MBSS Site Summary for: TRAN-204-R-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site TRAN-204-R-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TRAN-204-R-2009-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Chicamacomico River in the Transquaking River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130308.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/23/2009 and again in the summer on 6/24/2009.

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 Poor - 2.7 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 4,424 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 0.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 77.9 %
Forested Land Use 16.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 7/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 9/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 90 %
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 16.3 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 7.6 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.15
Conductivity 117 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		81.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 1.2081 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 8 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
American Eel 78
Least Brook Lamprey 25
Bluegill 16
Eastern Mudminnow 16
Pirate Perch 15
Redfin Pickerel 5
Creek Chubsucker 1
Tadpole Madtom 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Fowler's Toad
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog

Crayfish:
No crayfish noted.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Trissopelopia Non-Biting Midges 35
Microtendipes Non-Biting Midges 19
Gammarus Amphipod 13
Psectrotanypus Non-Biting Midge 8
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 8
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 4
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Parametriocnemus Non-Biting Midges 3
Nigronia Megaloptera (Dark Fishfly) 3
Sphaeromias 2
Sialis Alderfly 2
Calopteryx Damselfly 2
Heterotrissocladius European Non-Biting Midge 2
Sphaerium Fingernail Clam 1
Ptilostomis Giant Casemaker Caddisfly 1
Caecidotea Isopod 1
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Synurella Amphipod 1
Tubificidae Aquatic Worm 1
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Probezzia Biting Midges 1
Heteroplectron Caddisfly 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Unniella Non-Biting Midge 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Tribelos Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Pisidiidae Pill Clam 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Tvetenia Non-Biting Midges 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.