MBSS Site Summary for: MICR-110-R-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-110-R-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MICR-110-R-2009-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Rosin Creek in the Middle Chester River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130509.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/18/2009 and again in the summer on 6/24/2009.

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 - 3.0 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 889 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 1.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 84.7 %
Forested Land Use 13.2 %


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 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 2/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters
9/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters
0/20 (Poor)
Shading 20 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.


Stream Water Quality:

Water temperature 19.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.92
Conductivity 207 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity)
380.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.5806 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
Eastern Mosquitofish 47
Tadpole Madtom 15
Tessellated Darter 10
American Eel 7
Eastern Mudminnow 6
Creek Chubsucker 2
Golden Shiner 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:

American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Northern Watersnake

Crayfish:

Cambarus diogenes

Exotic Plants:

Common Reed (Phragmites)
Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:

Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 30
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 21
Gammarus Amphipod 14
Musculium Fingernail Clam 6
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Hydrobiidae Pebble Snail 3
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 2
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 2
Macronychus Riffle Beetle 1
Libellulidae Skimmer Dragonfly 1
Cryptochironomus Non-Biting Midges 1
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Limnophyes Non-Biting Midge 1
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Helisoma 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Oxyethira Microcaddisfly 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.