MBSS Site Summary for: NANT-204-A-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANT-204-A-2012-MidpointDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site NANT-204-A-2012-MidpointUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on PLUM CREEK in the Nanticoke River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130305.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/13/2012 and again in the summer on 7/9/2012.

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 - 3.9 / 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 2,262 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 4.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 73.4 %
Forested Land Use 17.8 %


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 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		14/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 15 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 95 %
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:
pH (lab) 6.2
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		182.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.2501 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 10 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 100
Bluegill 20
American Eel 16
Eastern Mosquitofish 3
Least Brook Lamprey 3
Tessellated Darter 3
Chain Pickerel 1
Pirate Perch 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Fowler's Toad
New Jersey Chorus Frog
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Mimosa
Wisteria
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 34
LEUCTRIDAE Rolledwinged Stonefly 24
Simulium Black Fly 16
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 13
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 11
Orthocladiinae Midge 3
Brillia Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 2
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 2
Promoresia Riffle Beetle 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Anchytarsus Beetle 1
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Lype Net Tube Caddisfly 1
Paracladopelma Non-Biting Midge 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Maccaffertium March Brown And Cahill Mayfly 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.