The patterns of biological diversity in rivers and streams among taxa vary on a spatial and temporal scale (Ligeiro et al. 2010; McGarvey and Terra 2015). Variations in stream ecology can be contributed to water quality, habitat, and history of disturbance (Lingeiro et al. 2010). Creeks and streams feed into rivers and other larger bodies of water, which provide food, water, and other commercial and recreational services as well as a home to an array of plants and animals which rely on clean water. The health of these smaller bodies of water can act as indicators for the health of the larger watershed. 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. The EPT Index looks at Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies, respectively) as indicators of aquatic community health. The idea behind the EPT Index is that healthier streams have a greater richness of species as many species of macroinvertebrates are intolerant of pollutions and thus will not be found in low quality bodies of water (Lenat 1988). Previous studies have found that EPT
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
Lampert, W., & Sommer, U. (2010). Limnoecology: [the ecology of lakes and streams]. Oxford [u.a.: Oxford University
The health of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay was found based on Biological (macroinvertebrates and wildlife) and Chemicals characteristics (pH, dissolved oxygen, phosphates, nitrates, etc.) as well as physical observations (amount of forested buffers, wetlands, etc.) Overall it was concluded that the health of the water was good to excellent. What was found was that many of the macroinvertebrates found in the water were sensitive or facultative, meaning the water quality was good enough for them to live in. Also, the level of ph, temperature, dissolved oxygen, phosphates, nitrates, and turbidity showed that the water quality was good. Finally, while we were canoeing down the Susquehanna River, observations were made on the land
Through our research we aimed to determine if there were any differences in water quality of both the north and south forks of Strawberry Creek. As time progresses and the environment changes it is important to keep track of how certain species are being impacted by these features, and how they cope with change. We hypothesized that due to the lack of pollution, the south fork will promote a greater diversity of macroinvertebrates. This was due to the fact that there was less runoff and trash that could be introduced to the water in the south fork, than there was in the north fork. We gathered data by analyzing the different organisms living in both forks. We collected a total of fifty vials composed of five organisms from each fork, and inspected them under microscopic view. After gathering data and identifying the different kinds of organisms living in the different forks we assessed whether the organisms from the samples could live in high or low resolution water. We also took a t-test to assess the probability of these differences being due to relevant factors or by chance. Our major findings suggest that organisms in the south fork showed a higher demand to living in cleaner water indicating that our hypothesis was correct.
Scene in Fig. 1.1., the Chesapeake Bay is substantial in size; at roughly 64,000 miles, it contains roughly fifty rivers and thousands of streams and creeks. It encompasses parts of 6 states, including all of Washington, DC. The Chesapeake Bay is what is known as a watershed, an area that contributes to the drainage to a water body, stream, river, lake or ocean. Rainwater that falls within the 64,000 square miles that is the Chesapeake Bay will subsequently travel through many streams and rivers, eventually making its way into the largest estuary system in the United States.
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
As the data showed, the Conodoguinet creek is NOT polluted! There were many macroinvertebrates living in the creek that could only live in non polluted
The organisms found could be grouped in 3 groups. Pollution intolerant organisms in the creek are caddis fly larvae, riffle beetles, stonefly nymphs, Dobson larvae, may fly larvae, snipe larvae, and water fleas. There are 10 moderately tolerant species living in the creek, they are: crayfish, crane fly larvae, aquatic sow bugs, dragonfly, larvae, scuds, beetle larvae, hellgrammites, fly larvae, and alderflies. The seven pollution tolerant invertebrates living in the creek are Aquatic worms, leeches, pouch snails, midge larvae, black fly larvae, flatworms, and segmented worms. The 24 different types of micro invertebrates in the creek and the number of pollution intolerant and moderately tolerant species in the creek indicate an excellent water
For the convenience of the students, a packet for recording the stream’s content and results was provided. On the first and second page, tables for seeing the taxa types of aquatic macroinvertebrates found were laid out, and students were to check the boxes with the names of the taxa they found in this area. Students entered the stream with a large water strain, and put dirt from the stream and carried it out of the stream to be examined. After observing several catches from the stream, the group one taxa findings included Stonefly nymph, Mayfly nymph, and Dobson fly nymph.
The removal method of Ringed Crayfish data collection was over a sample site area of 50m2 at Pearson Creek, a stream, containing a density of 5.18 crayfish/m2. The sample site was collected in 5m in width by 10m in height with wet, rocky, and grassy conditions. The data collection incorporated five different samples of the number of crayfish removed from the stream each time (Figure 1). Sample one caught 53 Ringed Crayfish with 0 crayfish caught prior. Sample two caught 37 Ringed Crayfish with 53 crayfish caught prior. Sample three caught 42 Ringed Crayfish with 90 crayfish caught prior. Sample four caught 26 Ringed Crayfish with 132 crayfish caught prior. Sample five caught 18 Ringed Crayfish with 158 crayfish caught prior. What was caught in the previous sample was added into the total amount of crayfish caught prior. A negative linear relationship is displayed by data collected in Figure
This analysis of case studies from Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the case study to predict the effects of pesticides on aquatic systems and the waterfowl that uses them. Comparing the two processes of these case studies, along with analysis of the assessments. Describing the case study on the effects of pesticides in aquatic ecosystem, the risk assessment correlated to observed field studies and evaluate the importance of this type of correlation in general for all risk assessment efforts. Breaking down the ecological and social
The first experiment we did to find out if the creek is polluted, was to count the macroinvertebrates in the creek. A macroinvertebrate is an aquatic insect, such as a crustacean. Different
At this station, we had to go into the creek, pick out rocks, and observe and identify the animal life living on that rock. Animals that live in the water need dissolved oxygen so they can breathe under the water. The more turbulent the water is, the more dissolved oxygen can be found in it. The amount of dissolved oxygen in a body of water will determine the type and number of macro-invertebrates that may live there. There are three groups of animals that you could find in the Conodoguinet Creek. Group one is called stream insects and crustaceans. These are pollution sensitive organisms, which means they cannot exist in polluted waters. Group one organisms are only found in good quality water. Some examples of these organisms are mayflies, gilled snails, water penny, or a stonefly(shown in figure 8.) The next group is the organisms that are somewhat pollution tolerant, which means they can be found in good or fair quality water. Crayfish, dragonflies, and clams are all examples of group two organisms (shown in figures 3, 6, and 9.) Group three organisms are pollution tolerant organisms. This means they can be found in any quality water. Some examples of group three organisms are pouch snails, pond snails, orb snails, and leeches. When I conducted this experiment, I found seven group one organisms, seven group two organisms, and five group three organisms. Macroinvertebrate is another word for organism.
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.
Land transformation as a result of anthropogenic effects continues to be one of the biggest threats to the ecological integrity of headwater streams today. Land transformation induced by human alterations to the landscape, have been shown to have negative impacts on habitat, water quality, and the biota of natural waterways (Allan 2004). For instance, in 2004 Gage found that macro invertebrates were negatively impacted by anthropogenic mediated land use, which often lead to declines and even eliminations of sensitive taxa from the stream (Gage et. al. 2004). Urbanization is considered to be one of the driving forces behind land transformation and is mainly responsible for increases in impervious surface area. Increases in impervious surface area have led to the rapid conveyance of storm waters, resulting in the increased presence of oils, metals, and road salts within surface waters (Moore et. al. 2005). The increased presence of these solutes are leading to variations in ionic concentrations that deviate from natural concentrations, thus altering the conductivity within the water systems.