Fish community monitoring at George Washington Carver: 2006-2007, 2010 status report
Dodd HR, Bowles DE, Mueller SK, Clark MK. 2011. Fish community monitoring at George Washington Carver: 2006-2007, 2010 status report. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/HTLN/NRDS—2011/138. National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center. Fort Collins, Colorado
George Washington Carver National Monument (GWCA), located in southwest Missouri, was established to interpret the historic and cultural resources related to the birthplace, childhood, and achievements of George Washington Carver. Part of interpreting this historic site is the natural history that surrounds the events of Carver’s early life and the maintenance and protection of these natural resources (National Park Service, 1999). The watersheds of streams within GWCA are predominately agricultural and rural residential land use. Many native fish populations in the Midwest have been adversely impacted throughout their ranges by a number of factors associated with land use changes, including habitat loss and fragmentation, sedimentation, and reduced water quality. Although human induced disturbance can dramatically alter aquatic systems, GWCA may offer important habitat and protection for native fish species. Beginning in 2006, fish communities, water quality, and physical habitat were sampled at three streams in the park to determine the status and long-term trends in fish community composition and to correlate this community data to water quality and habitat conditions. In general, the fish communities within GWCA were found to be diverse and healthy. Numerous native fish species were present in these streams and community composition consisted of several darter, sculpin, and madtom species that are sensitive to poor water quality and habitat conditions. Low occurrence of fish anomalies or diseases and high biotic integrity scores suggest that the fish populations are healthy and that streams within the park are in good condition.ix
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Dodd, Hope; Bowles, David; Mueller, Samantha; Clark, Myranda
- Date of Issue
- 2011-02
- Publisher
- National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center
- Units
- GWCA , HTLN , NRSS
- Keywords
- Aquatics Fish Communities Monitoring Reports, HTLN Fish Community Brief, HTLN Fish Community Monitoring