MBSS Site Summary for: MPAX-101-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-101-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-101-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MIDDLE PATUXENT R UT 5 in the Middle Patuxent River watershed, 8-digit code: 02131106.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/21/2002 and again in the summer on 6/6/2002.

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 - 2.7 / 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 232 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 4 %
Agricultural Land Use 93 %
Forested Land Use 4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 39 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 36 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 30 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 18 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.17
Conductivity 140 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		662.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.7 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 5 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 4
Blacknose Dace 3
Creek Chub 2
Longnose Dace 2
Tessellated Darter 2
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Two-Lined Salamander

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Bamboo
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 14
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 10
Anchytarsus Beetle 10
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 8
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 5
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 4
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 4
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 4
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 3
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 3
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 3
Natarsia Non-Biting Midges 3
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 2
Diamesa Bloodworm 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 2
Serratella Mayfly 2
Naididae Aquatic Worm 1
Girardia Freshwater Flatworm 1
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 1
Heptageniidae Flathead Mayfly 1
Hydropsychidae Common Netspinner Caddisfly 1
Antocha Crane Fly 1
Paraleptophlebia Blue Quill Mayfly 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Chironomidae Non-Biting Midge 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.