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MACROINVERTEBRATES AND STREAM HEALTH

Abstract

Macroinvertebrates are small, spineless organisms that play a key role in the functionality of stream ecosystems. These organisms play a crucial role in cycling nutrients and organic matter throughout a stream, while also serving as an important bioindicator of the stream’s overall health. This research focused on using macroinvertebrates from various locations throughout the stream ecosystem to determine how the water quality of the stream changed over its course through a wetland environment using biotic index measurements. The downstream site was predicted to have a lower water quality than the upstream site based on the addition of nutrients due various impoundments along the course of the stream and inputs from beaver activity. Previous research stated that macroinvertebrates were found in higher abundances in streams with a higher velocity and a rocky channel substrate, therefore, locations were chosen based on these qualifications to ensure the largest number of macroinvertebrates were collected at each site. To conduct this research, three sites were chosen, one in the upstream area, one in the midstream area and one in the downstream area of the stream. At each site, three organic matter samples were collected and sorted for macroinvertebrates. From the collected data, the biotic index for each site and for each sample upstream and downstream were calculated using the Georgia Adopt-a-Stream protocols. The biotic index measurements showed good water quality at the upstream site and a fair water quality at the midstream and downstream sites. A Wilcoxon test was then performed to compare the biotic indexes of the upstream and downstream sites, and the p-value indicated there to be no significant difference between the two sites, suggesting there is no significant change in the water quality over the course of the stream. This indicates that activities occurring along the reach of stream studied are not significant enough to impact overall stream quality as indicated by macroinvertebrate distributions.

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