Community metabolism in Montezuma Well, Arizona

Cole, Gerald; Boyd, George; Hanson, Hugh; Richardson, H.

This research proposal outlines a plan to study community metabolism and biotic activity. Energy flow will be examined through a producer-consumer trophic system at the well; includes a list of literature cited. Montezuma Well, located within Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona, is an unique aquatic habitat. It is a large limestone sink containing water to a depth of about 60 feet. The place where the water enters is not known, but each day approximately 1.5 x 106 gallons are discharged via a natural, rocky tunnel. In some ways this body of water may resemble a gigantic, natural laboratory, with an inflow of water approaching constancy in volume, temperature, total electrolytes, dissolved gases, etc. The surface is remarkably well protected from wind action by high limestone walls, and changes in the physico-chemical properties of the water as it flows through the system probably reflect, to a great degree, biotic activity and community metabolism. Therefore, locating the inlet and analyzing the waters there and at the place of discharge would be of special interest. Some of the principles, concerning determination of productivity in running waters, discussed by Odum (1956), may be applicable in Montezuma Well, just as they are in Silver Springs, Florida. The proposed research plan involves the study of energy flow through a producer-consumer trophic system. Production rates and efficiency ratios will be formulated, and a balance sheet of energetics for the entire ecosystem will be attempted. From these data, it is hoped the proximity to a steady state may be estimated, and the successional stage of this ecosystem theorized, assuming stability represents the climax condition. (Copied verbatim from the research proposal.)