Quantitative aspects of the unicellular algal population of the Texas bay systems.

A study was made of the possible relations between some physical and chemical factors in the Texas Bay sediments and the number of photosynthetic microorganisms contained therein. The diatom species found in these sediments were studied in relation to such factors as water depth, pH, Eh, salinity range and sediment type. Neither the number of organisms encountered in the sediment nor the species found at different localities showed any identifiable correlation with the environmental factors assessed. Either, the distribution of organisms was controlled by factors which were not studied or it was due to biological rather than physiochemical factors.