Algal species composition and biomass of Skinner Lake, Noble County, northern Indiana

Algal communities were sampled from August to August of 1990-1991 from the epilimnion and the hypolimnion of Skinner lake. Each sample was analyzed for taxonomic composition, cell number and biomass. The community was dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and Oscillatoria sp. with some Asterionella formosa and other algal species occurring in low numbers. The lake algal community showed a very high biomass throughout the lake's water column in late spring and summer but dropped dramatically during the winter months. Both species composition and the biomass indicate a highly eutrophic condition for Skinner lake.