Database Analysis to Support Nutrient Criteria Development (Phase I)

The intent of this publication of the Arkansas Water Resources Center is to provide a location whereby a final report on water research to a funding agency can be archived. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) contracted with University of Arkansas researchers for a multiple year project titled “Database Analysis to Support Nutrient Criteria Development”. This publication covers the first of three phases of that project and has maintained the original format of the report as submitted to TCEQ. This report can be cited either as an AWRC publication (see below) or directly as the final report to TCEQ

Comparison of bioassessment results and costs between preserved and unpreserved macroinvertebrate samples from streams

The choice to use or not use a preservative before sorting macroinvertebrate samples (i.e., dead specimens vs. living specimens) is based on studies not solely focused on the effects of preservation. Using identical sample processing protocols, we compared preserved and unpreserved samples for the following parameters: (1) the number of taxa and individuals for each major macroinvertebrate group, (2) ecological quality classes calculated with a multimetric index developed for the assessment of small Dutch lowland streams, and (3) costs of sample processing. We collected macroinvertebrate samples from three lowland streams in the Netherlands. At each site, we collected six replicate samples, of which three samples were preserved and three were not. Significantly different numbers of Ephemeroptera individuals and Hydracarina taxa and individuals were collected from preserved samples compared to unpreserved samples. In assessments based on these individual metrics, standardization of sample processing will be required. In streams with Ephemeroptera, the preservation of samples is necessary to optimize the number of Ephemeroptera individuals collected. In streams that contain Hydracarina, the preservation of samples will result in an underestimation of the number of Hydracarina taxa and individuals present. In only one instance there was a difference in ecological quality between preserved and unpreserved samples, indicating that assessing small Dutch lowland streams does not require standardization of sample preservation as part of the sample processing protocol. We detected no significant differences in sample processing costs between preserved and unpreserved samples

Estimating sample representativeness in a survey of stream caddisfly fauna

Obtaining an adequate and representative sample is a continuing challenge of community ecology. The present study focuses on what sample area represents adequately the structural composition of the caddisfly fauna of a riffle, at a given sampling occasion. Sixty-two Surber samples were collected from a riffle in a second-order reach of the Bernecei Stream (Börzsöny Mountains, Hungary). This data set was used to estimate sample representativeness at different sample sizes (from 1 to 31 Surber samples, 0.09 m2 - 2.79 m2) generated a re-sampling procedure. Sample representativeness was measured with mean Jaccard Coefficient and Bray-Curtis Index between samples for species presence-absence data and abundance data, respectively. We found that a sample size of 2.25 m2 represented well (mean similarity 0.998) the species composition of the caddisfly fauna if rare species were excluded from the analysis. In contrast, sample representativeness of species composition proved to be relatively low (0.719) if rare species were included in the analysis. Curves of sample representativeness based on both raw-, or transformed abundance data were less sensitive to the presence of rare species and showed lower representativeness than sample representativeness based on presence/absence data

Water Quality Assessment of Sager Creek Utilizing Physiochemical Parameters and a Family-Level Biotic Index

An annual rapid bioassessment and physiochemical survey of Sager Creek in Northwest Arkansas was conducted. Sager Creek is a first to second order stream that flows through the city of Siloam Springs, AR. Invertebrate collections and water samples were collected at three different reaches, with the most downstream reach being below the effluent of the Siloam Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant. Benthic arthropods were collected, identified, and counted to produce a family-level biotic index and a family-level index of diversity. Statistical analysis revealed that these indices were significantly different for the effluent- influenced reach. However, this difference could not be correlated to any measured physiochemical parameter

