MBSS Site Summary for: MARS-224-R-2000

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MARS-224-R-2000-01 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MARS-224-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 4/10/2000 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 - 1.5 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 13,459 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 7.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 77.4 %
Forested Land Use 14.5 %


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 4/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 18/20 (Optimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 15 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 65 meters 		18/20 (Optimal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 70 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 70%. 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 19.2 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 8.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.92
Conductivity 200 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		4987 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 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Spotfin Shiner 28
Fallfish 11
Greenside Darter 8
Smallmouth Bass 8
Northern Hogsucker 2
Blacknose Dace 1
Common Shiner 1
White Sucker 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
No amphibians and reptiles noted.

Crayfish:
Orconectes

Exotic Plants:
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 33
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 27
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 12
Simulium Black Fly 10
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 5
Orthocladiinae Midge 4
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 3
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Naididae Aquatic Worm 2
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 2
Tipula Crane Fly 1
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Corynoneura 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.