Assessing rising invertebrate indicator species presence using the kick-and-sweep method at Laurel Creek in Waterloo
Graham Mantha 20553752
Keywords
Benthic Invertebrate: commonly used to provide information on the status of a water system. Having a short life span and a limited range of motion, this organism can do little to avoid pollution and therefore provides significant data concerning anthropogenic impacts. (Beatty et al., 2006)
Indicator Species: an organism that provides information on the environmental condition of a region with its presence, either depicting positive or negative changes. (Carignan & Villard, 2002)
Kick-and-sweep method: a low cost, high result method of extracting invertebrates from the floor of a water system
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(Johnson, 2004)
Stream Morphology: used to describe the shape of water channels and how they change over time through erosion, vegetation, and the availability and rate of sediment transport. (Hogan & Luzi, 2010)
Introduction Through the city of Waterloo flows a stream named Laurel Creek that originates from well north of the city, and as it flows into Silver Lake, it provides a home for many organisms both on land and in the water. This stream has been heavily influenced by human construction, and has a number of reservoirs along its path. As the water moves downstream towards more populated areas, it becomes a sink for waste coming from many sources along the way. To monitor the health of Laurel Creek, indicator species such as benthic invertebrates that reside in the water are collected to determine the current status of the stream. The purpose of this study is to determine the best location to collect samples of invertebrates in relationship to the stream morphology of Laurel Creek. The results from this study could then be used on other locations suffering the same problem in Waterloo. These areas can then be observed to determine if a solution can be found to decrease pollution, therefore decreasing the
The macroinvertebrates graph (figure 2) represents the diversity of species inhabiting the Baldwin Swamp. In 2009 the Baldwin swamp was flourishing with a large diversity of species. A total of 33 macroinvertebrates, 8 species were recorded. At this time the baldwin swamp was healthy, abundant in life and the ecosystem and food webs were unaffected by the floods. Whereas 3 weeks after the floods swept through there were little to no range of species of macroinvertebrates. There were a recorded amount of 2 Damselfly Nymph and 1 waterboat man. A theory to why these two
Silvershell Beach is the home to many different aquatic species and other forms of wildlife. Last lab block the class and I went into the ocean at Silvershell beach and took seven different seine net samples. With each sample we took, we noticed a variety of different organisms. As we moved around different areas of the ocean, we would come out with changing species and number of species that we did not find in other areas of the water. Species we found included sea robin, hermit crabs, moon jellies, minnows, shrimp, eels, and more. Sample one and two were taken from around the same area in the water and there was a reappearance of three of the species. In sample one we found hermit crabs, minnows, moon jellies, and a sea robin. In sample two
The Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network was created to assess the quality of aquatic environments and ecosystems using benthos organisms as biomarkers (Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 2007). Exclusively used in Ontario, this biomonitoring program assesses ecological function and condition of streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands across the province (The Dorset Environmental Science Centre, 2017). The OBBN protocol is ideal for assessing water quality because of the use of aquatic macroinvertebrates (Borisko, et al. 2007). Since macroinvertebrates are easy and inexpensive to collect, determining water quality can be conducted continuously over the course of the year, across many locations (Borisko, et al. 2007; Ontario Ministry of the
6) There are several advantages and disadvantages to identifying benthic macro-invertebrates at different taxonomic levels. In this assignment metrics were calculated to the 27-group level (which consists of phyla, classes, orders and families) as well as the family level. There were slight differences in the calculated species richness and Biotic Indexes using these different identification levels. This is an indication that taxonomic resolution can affect bioassesment outcomes.
Planktons! You can find them in several places on the Earth. In oceans, seas, and lakes! These organisms are those that drift, and are incapable or have little or no ability to swim. Due to that, they are moved and taken wherever by the currents of water based environments. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/plankton.htm) Not to mention, they are also an important food source to many large aquatic organisms. For instance, fish and whales. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plankton) In this lab experiment, “Battle of the Plankton”, groups of students are to make their own planktonic organism out of household items that will (hopefully) have the characteristic of sinking slowly when placed in a large tank filled with fresh water. They will have
Heath Creek, located in Northfield, MN, was sampled at four locations: A, B, C and D in which each location was measured for depth and sampled for macroinvertebrates. Locations A, B, C, and D were respectively labeled according to the downward flow of Heath Creek into Cannon River, with Location A being farthest away from the end and Location D being near the merge of Heath Creek and the Cannon River. In every location, an area of 21 meters was measured and divided into three sections of 7 meters. In each section, the depth for the deepest and most shallow sites were measured, followed by a collection of two separate representative samples of the deepest and most shallow sites. Sampling was performed through a minute of D-net jabbing and another
During the many sessions we had to investigate and research the health and condition of Steele Creek; at the same time we also hypothesized that “If the results indicate that Steele Creek is in the optimum range for damselfly nymphs then damselfly nymphs will be abundant.” The many experiments we conducted on the creek provided us with crucial findings that showed Steele Creek was in the lower range of ‘good health’. The several experiments we conducted consisted of a: Habitat Survey, Soil Analysis, Water Analysis and Macro-Invertebrate Identification. These tests were restricted to the section we chose of Steele Creek (excluding the Macro-Invertebrate test) . This allowed us to compare an array of aspects of Steele Creek’s water such as pH level and turbidity , giving us an insight into the kind of species that the Steele Creek habitat could sustain and the very nature of it. The fact that the the investigations were conducted at different times, dates and conditions, suggests a possible variation in our results.
