Event Title
An Assessment of Macroinvertebrate Communities in Three Headwater Streams Reveals Sensitivity to Road Crossings
Location
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
Start Date
1-5-2014 10:00 AM
End Date
1-5-2014 11:00 AM
Project Type
Poster- Restricted to Campus Access
Description
Benthic macroinvertebrate communities are commonly studied for the assessment of aquatic ecosystem health. Understanding functional roles and trophic positions within a community can validate water quality inferences made from rapid biomonitoring. This research focused on three streams within the Kennebec Highlands region. Studies of nutrient cycling and metabolism reported similar water quality between these sites, but a survey of invertebrate communities suggested otherwise. While two of the stream sites exhibited a %EPT of 62.4 and 74.6, respectively and outstanding Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) values of 3.50 and 3.51, the stream with a road crossing in its study reach was significantly worse. The transect immediately downstream from the crossing displayed the worst water of any other transect in this study, with a %EPT of 21.7 and a HBI of 5.2. Stable isotope analysis was used to investigate how road crossings might impact trophic structure by altering availability of food sources like algal biofilms or promoting changes in functional feeding roles. As central Maine undergoes more development, as it will be important to have a baseline food web that explains current conditions in the case of future restoration efforts.
Sponsoring Department
Colby College. Environmental Studies Program
CLAS Field of Study
Interdisciplinary Studies
Event Website
http://www.colby.edu/clas
ID
159
An Assessment of Macroinvertebrate Communities in Three Headwater Streams Reveals Sensitivity to Road Crossings
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
Benthic macroinvertebrate communities are commonly studied for the assessment of aquatic ecosystem health. Understanding functional roles and trophic positions within a community can validate water quality inferences made from rapid biomonitoring. This research focused on three streams within the Kennebec Highlands region. Studies of nutrient cycling and metabolism reported similar water quality between these sites, but a survey of invertebrate communities suggested otherwise. While two of the stream sites exhibited a %EPT of 62.4 and 74.6, respectively and outstanding Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) values of 3.50 and 3.51, the stream with a road crossing in its study reach was significantly worse. The transect immediately downstream from the crossing displayed the worst water of any other transect in this study, with a %EPT of 21.7 and a HBI of 5.2. Stable isotope analysis was used to investigate how road crossings might impact trophic structure by altering availability of food sources like algal biofilms or promoting changes in functional feeding roles. As central Maine undergoes more development, as it will be important to have a baseline food web that explains current conditions in the case of future restoration efforts.
https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/clas/2014/program/157