Synoptic Review of River Invertebrate Data and Initial Development of a Monitoring Protocol for the Greater Yellowstone Network Inventory and Monitoring Network

Simmons, T; Ostermiller, J; Hawkins, C

(Abstract incomplete, see original document) The primary purpose of the National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and Monitoring Program is to assess and monitor the long-term ecological health of the nation’s parks. The Greater Yellowstone Inventory and Monitoring Network (GRYN) is one of 32 multi-unit monitoring networks created to facilitate the sharing of data and resources between various NPS-administered facilities. The GRYN includes Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (BICA), Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway (collectively referred to as GRTE), and Yellowstone National Park (YELL). All of the streams and rivers in YELL and GRTE have been designated as Outstanding Natural Resource Waters (ONRW) by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ONRWs are considered the highest quality waters of the United States and as such are accorded the highest level of protection. Despite this, a number of park streams are thought to be impaired to varying degrees. Benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages have been identified as a high priority Vital Sign for assessment and monitoring of river and stream ecosystems in the GRYN (Jean et al. 2003). Benthic invertebrates were selected because previous research has found that these organisms are sensitive to a broad range of stressors and are thus good indicators of the biological integrity of stream ecosystems. The overall intent of this report is to aid the GRYN in developing a long-term monitoring program for its aquatic ecosystems. Specifically, this report includes 1) an assessment of the existing GRYN river macroinvertebrate data, including an analysis of the adequacy of existing reference site data for developing a bioassessment program; 2) an analysis of the various approaches that could be used to develop an aquatic bioassessment program in the GRYN; and 3) a detailed proposal outlining how the GRYN could implement a bioassessment program developed in cooperation with the Western Center for Monitoring and Assessment of Freshwater Ecosystems (WCMAFE). We compiled data from 185 unique stream invertebrate samples collected in the three park units of the GRYN. These samples included a total of 66 distinct species and 172 distinct genera of aquatic insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Differences in the level of taxonomic resolution both within and among data sets complicates determination of unique taxa and comparisons among samples. A commonly used method for maximizing the information content of invertebrate samples and for streamlining comparisons is the use of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs). Using this approach, we found that OTU taxa richness varied from a low of 5 taxa in Polecat Creek (GRTE) to a high of 36 taxa in Lava Creek (YELL), Amethyst Creek (YELL) and Arizona Creek (GRTE). However, incompatibilities between the various data sets greatly complicated the compilation, and illustrated the need for the GRYN to develop both a protocol for data recording and a database structure that are internally consistent and that facilitate direct comparisons with existing macroinvertebrate databases. (Abstract as submitted by authors although incompete, please see original document).

Synoptic Review of River Invertebrate Data and Initial Development of a Monitoring Protocol for the Greater Yellowstone Network Inventory and Monitoring Network

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