Aquatic invertebrate monitoring at Effigy Mounds National Monument, 2008

Bowles, David; Luraas, Jessica

The National Park Service (NPS) began monitoring water quality and invertebrate community structure in Dousman Creek at Effigy Mounds National Monument (EFMO) in 2008. Dousman Creek is a Class "B" coldwater stream that supports a trout population and is listed among the Outstanding Iowa Waters. The purpose of this report is to summarize baseline aquatic invertebrate monitoring data collected during July 2008. Data are currently insufficient to fully characterize the integrity of Dousman Creek. Preliminary indications based on invertebrate community structure, water quality and physical habitat suggests Dousman Creek is largely unimpaired. All benthic samples were dominated by a moderately intolerant mayfly (Pseudocloeon) and Chironomidae were poorly represented in samples. Because large numbers of Chironomidae are often associated with disturbance, their low density in Dousman Creek is particularly notable. Taxa richness and EPT richness were lower than expected for this outstanding stream, but the reason for this is unknown. Several intolerant and uncommon taxa were represented in samples. Water quality data also suggest this stream is not disturbed. Future invertebrate sampling events at Dousman Creek should include a composited multihabitat sample that will allow investigators to calculate the IOWATER Advanced Benthic Macroinvertebrate Indexing Methods. Using this index to evaluate future benthic collections from Dousman Creek will allow site managers to directly compare its invertebrate community structure relative to Iowa reference streams in addition to assessing long-term trend in this resource.

Aquatic invertebrate monitoring at Effigy Mounds National Monument, 2008

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