MBSS Site Summary for: ZEKI-202-A-2012

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ZEKI-202-A-2012-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ZEKI-202-A-2012-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on ZEKIAH SWAMP RUN in the Zekiah Swamp watershed, 8-digit code: 02140108.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/8/2012 and again in the summer on 6/11/2012.

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 Good - 4.1 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 2,897 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 8.6 %
Agricultural Land Use 11.1 %
Forested Land Use 75.4 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 16/20 (Optimal)
Epifaunal Substrate 16/20 (Optimal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 75 meters 		16/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 4 meters 		6/20 (Marginal)
Shading 40 %
Embeddedness 40 %
Several measures of instream habitat were considered 'Optimal' at this location.


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.21
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		100.5 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 8.2549 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
Bluegill 103
Eastern Mudminnow 64
Creek Chubsucker 16
American Eel 8
Redfin Pickerel 7
Tadpole Madtom 3
Chain Pickerel 1
Golden Shiner 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Cope's Gray Treefrog
Eastern Cricket Frog
Eastern Painted Turtle
Northern Green Frog
Northern Spring Peeper
Pickerel Frog

Crayfish:
Cambarus diogenes
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Mile-A-Minute
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hyalella Amphipod 36
Caecidotea Isopod 12
Simulium Black Fly 11
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 9
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 8
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Leptophlebia Pronggilled Mayfly 3
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 3
Diplocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 3
Paratanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 3
Dicrotendipes Non-Biting Midges 2
Synurella Amphipod 2
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 2
Zavrelimyia Non-Biting Midges 1
Polycentropus Tube Maker Caddisfly 1
LEPTOPHLEBIIDAE Pronggilled Mayfly 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
LEPIDOPTERA Aquatic Moth 1
Glyptotendipes 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Triaenodes Long-Horned Caddisfly 1
Oxyethira Microcaddisfly 1
COENAGRIONIDAE Narrowwinged Damselfly 1
Pycnopsyche Great Autumn Brown Sedge Caddisfly 1
CHLOROPERLIDAE Green Stonefly 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Nanocladius 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.