Ecological integrity of boreal streams

Running waters provide a number of services for humans, such as drinking water and food resources and many freshwater animals are confined and specialised to this environment. However, this natural resource has become increasingly impacted by humans resulting in a substantial loss of biodiversity and services. To assess ecological integrity of streams a number of bioassessment schemes have been developed and most of these are based on community structure and composition. Although many of the biological metrics developed have been used successfully in bioassessment, it has been suggested that ecosystem functions, such as leaf-litter decomposition, should be incorporated in modern bioassessment schemes. In this thesis I compare a number of structural metrics with functional metrics along a nutrient gradient in nine boreal streams in south-central Sweden to assess the potential of ecosystem function as a biomonitoring tool. Leaf-litter breakdown (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertner) was studied during four seasons and stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) and stoichiometric ratios (C:N) of phytobenthos, CPOM, FPOM, invertebrates and fish were also analysed. My results indicate that leaf-litter breakdown is a relatively insensitive tool to assess ecosystem impairment compared to invertebrate metrics. However, δ15N in organic matter has been suggested as a potential tool to assess ecological integrity of streams and my results support this conjecture. A strong response in δ15N in organic matter with nutrient enrichment was revealed, suggesting that δ15N could serve as a simple tool to assess nutrient enrichment effects in boreal streams. I also found that leaf-litter associated fungi and invertebrates were positively correlated with leaf-litter breakdown rates and a nutrient gradient. Moreover, I found that certain dominating species, e.g. waterlouse (Asellus aquaticus (L.)), can have a strong influence on ecosystem processes. In this thesis I show that leaf-litter breakdown is not a simple low-cost biomonitoring tool as several field trips were necessary to assure adequate litter-bag recovery. Also natural factors, such as fluctuating water levels and heavy snow fall, resulted in substantial loss of litter bags thereby confounding data interpretation

Extracting Additional Information From Biotic Index Samples

Macroinvertebrates were collected from a small midwestern stream over a 3-year period as part of a non-point source pollution study. Temporal and spatial variability in standard biotic index values (BIs) were computed and compared with variability expressed by a series of additional community measurements, including the mean tolerance value of all taxa present in a sample, irrespective of the numerical abundance of individual taxa. The mean tolerance value exhibited lower spatial and temporal variability than the standard BI; therefore, mean tolerance values may be useful in estimating a stream\u27s long-term ambient water quality and its recovery potential. Computations of additional BI metrics are easily accomplished with no additional lab work required, and comparisons of mean tolerance values with standard BIs should aid investigators in interpreting changes in water quality

Evaluation of Fish and Macroinvertebrate Indices of Biotic Integrity in the Bioassessment of the Illinois River Basin

Evaluating performances of the fish and invertebrate Indices of Biotic Integrity (IBIs) for a region is important to maintain rigorous assessment of the environmental quality of streams, especially with increasing urbanization. Timing of the assessment is considered important, with the critical season (low flow, high temperature) preferred, but the primary season (spring– summer) may be as efficient. I assisted with the collection and analysis of fish and macroinvertebrates using methods developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Rapid Bioassessment Protocols (RBPs) and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), along with obtaining habitat and chemical assessments during primary and critical periods during 2007-2009 at ten sites in the Illinois River Basin up and downstream of two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). My objectives were to (1) compare fish and macroinvertebrate IBIs for use in the Illinois River Basin; (2) investigate correlations with each IBI and its metrics to nutrient, habitat, and watershed variables; (3) compare the efficacy of the IBIs during both critical and primary seasons; and (4) determine how two WWTPs in the area affect downstream water quality into Oklahoma. The two IBIs were strongly correlated with each other (Rs of 0.59); however, macroinvertebrates outperformed the fish. More regionally specific fish metrics should allow for better performing fish IBIs, but adequate performance was found. Combining the seasons’ data allowed for a more comprehensive and statistically significant assessment; however, the primary season evaluated each site comparably to the combined data and generally outperformed the critical seasons. The combined and primary seasons’ macroinvertebrate IBIs revealed sites with lowered environmental quality below the WWTPs but with quick returns to reference conditions. My results indicate that it may be possible to test IBIs during only the primary seasons to get efficient water quality and site comparison assessments

