MBSS Site Summary for: TUCK-103-R-2008

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site TUCK-103-R-2008-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site TUCK-103-R-2008-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on BEAVERDAM DITCH UT in the Tuckahoe Creek watershed, 8-digit code: 02130405.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/18/2008 and again in the summer on 6/16/2008.

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 - 4.7 / 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 1,863 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 1.3 %
Agricultural Land Use 47.1 %
Forested Land Use 51.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 4/20 (Poor)
Epifaunal Substrate 4/20 (Poor)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 1/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 0 meters 		0/20 (Poor)
Shading 80 %
Embeddedness 100 %
The embeddedness, a measure of silt on the stream bottom, was 100%. This is very high, and may adversely affect biotic communities.
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Poor' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 16.9 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 6.7 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.32
Conductivity 132 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		284.7 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 5.0696 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Creek Chubsucker 80
Eastern Mudminnow 68
Pirate Perch 62
Tessellated Darter 60
Fallfish 8
Golden Shiner 8
Tadpole Madtom 6
Pumpkinseed 2
Redfin Pickerel 2
American Eel 1
Bluegill 1
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Eastern Snapping Turtle
Gray Treefrog
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Helisoma 16
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 14
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 10
Musculium Fingernail Clam 7
Leptoceridae Longhorned Casemaker Caddisfly 5
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 5
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 5
Corixidae Water Boatman 5
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 4
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 4
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 4
Caecidotea Isopod 4
Parakiefferiella European Non-Biting Midge 3
Cricotopus Non-Biting Midges 3
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 3
Amphipoda Scud 2
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 2
Gammarus Amphipod 2
Ceratopogon Biting Midge 1
Peltodytes Crawling Water Beetle 1
Neoporus 1
Basiaeschna 1
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
Eurylophella Mayfly 1
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 1
Paramerina Non-Biting Midge 1
Hemerodromia Tiny Fly 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
Polypedilum 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.