Document Type
Thesis - University Access Only
Award Date
2006
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Biology and Microbiology
Abstract
Developing a monitoring network requires detailed objectives and expectations. Exploratory studies are often needed to establish baseline characteristics with which to monitor changes whether they're from natural causes, anthropogenic disturbances, or management decisions. Furthermore, an effective aquatic monitoring program not only evaluates chemical and physical parameters of the water, but also provides habitat and invertebrate characteristics. 'Ibis research effort was conducted to (1) provide baseline descriptions of macroinvertebrate communities within aquatic systems of national parks and (2) select optimal metrics for use in future monitoring efforts by national park staff. Chemical, physical and habitat parameters were taken from small to medium-sized streams, large rivers, springs, and bison watering holes during the summers of 2004 and 2005. Invertebrate samples were also collected from rivers, streams and watering holes using a D-frame sweepnet. Spring invertebrate samples were taken using a hand-net. Metrics were chosen based on their high discriminatory power using Kruskall-Wallis F statistics and correlations to chemical, physical and habitat data using Pearson correlations. Ten metrics were chosen for each system from each community structure category (composition, richness, tolerance, functional feeding guilds, and habit guilds). Familial diversity (79 families) was highest in small and medium streams. Rivers contained 61 families, springs had 31, and bison watering holes contained 25. Of all invertebrate taxa found, 87% were of class Insecta. Diptera and Coleoptera were the most prevalent insect orders. O:lllector-gatherers were the most abundant feeding guild in all systems. Springs contained the highest percentage of shredders (mean=19%), while rivers and streams had the highest percentage of collector-filterers (mean=17% and 18%, respectively). Stock ponds contained the highest percentage of predators (mean=38%). Habit guilds displayed greater variation between systems than feeding guilds. Gingers were highest in streams and rivers (mean=30% and 33%, respectively). Sprawlers were most abundant in springs (mean=39%), and swimmers were highest in stock ponds (mean=53%). Stream metrics included percent non-insecta, EPT: EPT +Chironomidae, EPT richness, Shannon-Wiener Diversity, habit guild diversity, percent sprawlers, functional feeding group diversity, predator richness, Chironomidae richness and HBI. River metrics included percent EPT, percent Chironomidae, EPT richness, total richness, non-insecta richness, clinger richness, swimmer richness, collector-gatherer richness, collector-filterer richness, and modified HBI. Stream and river metrics were strongly correlated with physicaV chemical and habitat measurements. Spring metrics included percent EPT, percent duronomidae, EPT richness, Chironomidae richness, percent climbers, percent gliders, percent collector-gatherers, percent shredders, percent predators, and HBI. Stock pond metrics included percent dominant, percent Chironomidae, non-insecta richness, Margalef diversity, Chironomidae richness, habit evenness, clinger richness, functional feeding diversity, shredder richness, and tolerant taxa. Spring and stock pond measurements displayed weaker discriminatory power and fewer significant correlations with physicaV chemical and habitat parameters. Several metrics (EPT metrics, Cliironomidae metrics, HBI, Shannon-Wiener diversity, total richness, collector-gatherer richness, collector-filterer richness, predator richness, swimmer richness, clinger richness) were common across systems and are commonly used by other monitoring agencies as monitoring tools. These data may be applied to future monitoring of chemical, physical, habitat, and invertebrate vital signs in each park Optimal metric sets recommended from this effort are those likely to detect change in water quality and habitat. However, further exploratory data is probably needed to fully describe the fauna of these systems.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Aquatic resources -- Great Plains -- Inventories
National parks and reserves -- Environmental aspects -- Great Plains
Environmental monitoring -- Great Plains
Ecological integrity -- Great Plains
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
201
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Rust, Jill, "Establishing Baseline Data for Aquatic Resources in National Parks of The Northern Great Plains Network" (2006). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1294.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd2/1294