Evaluación de los efectos de la urbanización en los arroyos de Tierra del Fuego

We set out to understand how urbanization affects streams in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego. Paired ttestsand linear regressions were used to compare physico-chemical stream habitat variables (i.e., temperature,turbidity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH) and benthic macroinvertebrate community structure (i.e.,density, taxonomic richness, Shannon-Weiner diversity) and function (functional feeding groups [FFG]) in fourwatersheds with urban and reference sites. We then calculated indices of biotic integrity for habitat (rapid visualassessment protocol [RVAP]) and benthos (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera richness [EPT], family bioticindex [FBI], rapid bioassessment protocol [RBP] and biotic monitoring Patagonian streams [BMPS]). Resultsindicated that urbanization negatively impacted these streams? underlying ecological condition, decreasingbenthic biodiversity and dissolved oxygen, while increasing conductivity and turbidity. FFG assemblagewas similar between both sites, but urbanization increased the existing dominance of collector-gatherers.Additionally, urban sites presented lower values in three of the benthic macroinvertebrate indices (EPT, RBP,BMPS, but not FBI) and also for habitat (RVAP). These data fill an existing gap in stream ecology for southernPatagonia and are useful to create monitoring tools. By incorporating urbanization as a driver of ecosystemchange, managers and planners will be better able to confront the issue of sustainable development in thisregion, which is considered one of the most pristine wilderness areas remaining on the planet but whosehuman population is concentrated in a few densely populated urban areas.Fil: Zagarola, Jean Paul A.. Bonneville Environmental Foundation; Estados UnidosFil: Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Anderson, Christopher Brian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentin

Summer Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) Species Richness and Community Structure in the Lower Illinois River Basin of Illinois

Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) species richness is useful for monitoring stream health, but no published studies in Illinois quantitatively document EPT richness or assemblage structure. The objectives of this study were to characterize adult EPT richness and structure and relate these to relative water at eight stream sites (160-69,300 km3 area) in the lower Illinois River Adults were ultra-violet light trapped in June, July, and August 1997. Nutrient enrichment by nitrate and nitrite nitrogen was strongly evident, in smaller drainages, while critical loss of stable habitat was observed in water bodies. Seventy EPT species were identified from 17,889 specimens. Trichoptera were by far the most speciose (41 species), followed by Ephemeroptera (26), and Plecoptera (3). Caddisflies also dominated species richness across sites, contributing 18.0 of the average 28.9 total EPT species collected. Site EPT richness varied significantly (F =5.51, p 0.003, df 7), with smaller drainages supporting greater richness, generally. Differences were also evident for months (F = 21.7, p =0.0001, df =2), with June being lower (11.8 average) than either July (20.6) or August (18.1) values. Hilsenhoff biotic index (HBI) scores did not vary significantly across sites (F 0.7, p =0.7, df =7), but were different across months (F =5.4, p 0.02, df 2). June (4.23) and July (4.53) means were not different, but both were lower (of better quality) than August (5.33) scores. The relationship of EPT to HBI scores was not investigated statisti- cally due to problems of sample size and interdependance of monthly sam­ ples, but graphical analysis no consistent relationship. This sug- gested a decoupling of the the EPT and implied that the gain in taxonomic resolution achieved by adults outstripped the resolution of the HBI. Use of the HBI to characterize adult aquatic insect communities is discouraged. New state records and extensions for Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera are presented and loss of sensitive Plecoptera in the drainage is discussed

Bioassessment of the West Fork of the White River, Northwest Arkansas

The West Fork-White River has been and continues to be an important water resource for northwest Arkansas. It is used recreationally for fishing and swimming, agriculturally as a source of water for livestock and irrigation of crops, it is mined for gravel, used as a receiving stream for municipal wastewater effluent, and contributes to Beaver Lake which provides water for treatment and distribution to most of northwest Arkansas. While these uses have benefited a large segment of the Arkansas population, they have also contributed to the decline in environmental quality of the river. To facilitate the development of appropriate management protocols and assess restoration potential, we provided a biological assessment of the West ForkWhite River to complement studies of its physical and chemical properties. This holistic evaluation can be used presently, and to track changes in the environmental quality of the river in the future