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Streams of Science

Streams of Science. Chris Nagai Nick Foster Christen Dschankilic. Pickering Watershed. How We Didn’t Do It. Study Chemicals Precise indication of quality Brief snapshot Expensive. Study fish Data represents greater time period Difficult to catch Collection can damage live samples.

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Streams of Science

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  1. Streams of Science Chris Nagai Nick Foster Christen Dschankilic

  2. Pickering Watershed

  3. How We Didn’t Do It • Study Chemicals • Precise indication of quality • Brief snapshot • Expensive • Study fish • Data represents greater time period • Difficult to catch • Collection can damage live samples

  4. Study Benthic Macroinvertebrates Positives Represents good time period Good indication of quality Easy to collect Negatives Collection can damage samples Difficult to ID How Did We Do It?

  5. The Protocol • Systematic set up of transects • Notation of riparian data, etc • Collection of sample with D-nets • Randomized selection of insects to be counted • Identify samples

  6. Credible • Carefully followed protocol • Protocol recognised by Citizen’s Environment Watch (CEW) as well as Conservation Authority

  7. % Aquatic Worm %Midge %Sowbug # of Taxa %Snail %Dominant Taxa %EPT %Diptera %Insects Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) Indices Based on these indices our streams can be rated unimpaired or possibly impaired

  8. Aquatic Worm % • Indicates an area with low oxygen levels • This makes it harder for other macroinvertebrates to survive • A high percentage often indicates poor water quality

  9. Midge % • Midges are found in almost every type of habitat • A high percentage of midges indicates unhealthy stream conditions • However, their absence is often unexpected and can indicate potential damage of a stream.

  10. # of Taxa • A high number of taxa (groups) indicates good water quality • This is because in order for a great variety of species to exist at the same site, there must be a diverse range in habitats.

  11. EPT • This index consists of three groups of macroinvertebrates; mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies • All three require high quality stream environments • Thus, a high percentage of EPT indicates good water and habitat quality.

  12. HBI • This index shows the nutrient levels of the stream • It incorporates the tolerance value of each group to give a snap shot of the nutrient conditions • A low HBI value implies low nutrient conditions • A high HBI implies excessive nutrient conditions.

  13. Gandi Possibly impaired (5 unimpaired, 2 possibly impaired, 3 impaired) Midge levels are declining and EPT is rising River appears improving Not enough bugs found, therefore technically not valid data

  14. Urfe • This year was found to be potentially impaired. • 3 unimpaired 3 possibly impaired, 4 impaired • Doing well in 2007 and 2008

  15. LittleRouge • Unimpaired (7 unimpaired, 3 possibly impaired) • River is improving • EPT is starting to decline, Midges are on the rise • River is good, but needs help to stay that way

  16. Box Grove • Box Grove is possibly impaired (4 unimpaired, 1 possibly impaired, 5 impaired) • Consistently large amounts of Midges with low EPT and poor HBI • Small river next to subdivision under construction • Rainbow trout nest found.

  17. Conclusion • Our rivers appear to be improving from past years • Action should be taken to keep it that way. • Human activity like construction (Box Grove) can be detrimental

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