Mojave Desert Network selected large springs: Blue Point Spring benthic macroinvertebrate and springsnail data 2012 to 2015
Bailard JL and Moret GJ. 2017. Mojave Desert Network selected large springs: Blue Point Spring benthic macroinvertebrate and springsnail data 2012 to 2015. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/MOJN/NRDS—2017/1124. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
The National Park Service (NPS) Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program (MOJN I&M) has developed a protocol to monitor the hydrology and ecology of large springs in the network parks. The MOJN I&M Selected Large Springs (SLS) protocol covers springs in Death Valley National Park (DEVA), Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR), Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LAKE), Mojave National Preserve (MOJA), and Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument (PARA). The springs have been selected for their high discharges, stability, and biological importance, and were chosen in cooperation with park staff to address the resource management priorities of each park. As part of the Selected Large Springs protocol, the Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program (MOJN I&M) collects samples of benthic macroinvertebrates and measures water quality and discharge in several springs. The purpose of these actions is twofold: • to provide data regarding the overall health of the aquatic ecosystems in the springs, and • to monitor the endemic species present in the springs. These data will be useful in determining the effects of any observed changes in hydrology or vegetation and will provide baseline information that can be used to evaluate management actions at the springs. In 2012, 2013, and 2015, MOJN I&M visited Blue Point Spring in Lake Mead National Recreation Area to test and implement the methods proposed for benthic macroinvertebrate sampling and springsnail counting. This report presents the results of these monitoring efforts. On February 24, 2012, and March 26, 2015, MOJN I&M collected BMI samples from Blue Point Spring in LAKE and submitted them to the Utah State University National Aquatic Monitoring Center for taxonomic identification and enumeration. On March 2, 2012, March 8, 2013, and March 26, 2015, MOJN I&M tested in-situ springsnail counting methods at Blue Point Spring. This report presents the results of these monitoring efforts.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Bailard, Jennifer; Moret, Geoffrey
- Date of Issue
- 2017-10
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- LAKE , MOJN , NRSS
- Keywords
- assimineid, benthic macroinvertebrate, Blue Point pyrg, Blue Point Spring, Blue Point tryonia, BMI, Chironomidae, Ecology, Ephemeroptera, EPT, exotic species, hydrology, kicknet, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, leopard frog, Mojave Desert Network, Monitoring, Plecoptera, Rana onca, Selected Large Springs Report, Spring, springbrook, Springsnail, Trichoptera, Water Quality, weir
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Hydrology | Surface Water Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Freshwater Invertebrates