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Degree

MS, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences : Biological Sciences, 2005.

Abstract

Macroinvertebrates in urban streams in Ohio are potentially compromised by habitat loss, by the annual peak discharge event, and by degraded water quality. The Mill Creek in Southwest Ohio is a significantly channelized river that collects storm water runoff, wastewater treatment plant effluent, permitted dischargers, sanitary sewers, and combined sewers. Channelization areas have had 12-40 years to re-grow. Most of the riparian zone, although narrow, is lined with trees that shade the channel. The result is eutrophication by nutrient loading, some toxic chemical spills, and habitat simplification. This study was designed to show the relative impacts of habitat and water quality on the macroinvertebrate community in a multi-stressed urban stream. Possible limiting factors were quantified and evaluated along the main-stem of the Mill Creek and related to the macroinvertebrates five times over the summer of 2000. The habitat was characterized using the Ohio EPA's QHEI, the estimated peak flow, and pebble counts. Water quality was quantified by the nutrient concentrations found. Both habitat and water parameters were compared to macroinvertebrate density, taxa richness, and the calculated metric, invertebrate community index. Data was collected for base flow in the summer and autumn of 2000-2001. The QHEI and the ICI were linearly related over transects done in four non-consecutive years within a decade. Multiple regression showed several habitat variables correlated to taxa richness. ANOVA identified average species richness was significantly impacted by both water quality and habitat variables. A non-parametric method (detrended canonical correspondence analysis) separated the determinants for invertebrate communities along a nutrient (19.1% of variance) and habitat axis (11.1% of variance).

Subject Headings

Biology, Limnology

Keywords

macroinvertebrates; streams; urban

Advisor

Michael Miller

Pages

60p.

Document number: ucin1123858583
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1123858583

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