MBSS Site Summary for: LPAX-109-R-2014

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-109-R-2014-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-109-R-2014-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on LITTLE PATUXENT RIVER in the Little Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131105.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/10/2014 and again in the summer on 6/2/2014.

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Results:

An Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) is a scientific tool used to identify and classify stream health. An IBI associates anthropogenic influences on a stream or with biological condition in the stream, and is formulated using data developed from biosurveys.
Details on the development and application of MBSS IBIs are in this document.
Fish IBI Poor - 2.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 404 acres Cows standing in a stream at a site with high agricultural land use. Cows survey the sampling procedure at this extreme example of a highly agriculturalized site.
Urban Land Use 14.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 63.6 %
Forested Land Use 17.3 %


Stream showing woody debris, logs, and rocky substrate.
An example of woody debris in a stream.

Physical Stream Habitat

Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 41 meters
11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 34 meters
12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 20 %


Stream Water Quality:

pH (lab) 6.87
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
297.6 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 0.6052 mg/L

Biological Stream Condition:

Surveys of the organisms living within a stream can give indications of stream health. Species richness, or the number of different species present, as well as indicator species (species whose presence, absence or abundance can serve as a measure of environmental conditions) are informative for stream health.
Close-up of a mayfly indicator species.

Fish Survey Results:

The following 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 174
Tessellated Darter 22
Longnose Dace 19
Creek Chub 13
Rosyside Dace 13
White Sucker 4
American Eel 2
Green Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

Eastern American Toad
Northern Green Frog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:

Cambarus diogenes
Orconectes virilis

Exotic Plants:

Garlic Mustard
Japanese Barberry
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Privet
Wavyleaf Basketgrass
Wineberry
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 11
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 11
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 9
Anchytarsus Beetle 7
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 5
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 4
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Psilotreta Mortarjoint Casemaker Caddisfly 3
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 2
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 2
Goera 1
Teloganopsis Mayfly 1
Hydrobaenus Midge 1
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Chrysops Deerfly 1
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Paracladopelma Non-Biting Midge 1
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 1
Oulimnius Riffle Beetle 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Kick net sampling for macroinvertebrates.
Sampling with a kick net.

Information disclaimer: The information and data on this page is for guidance and general planning purposes only. It should not be used to make decisions on specific matters.