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*Stillwater watershed project*. By: Group 2 Meah Kee Tiffany Yang Lesley Preece Teacher: Melanie. *Definitions*. Watershed- drainage basin for a stream IBI- the number of fish species in the watershed. ICI- the number of macro- invertebrates in the watershed
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*Stillwater watershed project* • By: Group 2 • Meah Kee • Tiffany Yang • Lesley Preece • Teacher: Melanie
*Definitions* • Watershed- drainage basin for a stream • IBI- the number of fish species in the watershed. • ICI- the number of macro- invertebrates in the watershed • QHEI- index used to determine habitat quality
Methods • To find out how many species of fish are in a watershed (IBI), we use electrofishing. ( Shocking the fish to make them swim to our nets.) • To find out how many macroinvertebrates are in a watershed we drop nets and disturb the substrate.
Background of Stillwater • Location: Located in Eastern Ohio, bordering Indiana. Montgomery, Darke, and Miami counties contain the watershed • Land: 80% of the land is cropland. Some hay and lots of row crops. Some small cities and towns
Background of Stillwater Cont. • Large number of live- stock and poultry operations in the upper part of the watershed resulted in high bacteria and high levels of nutrients.
Stillwater • Stillwater is on the priority list for impaired waters in Ohio. • EPA has projects going on to improve it. • It contains some macro- invertebrates and 59 fish species and has birds such as wood duck and the great blue heron
Hypothesis # 1 • As maximum total nitrates increases IBI (fish) decreases.
Analysis • Nitrates in the water are there because of run off from farmers’ fields. • Nitrates are harmful to fish and humans. • They are found in fertilizers. • The Stillwater watershed is 80% cropland.
Conclusion to hypothesis # 1 • From looking at the graph we came to the conclusion that our hypothesis is supported. • It is because the places that have more nitrates also have less fish.
Hypothesis # 2 • As the QHEI ( habitat quality) increases the ICI (macro- invertebrates) increases
As you can see here there is one place that is the exception to our hypothesis. We know there is a discrepancy because there is one place where the QHEI decreases and the ICI increases. We researched this area and could not figure out why this occurred. Analysis
Conclusion of hypothesis # 2 • This information supported our hypothesis • As the QHEI increased the ICI increased
Hypothesis #3 Our hypothesis was: As the percent of deciduous forests increases, the ICI increases.
Analysis • We graphed the information • Percent of deciduous forests increased, ICI increased • Exception of location seven • Our research could not find conclusion to discrepancy
Conclusion to hypothesis #3 • Our conclusion supported hypothesis • Where there was a high percentage of deciduous forests, the ICI was high also.
Improvements • EPA sponsoring improvement projects • Reduce oil erosion • Encourage manure management • Restore wetlands • Reduce septic loading • Restore riparian zones • Stillwater: greatly improved in past seven years