Basic Methods and Equipment P C C B
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Biological Aspects Macroinvertebrates Insects Molluscs Crustaceans Oligochaets & Platyhelminthes Microinvertebrates Zooplankton Fish
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
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
Macroinvertebrates on Parade
Ephemeroptera Mayflies
Odonata Dragonflies & Damselflies
Plecoptera Stoneflies
Hemiptera True Bugs
Megaloptera Neuroptera
Trichoptera Caddisflies
Coleoptera Beetles
Coleoptera Beetles
Diptera True Flies
Diptera True Flies
Molluscs
Crustaceans
Oligochaetes & Flat Worms
Microinvertebrates Zooplankton
I have pinned and preserved specimens of many of these you can look at!!!
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
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
P-Hab Assessment H I G J B C D E F A
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
Riffle/Run Stream Riffle Run
Pool/Glide Stream Glide Pool
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
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
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
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
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
Recap Three major components Chemistry Biological Physical Habitat Standardization of protocols is important Participating groups MUST follow assigned protocols to increase comparability!!!