phosphate Lakes ....................................................... 9 Hypothesis 1 ...................................................................... 12 Littoral Structure-Vegetation Communities ................................... 12 Hypothesis 2.1 ................................................................... 14 Hypothesis 2.2 ................................................................... 14 Littoral Structure-Benthic Invertebrate Communities .................... 14 Hypothesis 3.1 ................................................................... 16 Hypothesis 3.2 ................................................................... 16 References Cited .................................................................................... 17 Chapter 1: Ontogeny of Lakes Created on Phosphate Mined Lands of Central Florida ................................................................................................... 22 Introduction ............................................................................................. 22 Methods .................................................................................................. 26 Site Description ............................................................................ 26 Field and Lab Methods ................................................................. 27 Statistical Analyses ...................................................................... 29 Results and Discussion .......................................................................... 31 Water Quality ............................................................................... 31 Physical and Chemical Variables ....................................... 31 Trophic State Variables ..................................................... 35 Basin Morphometry ...................................................................... 39 Benthic Invertebrates ................................................................... 41 Total Abundance ............................................................... 41 Taxa Richness ................................................................... 44 i Major Invertebrate Groups ................................................. 44 Chironomidae .................................................................... 46 Taxa Relationships to Lake Age ........................................ 48 Benthic Invertebrates Versus Abiotic Variables ................. 51 Conclusions ............................................................................................ 56 References Cited .................................................................................... 57 Chapter 2: Vegetation Communities of Lakes Created on Phosphate Lands of Central Florida .................................................................................... 62 Introduction ............................................................................................. 62 Methods .................................................................................................. 64 Site Description ............................................................................ 64 Vegetation Survey and Physical/Chemical Variables ................... 65 Basin Morphometry ...................................................................... 66 Sediment Properties ..................................................................... 66 Data Analyses .............................................................................. 67 Results and Discussion .......................................................................... 67 Abiotic Characteristics .................................................................. 67 Stratification Patterns ........................................................ 67 Water Quality ..................................................................... 68 Basin Characteristics ......................................................... 70 Vegetation .................................................................................... 70 Plant Composition ............................................................. 70 Plant Assemblages ............................................................ 72 Lake Classification by Littoral Plant Communities .............. 76 Plant Assemblages Relative to Lake Age and Morphometry ..................................................................... 81 Plant Community Composition as a Potential Indicator of Lake Succession ........................................................... 84 Conclusions ............................................................................................ 85 References Cited .................................................................................... 86 Chapter 3: Littoral Benthic Communities of Lakes Created on Phosphate Mined Lands of Central Florida.......................................................................... 88 Introduction ............................................................................................. 88 Methods .................................................................................................. 91 Site Description ............................................................................ 91 Slope ............................................................................................ 92 Sediment Properties ..................................................................... 92 Benthic Invertebrates ................................................................... 93 Statistical Procedures .................................................................. 94 Results and Discussion .......................................................................... 95 Abiotic Variables .......................................................................... 95 Stratification Patterns-Water Quality .................................. 95 Basin Morphometry ........................................................... 96 Sediment Characteristics ................................................... 96 ii Benthic Invertebrates ................................................................... 97 Total Abundance ............................................................... 97 Taxa Richness ................................................................... 99 Major Groups ..................................................................... 99 Benthic Invertebrate Community Composition ................. 103 Chironomidae Groups ..................................................... 104 Benthic Invertebrates Versus Abiotic Characteristics ....... 107 Relationships Between Macrophytes and Benthic