MBSS Site Summary for: UPPC-114-R-2001

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPPC-114-R-2001-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site UPPC-114-R-2001-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on AYDYLOTTE BR in the Upper Pocomoke River watershed, 8-digit code: 02130203.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/6/2001 and again in the summer on 6/12/2001.

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 - 4.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Fair - 3.0 / 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 2,904 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 2 %
Agricultural Land Use 56 %
Forested Land Use 40 %


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 12/20 (Suboptimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 5/20 (Poor)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		10/20 (Marginal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 30 meters 		11/20 (Suboptimal)
Shading 25 %
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 27.6 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.2 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.54
Conductivity 180 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		181.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 10.8 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 12 fish species were collected.
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Common name Count
Creek Chubsucker 26
Eastern Mudminnow 24
Yellow Bullhead 10
Tadpole Madtom 7
American Eel 6
Golden Shiner 6
Pirate Perch 4
Pumpkinseed 4
Bluegill 3
Largemouth Bass 2
Tessellated Darter 2
Redbreast Sunfish 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog

Crayfish:
Cambaridae

Exotic Plants:
Common Reed (Phragmites)
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 26
Cricotopus/Orthocladius Midge 24
Phaenopsectra Non-Biting Midges 10
Procladius Non-Biting Midge 5
Conchapelopia Non-Biting Midges 4
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 4
Leptoceridae Longhorned Casemaker Caddisfly 4
Simulium Black Fly 3
Prostoma Freshwater Nemertean (Ribbon Worm) 2
Coenagrionidae Narrowwinged Damselfly 2
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 2
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 2
Corynoneura Non-Biting Midges 2
Stictochironomus Non-Biting Midge 2
Potthastia Non-Biting Midges 1
Clinotanypus Non-Biting Midge 1
Limnophyes Non-Biting Midge 1
Caenis Mayfly 1
Naididae Aquatic 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.