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Aquatic Macroinvertebrates

Aquatic Macroinvertebrates. And their role in Biomonitoring. Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Biomonitoring. Introduction/definitions Types/Uses of biomonitoring +/- of using macroinvertebrates History Focus on EPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocols Iowa’s Biological Assessment Program.

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Aquatic Macroinvertebrates

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  1. Aquatic Macroinvertebrates And their role in Biomonitoring

  2. Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Biomonitoring • Introduction/definitions • Types/Uses of biomonitoring • +/- of using macroinvertebrates • History • Focus on • EPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocols • Iowa’s Biological Assessment Program

  3. Introduction: Biomonitoring- an evaluation of the condition of a water body using biological surveys and other direct measurements of the resident biota in surface waters. Benthic macroinvertebrates- organisms that inhabit bottom substrates for at least part of their life cycle and are retained by a 200µm to 500µm mesh.

  4. Introduction (cont’d): Metric- quantifiable attribute of aquatic community that is ecologically relevant and responds predictably along a disturbance gradient Biocriteria- numerical measurements or narrative expressions that describe the reference biological condition of aquatic communities inhabiting waters of a given designated aquatic life use (EPA 1996)

  5. Organism level Biochemical Physiological Morphological Behavioral Life History Bioaccumulation Population Biotic Indices Multivariate analysis Types of Biomonitoring Studies

  6. Community Level Taxa richness Enumeration Diversity Indices Similarity Indices Biotic Indices FFG measures Combinations Ecosystem Level Structure of food webs Productivity Decomposition Chemical cycling Types of Biomonitoring Studies (ctd)

  7. Benthic Macroinvertebrate Biotic Index Uses • Type 1 – Surveillance • Surveys before & after; determine effects of project or action • Project built • Toxicant released • Type 2- Compliance • Regular sampling or toxicity testing to assure compliance with mandated standards • Test effluents • Ensure water meets water quality standards

  8. Advantages of BMIs • Ubiquitous (all habitats) • Large # of species (allow wide spectrum of responses) • Sedentary (allows spatial analysis) • Life cycle long enough (to see temporal changes) • Sampling/analysis relatively inexpensive • Taxonomy of many groups well known (keys) • Methods of data analysis (biotic/diversity indices) • Responses of common species known

  9. Disadvantages of BMIs • Response to some stressors inadequate • Natural conditions, current & substrate affect distribution and abundance • Seasonal variations in diversity & abundance create problems (data comparison) • Sample processing & ID can be costly and time consuming

  10. History • Europe • 1st indicator organisms Kolkwitz & Marsonn 1908 • Saprobity – organic pollution reduces DO and restricts taxa • Lake classification systems Thienemann 1925 benthos – oligotrophic/eutrophic

  11. Classification of Dutch Waters

  12. History (cont’d) • Europe (cont’d) • Diversity indices developed (1950-1980) • “Score systems” – indicator concepts with diversity (1980s) • BMWP- binary system, family level (Siphlonuridae=10, Chironomidae=2) Sum of scores of individual families gives site score

  13. EPT Tolerance Values Family (Species range) Ephemerellidae 1 (0-2) Taeniopterygidae 2 (2-3) Rhyacophilidae 0 (0-1) Leptophlebiidae 2 (1-6) Brachycentridae 1 (0-2) Capniidae 1 (1-3) Isonychiidae 2 (2-2) Limnephilidae Baetiscidae 3 Leuctridae 0 (0-0) 4 (0-4) Heptageniidae 4 (0-7) Hydropsychidae Perlidae 1 (0-4) 4 (0-6) Caenidae 7 (3-7)

  14. Other taxa tolerance values, Family (species) Elmidae 4 (2-6) Corydalidae 0 (4) Psephenidae 4 (4-5) Gomphidae 1 (1-5) Tipulidae 3 (2-7) Aeshnidae 3 (2-6) Chironomidae Tanypodinae (4-10) Podonominae (1-8) Calopterygidae 5 (5-6) Simulidae 6 (1-7) From: Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Freshwaters- Taxa Tolerance Values, Metric and Protocols (Mandaville 2002)

