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A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE MACROINVERTEBRATE BIODIVERSITY OF CORN CREEK

Abstract

In order to provide baseline data for future research of Corn Creek in Young Harris Georgia, a survey of the macroinvertebrate community was performed in fall 2016 from October 3rd to November 3rd, to determine if diversity decreases downstream in relation to human impact. Human activity and development generally increases as distance from the headwaters increase. Four sites on Corn Creek were sampled for macroinvertebrates using Georgia Adopt-A-Stream protocols, and organisms were identified to family level when possible. The four sampled sites were located at the creek headwaters at an underground spring, upstream of an ~15 m falls, downstream of the falls and where the creek feeds into Brasstown Creek. Shannon and Simpson’s diversity indices were calculated from the data collected. The sampled site upstream of the falls was in proximity to an area used by vehicular traffic to cross the creek, and this may have had a negative impact on the diversity at that site. The samples themselves yielded a large number of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera especially the families Heptagenniidae (flathead mayflies) and Peltoperlidae (roach-like stoneflies). However, preliminary analysis of the data does not appear to support the hypothesis that diversity decreases downstream in relation to human impact

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