Integrity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River: Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network, 2008 summary report
Tzilkowski CJ, Callahan KK, Marshall MR, Weber AS. 2010. Integrity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River: Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network, 2008 summary report. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/ERMN/NRDS—2010/029. United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center. Fort Collins, Colorado
During 2008, the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network (ERMN) of the National Park Service (NPS) began monitoring benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) communities in wadeable streams throughout its nine parks. There were 12 targeted (non-random) sites sampled throughout Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UPDE) during October 2008. Sampled streams were selected based primarily on their high dilution ratios (i.e., relative contribution of water to the Delaware River), whereas site locations on those streams were selected based upon landowner cooperation. In addition to BMI samples, core water quality data (i.e., temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and specific conductance) were collected and reach-scale habitat was characterized. Core water quality parameters at UPDE sites were typical of forested watersheds with similar geologic characteristics. Relationships among core parameters were also typical – specific conductance generally decreased with decreasing pH, whereas dissolved oxygen concentrations (DO) consistently decreased with increasing water temperature. There were no exceptionally warm or cold streams throughout UPDE given the fall sampling period, and DO concentrations were typically at or above saturation levels. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities throughout UPDE streams had Macroinvertebrate Biotic Integrity Index values that ranged from 46.9 (West Branch Delaware River) to 65.8 (Equinunk Creek). Given that this report represented the first year of data collection, there were few inferences or management recommendations that could be confidently made. Biological communities (including BMI) can vary through time due to a range of naturally occurring biotic phenomena (e.g., interspecific competition, predation) and abiotic disturbances (severe drought, floods). It will take several years to determine the degree to which BMI communities naturally vary throughout UPDE and the rest of the ERMN. Once natural variability of BMI communities is quantified, we will be in a better position to make inferences about the relative condition of sampled streams.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Tzilkowski, Caleb; Callahan, Kristina; Marshall, Matthew; Weber, Andrew
- Date of Issue
- 2010-02
- Publisher
- United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center
- Units
- ERMN , NRSS , UPDE
- Keywords
- Biomonitoring, Macroinvertebrate, Monitoring, Water Quality