MBSS Site Summary for: NANT-203-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANT-203-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANT-203-R-2001-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PLUM CR in the Nanticoke River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130305.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/7/2001 and again in the summer on 6/5/2001.

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 Good - 4.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 1,843 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 %
Agricultural Land Use 79 %
Forested Land Use 19 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 23 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 64 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Shading 97 %
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 17 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.4 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.32
Conductivity 140 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		156.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.8 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 9 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 53
Eastern Mudminnow 8
Least Brook Lamprey 7
Pirate Perch 7
Tessellated Darter 5
Yellow Bullhead 4
Chain Pickerel 3
Creek Chubsucker 2
Bluegill 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 23
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 23
Diplectrona Net-Spinning Caddisfly 21
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 11
Simulium Black Fly 9
Caecidotea Isopod 3
Lepidostoma Little Brown Sedge Caddisfly 3
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 3
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 3
Polycentropodidae Trupetnet And Tubemaking Caddisfly 3
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Prodiamesa 1
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Chelifera Aquatic Dance Fly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Dicranota Hairy-Eyed Cranefly 1
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 1
Hydropsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Leptophlebia Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 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.