Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2006

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Biology and Microbiology

Abstract

An effective bioassessment of streams requires development of regionally appropriate methods based on a comprehensive knowledge of the local community (Barton 1996). A multimetric approach is widely used to quantify biotic integrity of perennial systems, but it is unknown whether this approach will be effective for intermittent prairie streams of eastern South Dakota. The objectives of this research effort were to; (1) characterize macroinvertebrate community structure and function of intermittent prairie streams and lake outlets in eastern South Dakota; (2) define a region specific optimal set of macroinvertebrate metrics and evaluate their ability to discriminate biotic impairment across sampled sites; and (3) determine correlations between physicochemical, habitat and macroinvertebrate metrics. Macroinvertebrates were collected with Hester- Dendy (HD) multiplate samplers and a D-frame sweepnet (SN) at 23 intermittent stream and 5 lake outlet sites across 6 agricultural subwatersheds in eastern South Dakota. Sampling was conducted monthly during periods of water presence August 2001 through June 2003. Invertebrate data were applied to 88 candidate metrics for comparison with a regional reference condition. A separate reference condition was defined for intermittent streams and lake outlets. An index period was defined for intermittent streams based on flow occurrence. Metrics were optimized by maximizing discriminatory power and minimizing reference site variability (Larson and Troelstrup 2001). The top metrics (􀃲 25) based on rank sum of both components were screened for statistical significance and redundancy. Intermittent stream SN samples yielded 16 orders, 47 families and 101 genera. HD samples yielded 16 orders, 32 families and 78 genera. Coleoptera contributed the greatest family richness and Diptera contributed the greatest generic richness for both SN and HD samples. Chironomidae contributed 57% and 95% of the total abundance of Diptera in SN and HD samples, respectively. Diptera and Gastropoda accounted for 64% of the total abundance of SN samples, while Diptera and Oligochaeta accounted for 84% of the estimated abundance of HD samples. The five most abundant taxa in SN samples were Amnicola limosa, Physel/a sp., Fossaria sp., Hydrobaenus sp. and Cnephia sp. The five most abundant taxa in HD samples were Glyptotendipes spp., Dero digitata, Hydrobaenus sp., Paraleptophlebia sp., and Orthocladius spp. SN habit guild composition was dominated by gliders (32%), sprawlers (24%), swimmers (19%) and clingers (16%) while HD samples were dominated by sprawlers (45%) and burrowers (37%). SN functional feeding guilds were dominated by collector-gatherers (37%), scrapers (32%) and filter-collectors (1 1 %) while HD samples were dominated by collector-gatherers (56%) and filter-collectors (32% ). Lake outlet SN samples yielded 1 4 orders, 33 families and 64 genera. HD samples yielded 1 4 orders, 36 families and 76 genera. Coleoptera contributed the greatest family richness and Diptera contributed the greatest generic richness for both SN and HD samples. Chironomidae contributed 99% of the estimated abundance of Diptera for both SN and HD samples. Hemiptera and Amphipoda contributed 83% of the overall total abundance for SN samples while Chironomidae and Naididae contributed 85% of the overall total abundance of HD samples. The five most abundant taxa in SN samples were Trichocorixa borea/is, Hyalella azteca, G/yptotendipes spp, Nais spp, and Physella sp. The five most abundant taxa in HD samples were Glyptotendipes spp, Nais spp, Parachironomus sp, Hyalella azteca, and Cricotopus spp. SN habit guild composition was dominated by swimmers (84%) while HD samples were dominated by sprawlers (41 %) and burrowers (38%). SN functional feeding guilds were dominated by predators (72%) and collector-gatherers (21 %) while HD samples were dominated by shredders (43%) and collector-gatherers (39%). Intermittent stream SN optimized metrics included evenness, percent Diptera, Coleoptera richness, Gastropod richness, total taxa, depositional taxa, burrower richness, filter+gatherer richness, intolerant taxa, and percent tolerant taxa. All metrics displayed significant differences (p=<0. 05) between reference and study sites with the exception of percent Diptera. HD stream optimized metrics included Hilsenhoff's Biotic Index, Community Loss Index, percent Chironomidae, percent Diptera, Ephemeroptera richness, erosional taxa, filter+ gatherer richness, clinger richness and intolerant taxa. All metrics were significantly different between reference and study sites (p=<0.05). The SN optimal metric set displayed 2 sites as unimpaired, 14 sites as slightly impaired and 3 sites as moderately impaired. The HD optimized set displayed 3 sites as unimpaired, 5 sites as slightly impaired and 4 sites as moderately impaired. An optimal set of metrics could not be developed for lake outlets. Statistical separation was minimal between reference and study site metrics. Most significant metrics suggested study sites as better biological condition. Similar differences were seen between reference and study outlets using water quality and habitat data. Many intermittent stream SN metrics were significantly correlated with substrate and bank riparian characteristics. In addition, a significant linear relationship was observed between SN IBI and Habitat Condition Index (HCI) scores for streams with incised or well-defined channels (r2 = 0.42, p=<0. 01 ), while a poor relationship was observed from linear wetlands or sites with poor channel definition (r2 = 0.057, p=>0. 05). Results demonstrate that Diptera (Chironomidae ), Coleoptera, Gastropoda and Oligochaeta were important contributors of family, generic and guild diversity in intermittent prairie streams. Burrowing and sprawling habits are most common within these depositional communities. In addition, accumulations of organic matter support a large number of collector-gatherers, filter-collectors and scrapers. Intermittent stream SN and HD optimized metrics were capable of discriminating impaired from unimpaired biological condition. Measures of structural and functional diversity including those related to Diptera (Chironomidae) were important discriminates of intermittent stream biotic integrity. Incised streams showed a strong relationship between biotic integrity and habitat condition, while linear streams showed a weak relationship. Classifying sites within ecoregion boundaries based on similarities in stream morphology may improve our ability to optimize metrics and explain variability in biotic integrity of intermittent prairie streams in eastern South Dakota.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Water quality biological assessment -- South Dakota

Biotic communities -- South Dakota -- Analysis

Freshwater invertebrates -- South Dakota

Stream ecology -- South Dakota

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

183

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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