Aquatic cryptogams of natural acid springs enriched with heavy metals: the Kootenay Paint Pots, British Columbia

An account is given of the chemistry and aquatic cryptogams of the Kootenay Paint Pots, British Columbia. The waters fell in the pH range 3.2 to 4.0, were mostly anaerobic and had high levels of Fe and Zn. Fourteen species of algae, one liverwort (Cephalozia bicuspidata ) and one moss (Dicranella heteromalla ) were found in the various springs and pools. The two dominant Chlamydomonas species existed as palmelloid growths where they occurred among sediments, while Dicranella heteromalla occurred everywhere only as protonema. The flora is different in many respects from that of typical acid mine drainages, the Dicranella being the only one of eight common species in such drainages represented. Most of the photosynthetic organisms in the Paint Pots must tolerate anaerobic conditions for long periods and it is suggested that this may be a key factor explaining the floristic difference.