MBSS Site Summary for: LPAX-217-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-217-R-2000-06_11 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site LPAX-217-R-2000-06_12 (Opens in a new window)

Located on LITTLE PATUXENT R in the Little Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131105.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/13/2000 and again in the summer on 7/5/2000.

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 Good - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
(Hint: Screen readers will announce definitions; mouse users can hover over dotted text.)
Catchment area 4,028 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 6.5 %
Agricultural Land Use 53 %
Forested Land Use 40.3 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 16/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 70 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 25 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 21.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.44
Conductivity 310 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1186 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.7 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 14 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 189
Tessellated Darter 180
Rosyside Dace 121
Swallowtail Shiner 118
White Sucker 91
Longnose Dace 41
Creek Chub 37
Common Shiner 15
Cutlip Minnow 14
Fallfish 13
Redbreast Sunfish 13
Satinfin Shiner 10
Bluegill 3
Largemouth Bass 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Mile-A-Minute
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 29
Prosimulium Black Fly 15
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 10
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 8
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 6
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 5
Rheocricotopus Non-Biting Midges 4
Stenelmis Beetle 4
Hydrobaenus Midge 4
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 4
Stegopterna Black Fly 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 3
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 2
Tipula Crane Fly 2
Clinocera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 1
Glossosoma Little Black Caddisfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 1
Corbicula Basket Clam 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Neophylax Caddisfly 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Taeniopteryx Winter Stonefly 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.