Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Colonization in a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Watershed Following Antimycin Teatment

Schmid, Angela

ABSTRACT: Antimycin was administered as part of a native Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis restoration conducted by the National Park Service in Lynn Camp Prong, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, during September 2008. Potassium permanganate was used as a neutralization agent. Two hundred ninety-four Hester-Dendy samples were collected to assess colonization of macroinvertebrates post-treatment in control, treatment, and neutralization sites; Thunderhead Prong was used as a control site. Samples were collected one, two, six, nine, and twelve months post-treatment; samples were equally divided between fast and slow velocity sites among stream orders within the watershed. Objectives were to: 1) compare colonization differences in control vs treatment sites over stream order and time, 2) compare colonization differences in control vs treatment sites over stream order and time concerning water velocity, and 3) determine effects of potassium permanganate on macroinvertebrate colonization. No differences (P = 0.937) in colonization were detected between control and treatment sites; however, differences were detected for time, velocity, and stream order. Colonization differences between Lynn Camp Prong and Thunderhead Prong (P = 0.077) were detected in third order streams. Differences in colonization in Lynn Camp Prong (P = 0.1) and Thunderhead Prong (P = 0.029) were evident during June 2009, nine months post treatment. Differences related to velocity were found in both Lynn Camp Prong (P = 0.034) and Thunderhead Prong (P = 0.009). Taxa had higher densities in Lynn Camp Prong, where they colonized slow velocity habitats in third order stream reaches. Colonization did not differ within neutralization sites. This study demonstrates the minor ecological impacts evident concerning recolonization of macroinvertebrates, when applying Antimycin with no adverse effects due to potassium permanganate.