MBSS Site Summary for: UPCK-113-S-2017

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCK-113-S-2017-MidpointLookingDownstream (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPCK-113-S-2017-MidpointLookingUpstream (Opens in a new window)

Located on UT Skeleton Creek in the Upper Choptank watershed, 8-digit code: 02130404.
This stream was visited in the spring on 4/12/2017 and again in the summer on 7/13/2017.

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 Good - 4.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 471 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3.8 %
Agricultural Land Use 40.5 %
Forested Land Use 52.6 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 56 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 19 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 87 %
Embeddedness 45 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.19
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		252.4 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 32.371 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 7 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Eastern Mudminnow 59
Green Sunfish 35
Bluegill 24
Pirate Perch 13
American Eel 12
Lepomis Hybrid 8
Tessellated Darter 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Fowler's Toad
New Jersey Chorus Frog
Northern Black Racer
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Pickerel Frog
Southern Leopard Frog
Southern Ring-Necked Snake

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes
Procambarus sp.

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
CAECIDOTEA Isopod 43
GAMMARUS Amphipod 11
SIMULIUM Black Fly 11
STEGOPTERNA Black Fly 7
STENELMIS Beetle 7
SYNURELLA Amphipod 6
CAMPELOMA 6
RHEOCRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 6
BEZZIA Biting Midge 3
PROSIMULIUM Black Fly 2
ISCHNURA 2
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 2
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 2
ABLABESMYIA Non-Biting Midge 2
ZAVRELIMYIA Non-Biting Midges 2
NEOPOROUS Predaceous Diving Beetle 2
DUBIRAPHIA Riffle Beetle 2
PISIDIUM Freshwater Pea (Pill) Clam 2
CRICOTOPUS Non-Biting Midges 1
ORTHOCLADIUS Non-Biting Midges 1
TANYPODINAE Non-Biting Midges 1
CAENIS Mayfly 1
PHYSA Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 1
GIRARDIA Freshwater Flatworm 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.