  15. History • North America little acceptance for these ideas • European indicator species not applicable • NA’s problems were toxic not organics • NA biologists were skeptical of indicator species concept

  16. History • North America • S.A. Forbes 1870s benthic fauna indicator species • Ruth Patrick 1948 community indicator groups Eastern stream surveys of diatoms • MacArthur & Wilson 1967 dynamic community concept, continual local immigration & extinction • Equilibrium and diversity indices 1970s • Hurbert 1971 questioned the relationship between diversity and system stability

  17. History • N. America (cont’d) • Energetics, RCC, Vannote 1980 • Development of Ecoregion concept 1987 • Reference site idea Karr 1986 • Ohio EPA 1987 Invertebrate Community Index • Karr 1986 Index of Biotic Integrity • EPA Rapid Assessment Protocols

  18. Sum of 10 measures Ohio 232 reference sites over 5 ecoregions Scored according to drainage area # of taxa (species) # of Ephemeroptera # of Trichoptera # of Diptera % of Ephemeroptera % of Trichoptera % of Chironomidae (Tanytarsini) % of other dips & non-insects % of tolerant organisms (list) # of EPT taxa Invertebrate Community Index (ICI) Ohio EPA 1987

  19. IBI values in references sites within ecoregions of Ohio.

  20. Response of Benthic macroinvertebrates to various impacts, Ohio ICI data

  21. Spatial and temporal changes trends in ICI, Scioto River, Ohio.

  22. J.R. Karr • First developed biotic index for fish • Became multi-metric index • IBIs are now used world-wide • Must be regionally calibrated with reference sites • He is currently developing an IBI for terrestrial habitats • ISU alumni, BS Fish & Wildlife Biology

  23. Biological Integrity • “the capability of supporting and maintaining a balanced, integrated, adaptive community of organisms having a composition, diversity and functional organization comparable to that of natural habitats of the region” (Karr and Dudley 1981)

  24. The Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) is useful because… • It is an ensemble of biological information • It objectively defines benchmark conditions • It can assess change due to human causes • It uses standardized methods • It scores sites numerically, describes narratively • It defines multiple condition classes • It has a strong theoretical basis • It does not require fine resolution of taxa (Karr, ISU seminar)

  25. EPA Rapid Assessment Protocols • Cost effective, rapid, understandable, benign • Integrated assessment of habitat, water quality and biological measures (periphyton, macroinvertebrates, fish) with defined reference conditions • Developed standard sampling, data analysis and reporting protocols • Use as a tool for states

  26. Iowa’s Biological Assessment Program • Initial Phase • Protocols • Assessment

  27. Why Biological Assessment?Iowa’s Reasons • Accurate and cost-effective • Federal Clean Water Act goals and requirements • Inventory biological resources

  28. Biological Assessment An evaluation of the biological condition of a stream using information obtained by sampling the resident aquatic community. Three-step process: 1. Sample aquatic organisms 2. Summarize data using biological indices 3. Compare to reference streams

  29. Iowa BM Sampling Protocol • July 15-Oct 15 • Stream flow near base flow levels • Benthic habitat inventory • Stream reach 150-350 m (2 riffle/pool, 2 bends)

  30. IA Benthic Macroinvertebrate Sampling Standard-Habitat Samples Semi-quantitative 3x Rock or wood in flowing water (Hess or Surber sampler) Or 3x Multi-plate artificial substrates (4-6 week colonization)

  31. IA Benthic Macroinvertebrate Sampling Multi-Habitat Samples • Qualitative Data • 3x Multi-habitat (hand-picking from all available habitats, 1.5 hours, target 150 organisms)

  32. Stream Benthic Macroinvertebrates: Standard-Habitat Samples, ‘94-’98

  33. Aquatic Life Use Attainment Determined from ‘94-’98 Biological Assessments (149 Stream Sites)

  34. Everyone’s Doing It!

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