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beak <br />• 4.0 PERIP4YTON <br />The attached, microscopic algae on the variety of substrates on stream <br />bottoms are an important component of stream habitats. These algae, the <br />periphyton, oxygenate the stream, fix atmospheric nitrogen into plant <br />material, and provide food for some fishes and invertebrates that inhabit <br />stream bottom surfaces. Because periphyton remains attached at a particular <br />place, its physiological condition and community composition reflects the <br />ambient water quality of the stream. Periphyton is, therefore, valuable as <br />an indicator of possible ecological effects of pollution. <br />The objective of this study component was to describe the generic <br />composition and estimate quantities of periphyton in the North Fork Gunnison <br />River at the permit area, and use the data to assess the periphyton as- <br />• semblage, its relation to observed water quality, and upstream-downstream <br />differences. <br />4.1 Methods <br />Replicate (3) periphyton samples were collected at Stations C, D, E, <br />and F along the permit area (Figure 2.0-1). Specific location of sample col- <br />lection was the same as that for benthic macroinvertebrates and water <br />quality. Each replicate consisted of a standard surface area (30.2 cm2) <br />of periphytic material isolated with a plastic mold and removed from natural <br />substrata. At each station replicates were collected from locations near <br />each shore and at mid-stream. After the isolated periphyton was removed, <br />three equal aliquots were measured, placed in separate, labeled containers, <br />and preserved for shipment to the laboratory. Laboratory analysis utilized <br />4-1 <br />