Species diversity and water quality in Galveston Bay, Texas.

Abstract

The relationships between species diversity of phytoplankton, zooplankton, nekton and benthos samples and the water quality of Galveston Bay, Texas, were quantitatively compared. Two water quality parameters (i.e., percent wastewater on the toxicity of the water at a given sampling station) were found to be inversely correlated with species diversity. A computerized dispersion model was used to calculate percent waste water. Toxicity was measured to water samples and by utilizing growth depression as the toxicity criterion.