Aquatic invertebrate monitoring at George Washington Carver National Monument: 2005–2016 status report
David EB, Hinsey JA, Cribbs JT, Williams JM. 2020. Aquatic invertebrate monitoring at George Washington Carver National Monument: 2005–2016 status report. Natural Resource Report. NPS/HTLN/NRR—2020/2203. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/nrr-2282119
Aquatic invertebrates are an important tool for understanding and detecting changes in ecosystem integrity over time. Invertebrate and habitat samples were collected from Carver, Williams, and Harkins branches at George Washington Carver National Monument, and data were compared to previous years. Three invertebrate samples were collected per riffle, resulting in nine samples per stream. A Surber stream bottom sampler was used to collect the samples. Diversity and community metrics calculated for the invertebrate communities included taxa richness; Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, Plecoptera (EPT) richness; EPT ratio (EPT/[EPT + Chironomidae]); Shannon diversity index; Shannon evenness index; and Hilsenhoff biotic index (HBI). These metrics are consid-ered sufficiently sensitive to detect potential pollution problems in streams throughout the region. Additionally, the Missouri Stream Condition Index (SCI) was used to compare the invertebrate communities to reference stream conditions in the region. Metric and diversity values for samples collected in 2016 fell within their respec-tive control limits. SCI values for all three streams exceeded 16, indicating the streams were fully biologically supporting at the time of sampling. Presently, streams at George Washington Carver National Monument are at reference stream level condition based on state of Missouri criteria. The long history of aquatic invertebrate monitoring that continues at the park provides a sound tool to recognize both deterioration and chronic decline of water quality.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- David, E.; Hinsey, Janice; Cribbs, J.; Williams, Jeff
- Date of Issue
- 2020-12
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/nrr-2282119
- Units
- GWCA , HTLN , NRSS
- Keywords
- aquatic invertebrates, george washington national monument, water quality
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Algae