MBSS Site Summary for: MARS-210-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MARS-210-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MARS-210-R-2000-02 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MARSH RUN in the Marsh Run watershed, 8-digit code: 02140503.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/29/2000 and again in the summer on 8/29/2000.

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 Fair - 3.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 2.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,106 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 3.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 83.8 %
Forested Land Use 11.9 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 8/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 17/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 35 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 50 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 65 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 65%. This is relatively high, and may exclude some biota.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 17.8 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 8.12
Conductivity 200 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		6788 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.5 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 6 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Blacknose Dace 79
Fantail Darter 37
White Sucker 26
Largemouth Bass 3
Greenside Darter 1
Longnose Dace 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Lirceus Isopod 21
Gammarus Amphipod 9
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 8
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 8
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 8
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 6
Stenelmis Beetle 6
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 4
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 3
Neophylax Caddisfly 3
Optioservus Riffle Beetle 3
Promoresia Riffle Beetle 2
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 2
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
Gordiidae Horsehair Worm 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Cnephia Black Fly 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella 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.