On October 31, a Bark Centipede (Scolopocryptops sexspinosus), two prey items (Oniscus asellus and Lumbricus terrestris) along with three samples of water from nearby Hess Creek were collected, all were collected within a 100m2 area and within. Each organisms liquid was extracted. All liquid content was placed in a pipette(10µL). The pipettes were labeled and distilled. . The water content was then placed in for isotopic analysis.
Around the world there are extensive river ecosystems and many different kind of animals that inhabit them. Fish are one of the most available animal species in a river ecosystem. Different fish species live in different places of a river environment. Salmon and trout often prefer the oxygen rich, fast flowing rivers, where pike, walleye and are more likely found in silty areas that have been a part of Eutrophication where oxygen is less abundant. fish are an excellent indicator for water quality and habitat . Amphibians also help show ecological indicators. Due to their high degree of sensitivity, they respond quickly to change in the environment, in particular to habitat fragmentation, ecosystem stress and impact of pesticides. When theses
Stoney creek is a salmon spawning stream located on Burnaby Mountain, British Columbia, Canada (The City of Burnaby, 2016). However, the site is constantly being threatened by nearby urban constructions and development (Stoney Creek Environment Committee, n.d.). Thus, organizations were created to protect, maintain and monitor this important salmon rearing stream (Stoney Creek Environment Committee, n.d.). A few methods that the organizations utilize to analyse Stoney Creek, is to survey its habitat conditions and test the water quality and quantity (Taccogna et al., 1995). This will require the assessment of vegetation availability, flow velocity, volume, discharge, water chemistry and conditions (Taccogna et al., 1995). Compiling and documenting
In this case study practical a sample of 50 roach R. rutilus from a lake in Bumble Hole and Warrens Hall Nature reserve, in Springfield, Wolverhampton were used. The roach which may be found in the lower courses of the river, It tolerates organic pollution and is one of the last species to disappear in polluted waters, but is also often the most numerous cyprinid in nutrient-poor waters, is highly resistant to pollution, and adapts well to mediocre water qualities. Its total length is between 12 and 20 cm for weights between 100 and 200g with a few specimens have been known to reach 45cm with weights nearing 2.5 kg.
By this time the majority of the macroinvertebrates will have been disturbed and moved into the kick net. From here, the net must be lifted from the bottom until it is level. This step insures that no macroinvertebrates are lost in the process of removing the net. The net must be carried to an even and level surface before being laid down. To collect the macroinvertebrate samples, groups can use spoons, paint brushes, tweezers, and eye droppers. It’s important to look carefully for any macroinvertebrates that are hidden under leaves or small stones and to collect them. This is a step where patience is key, because the macroinvertebrates will begin to move and become more easily visible the longer you wait. The samples should be moved to collection trays and identification can
Watersheds are the areas of the Earth's surface that drains downhill to surface water bodies large or small, watersheds have discrete boundaries established by mountains, hills and valleys, and include all lakes, rivers, wetlands, streams, and other surrounding landscape. Watersheds often cross national, state and local borders, watersheds transcend as many political, social and economic boundaries as they do ecological boundaries. In recent years, significant progress has been made in achieving cleaner and healthier watersheds that support both aquatic life and many human uses. I will be discussing what State and Federal Departments are doing to rectify these problems. I also will be discussing the
Macroinvertebrates evolved in a diverse and different array of behavioral and morphology mechanism in feeding (Wallace & Webster, 1996). Merritt and Cummins (1984) classified the macroinvertebrates into five functional feeding groups namely shredder, collectors, scrapers, piecers and predators, based on the process of the organisms utilize the food sources. Macroinvertebrates help the process of decomposition of organic matter by their functional feeding groups. Some macroinvertebrates species in freshwater sediment tear apart decaying leaves and other organic matter while feeding resulting in abundance rates of bacteria and fungi (Palmer, 1997). Other than that, Covich et al. (1999) stated that there are some specialized species that filter out various sized of particle and located downstream from the
Benthic macroinvertebrates have been used to assess the health of aquatic environments. Quality analysis involves looking at benthic species composition and organization within the stream (Resh and Unzicke 1975). Different macroinvertebrates have differing sensitivities to pollutant, with some being more susceptible to environmental toxins than others (Metcalfe 1989). Such methods group macroinvertebrates in regards to their tolerance to pollution.