MBSS Site Summary for: MPAX-104-R-2002

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-104-R-2002-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site MPAX-104-R-2002-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on MIDDLE PATUXENT R UT 6 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 - 1.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Poor - 1.7 / 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 82 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 11 %
Agricultural Land Use 88 %
Forested Land Use 1 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 1/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 1/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 2/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 57 meters 		2/20 (Poor)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 18 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 50 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 15.7 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 7.04
Conductivity 220 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		1694 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.6 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 1 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
No Fish Observed 0
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
Thienemannimyia group Non-Biting Midges 25
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 16
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 12
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 8
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 8
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 4
Brundiniella 4
Hydroporus Water Beetle 4
Hydrobius Water Scavenger Beetle 3
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 3
Pseudolimnophila Crane Fly 3
Sialis Alderfly 2
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Syrphidae Rat-Tailed Maggot 2
Limnodrilus Worm 2
Lumbriculidae Worm 2
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 2
Crangonyctidae Scud 1
Diptera True Fly 1
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Curculionidae Weevil 1
Corixidae Water Boatman 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Lepidoptera Aquatic Moth 1
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Molanna 1
Prodiamesa 1
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 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.