MBSS Site Summary for: PAXM-213-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXM-213-R-2001-131 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PAXM-213-R-2001-132 (Opens in a new window)

Located on CABIN BR in the Patuxent River middle watershed, 8-digit code: 02131102.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/26/2001 and again in the summer on 7/19/2001.

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 Fair - 3.7 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,381 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 57 %
Forested Land Use 38 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 8/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 7/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 15/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 60 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 20 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 90 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 20.5 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.9 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.84
Conductivity 180 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		230.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 2.7 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 15 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Tessellated Darter 31
Blacknose Dace 12
Eastern Mudminnow 12
Creek Chubsucker 5
American Eel 4
Swallowtail Shiner 4
White Sucker 4
Satinfin Shiner 3
Tadpole Madtom 3
Fallfish 2
Least Brook Lamprey 2
Pirate Perch 2
Redfin Pickerel 2
Bluegill 1
Pumpkinseed 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Northern Green Frog
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Orthocladiinae A Non-Biting Midges 32
Prosimulium Black Fly 9
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 9
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 8
Orthocladiinae Midge 8
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 8
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 6
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 5
Tipula Crane Fly 4
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 4
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 3
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 2
Rheosmittia Non-Biting Midges 2
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 2
Simulium Black Fly 2
Gammarus Amphipod 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Chironomini Non-Biting Midge 1
Tanytarsini Non-Biting Midges 1
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Thienemanniella Non-Biting Midges 1
Stenonema Flatheaded Mayfly 1
Boyeria Spotted Darner Dragonfly 1
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 1
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Ironoquia Northern 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.