A Survey of Plankton Community Composition and Abundance in Turkey Creek Lake, Shawnee State Forest
Abstract
Plankton play vital roles in ecosystems and are indicators of water quality. In freshwater lakes, plankton form the basis of food webs, produce oxygen, and cycle essential nutrients. Assessing planktonic composition provides data for freshwater system management. Despite this, records of plankton communities are limited for southern Ohio’s inland lakes. My study establishes a baseline record of plankton diversity and abundance in Turkey Creek Lake in Shawnee State Forest, Scioto County, Ohio. Sampling was conducted in October of 2025 and in March of 2026. Specimens were collected during day (light) and night (dark) to account for diel vertical migration of freshwater zooplankton. Specimens were harvested, preserved in an ethanol solution, and sorted microscopically into zooplankton and phytoplankton. Zooplankton were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level; cell counts were used to determine relative abundance and standing crop values. Species accumulation curves were generated for phytoplankton. Overall biodiversity was digitally cataloged.
A Survey of Plankton Community Composition and Abundance in Turkey Creek Lake, Shawnee State Forest
Plankton play vital roles in ecosystems and are indicators of water quality. In freshwater lakes, plankton form the basis of food webs, produce oxygen, and cycle essential nutrients. Assessing planktonic composition provides data for freshwater system management. Despite this, records of plankton communities are limited for southern Ohio’s inland lakes. My study establishes a baseline record of plankton diversity and abundance in Turkey Creek Lake in Shawnee State Forest, Scioto County, Ohio. Sampling was conducted in October of 2025 and in March of 2026. Specimens were collected during day (light) and night (dark) to account for diel vertical migration of freshwater zooplankton. Specimens were harvested, preserved in an ethanol solution, and sorted microscopically into zooplankton and phytoplankton. Zooplankton were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level; cell counts were used to determine relative abundance and standing crop values. Species accumulation curves were generated for phytoplankton. Overall biodiversity was digitally cataloged.