MBSS Site Summary for: PTOB-220-R-2003

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site PTOB-220-R-2003-717 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PTOB-220-R-2003-718 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PTOB-220-R-2003-887 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PTOB-220-R-2003-891 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PTOB-220-R-2003-893 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PTOB-220-R-2003-895 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site PTOB-220-R-2003-898 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PORT TOBACCO CR in the Port Tobacco River watershed, 8-digit code: 02140109.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/20/2003 and again in the summer on 7/17/2003.

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 - 3.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.3 / 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 6,766 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 19 %
Agricultural Land Use 22 %
Forested Land Use 57 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 18/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 14/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 50 meters 		15/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 25 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 95 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 23.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.3 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.28
Conductivity 127 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		64.3 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 3.8 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 13 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 396
White Sucker 23
Bluegill 9
Pumpkinseed 4
Creek Chub 3
Redbreast Sunfish 3
Swallowtail Shiner 3
Tessellated Darter 3
American Eel 2
Largemouth Bass 2
Creek Chubsucker 1
Rosyside Dace 1
Yellow Bullhead 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern American Toad
Eastern Box Turtle
Eastern Spadefoot Toad
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog
Southern Leopard Frog
Spotted Salamander
Stinkpot
Wood Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hydrobaenus Midge 46
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 18
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 18
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 12
Prosimulium Black Fly 6
Eukiefferiella Non-Biting Midges 5
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 4
Limnephilidae Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 4
Clioperla Green-Winged Stonefly 3
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 3
Caecidotea Isopod 2
Neophylax Caddisfly 2
Orthocladiinae Midge 2
Nemouridae Nemourid Stonefly 2
Capniidae Small Winter Stonefly 1
Sympotthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Simulium Black Fly 1
Stenelmis Beetle 1
Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Enchytraeidae Aquatic Worm 1
Oemopteryx Stonefly 1
Lumbriculidae Worm 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.