Keywords
constructed ponds, Nitzschia, Navicula, West Michigan
Disciplines
Life Sciences
Mentor
Dr. Sarah Hamsher
Abstract
Diatoms are a diverse group of microalgae with silica cell walls that produce ~ 25% of the Earth's oxygen. Due to their diversity and sensitivity to changes in water quality, diatoms are often used to monitor aquatic ecosystems. One such ecosystem is the Pierce Ponds, a series of small, constructed wetlands located southwest of the GVSU campus that were designed to limit erosion and remove contaminants from runoff and precipitation before entering the Lower Grand River Watershed. To explore the diatom populations of these ponds, we created a voucher flora to document the taxa present. In November, algal samples were collected from aquatic plants from four ponds and processed in nitric acid. Resulting rinsed materials were mounted on permanent slides to document the diatoms present. To date, the most common diatoms found were Achnanthidium minutissimum, Nitzschia palea var. tenuirostris, and Navicula veneta. A size series of each diatom taxon has been documented in a flora to assist future researchers in their identification and allow them to more closely monitor the water quality of the Pierce Ponds to ensure that the constructed wetland is functioning. Diatoms of the Pierce Ponds have not been documented previously, so this flora may also uncover new taxa to science.
ScholarWorks Citation
Sandman, Olivia, "A Diatom Voucher Flora for the Pierce Ponds" (2025). Honors Projects. 966.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/honorsprojects/966
