Basic Methods and Equipment

Transcription

1 Basic Methods and Equipment P C C B

2 On Site Chemistry On site (in( situ) ) measurements ph Dissolved O 2 Conductivity Water temperature Turbidity Use some type of probe or meter Example: Horiba U-10U

3 On Site Chemistry ph range over which life can exist Dissolved O 2 organisms require oxygen Conductivity measure of salts Water temperature effects other attributes (i.e. dissolved O 2 ) Turbidity clarity of the water has many implications

4 Lab Chemistry Laboratory measurements Collect water from site in appropriate containers Rinse containers usually 3 times Transport to lab appropriately On ice On dry ice In dark bottles or wrapped in foil

5 The big three Carbon Nitrogen Phosphorous Lab Chemistry C:N:P required for life in a ratio of: 50 : 10 : 1 Typically available in a ratio of: 50 : 1 : 0.02

6 Lab Chemistry Carbon Dissolved organic carbon Total organic carbon Nitrogen NO 3 +NO 2 NO 2 NH 3 Total N Organic N Phosphorous PO 4 Total P Organic P Algal Abundance Chlorophyll-a Pheophytin-a Metabolites Pesticides Herbicides

7 Midwest Chemistry C:N:P normally available 50 : 1 : 0.02 In Midwest carbon not usually a problem Nitrogen can be in excess Phosphorous can be in excess Excess N and P come from agriculture Feedlots and fertilizers

8 Excess N and P Excess N & P results in excess algal growth Large amounts of algae die Algae decay releases methane, ammonia, etc. Poisonous to fish and macroinvertebrates Phenomenon more common in lakes and wetlands

9 Other chemicals Metabolites of herbicides and pesticides At high enough levels can be poisonous to all life Smaller amounts can upset systems Small amount kills algae Nothing for herbivores to feed on Then no herbivores for carnivores System eventually gets upset

10 Chemistry Summary Chemistry is a snapshot Flowing water creates a moving impairment Results depend on when you sample Water chemistry alone cannot tell the whole story

11 Biological Aspects Macroinvertebrates Insects Molluscs Crustaceans Oligochaets & Platyhelminthes Microinvertebrates Zooplankton Fish

12 Macroinvertebrate Collection Typically done with D-netD Surbur sampler Substrate blocks Target sampling Sediment corer Many others Usually preserved in the field with ETOH IDs done is laboratory with keys

13 Why use macroinvertebrates We said, chemistry is like a snapshot Macroinvertebrates are like a movie Larval forms often spend months or years in the water Some adults live an entire season or more Long term exposure to water Effect of impairment observable

14 Macroinvertebrates on Parade

15 Ephemeroptera Mayflies

16 Odonata Dragonflies & Damselflies

17 Plecoptera Stoneflies

18 Hemiptera True Bugs

19 Megaloptera Neuroptera

20 Trichoptera Caddisflies

21 Coleoptera Beetles

22 Coleoptera Beetles

23 Diptera True Flies

24 Diptera True Flies

25 Molluscs

26 Crustaceans

27 Oligochaetes & Flat Worms

28 Microinvertebrates Zooplankton

29 I have pinned and preserved specimens of many of these you can look at!!!

30 Physical Habitat (P-Hab Hab) Assess the physical characteristics of the stream Rate of flow Depth Thalweg, Bankfull, Incised Width Wetted, Bankfull Bank angles Substrate Type Fish Cover Channel characteristics

31 P-Hab Assess characteristics of the riparian zone Canopy coverage of stream Riparian vegetation Canopy (greater than 5 meters in height) Understory (between 0.5 and 5 meters in height) Ground cover (less than 0.5 meters in height) Human influence

32 P-Hab Assessment H I G J B C D E F A

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37 Rapid Habitat Assessment Two forms Riffle/Run Stream Glide/Pool Stream Quick and dirty numerical scoring from 20 excellent to 0 very poor 10 categories for each stream type See forms

38 Riffle/Run Stream Riffle Run

39 Pool/Glide Stream Glide Pool

40 Riffle/Run Stream 1. Epifaunal Substrate/Cover 2. Embeddedness 3. Velocity/Depth Regime 4. Sediment Deposition 5. Channel Flow Status 6. Channel Alteration 7. Frequency of Riffles 8. Bank Stability 9. Vegetative Protection 10. Riparian Vegetative Zone Width

41 Glide/Pool Stream 1. Epifaunal Substrate/Cover 2. Pool Substrate Characterization 3. Pool Availability 4. Sediment Deposition 5. Channel Flow Status 6. Channel Alteration 7. Channel Sinuosity 8. Bank Stability 9. Vegetative Protection 10. Riparian Vegetative Zone Width

42 Variation of Methods Rapid Bioassessment Protocols (RPB) Cost effective Quick and broadly applicable in the field Quick turn around with easily interpretable results Environmentally benign methods Basic collections of macroinvertebrates, fish, and periphyton Collect basic water chemistry Assessment forms similar to rapid assessment sheets

43 REMAP Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program Encompasses RBP methods More detailed statistical analysis from enormous amount of data collection Physical habitat sheet is from a REMAP program More expensive, more intensive than RBP

44 Variation of Methods Historically states and other entities all had their own protocols Much historic data is not comparable or at least has limited comparability Recently greater push to standardize methods between states and entities Still a lot of work to do here RBP & REMAP help with this issue

45 Recap Three major components Chemistry Biological Physical Habitat Standardization of protocols is important Participating groups MUST follow assigned protocols to increase comparability!!!