MBSS Site Summary for: PTOB-002-S-2016

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PTOB-002-S-2016-MidpointPDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PTOB-002-S-2016-MidpointPUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on Highole Run in the Port Tobacco River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140109.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/28/2016 and again in the summer on 6/15/2016.

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 - 4.3 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.9 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 673 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 6.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 13.7 %
Forested Land Use 75.5 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 17/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 17/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 43 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 32 meters 		13/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 60 %
Embeddedness 20 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.66
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		94.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.5061 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
Blacknose Dace 58
Eastern Mudminnow 35
Rosyside Dace 29
Creek Chubsucker 28
Green Sunfish 22
Creek Chub 12
Tessellated Darter 10
Least Brook Lamprey 5
American Eel 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Eastern Red Spotted Newt
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Amphinemura Spring Stonefly 60
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 15
Simulium Black Fly 13
Ephemerella Sulphur Mayfly 9
Neophylax Caddisfly 6
Prosimulium Black Fly 6
Leuctra  Rolled-Winged Stonefly 3
Stenelmis Beetle 3
Bezzia Biting Midge 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Simuliidae Black Fly 1
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 1
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 1
Strophopteryx Early Brown Stonefly 1
Rhyacophila Free-Living Caddisfly 1
Chloroperlidae Green Stonefly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Psilotreta Mortarjoint Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Leptophlebiidae Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Psephenus Water Penny 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.