Spring Brook

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Spring Brook
Seasonal Diversity and Population Density of
Macros
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(No Transcript)
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Materials
Substrates

• Mesh Nets
• Circular and Rectangular Catchers (lack of name)
• Wire Box
• D-net
• Filtering Pan

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Problem

• What effect does seasonal change and fluctuating
  water levels have on macro populations?

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Background

• Macro life cycle
• Larva and nymph stages are aquatic
• Adults emerge and lay eggs in water
• Test for biotic index to deduce stream quality in
  all four seasons.
• Four different tolerant levels help us determine
  stream quality.

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Hypothesis

• Due to the effects of extreme water levels and
  seasonal impact, the biotic index will change
  over the course of the year.

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Prediction

• Over the course of the year, as temperatures
  increase and water levels decrease, there will be
  fewer intolerant macros. As water levels
  decrease, surface area decreases, affecting
  stream flow and dissolved oxygen levels.

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Methodology

• Samples retrieved from
• Riffles
• Debris
• Shallow Pools
• Substrates
• Undercut Banks

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Seasonal Diversity
Samples 03-06
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Seasonal Diversity
Density by Season
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Conclusion

• Factors that are effecting macro invertebrate
  density and diversity
• Concentrated Nitrate and Phosphate Levels
• Low Stream Flow
• Low Dissolved Oxygen Levels

The Biotic Index shows that Spring Brook has poor
stream quality.