MBSS Site Summary for: ZEKI-208-R-2009

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ZEKI-208-R-2009-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ZEKI-208-R-2009-2 (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 3/10/2009 and again in the summer on 7/8/2009.

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 - 3.0 / 5.0
Benthic IBI Good - 4.4 / 5.0

Land Use

Land use can provide important information for determining stream health.
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Catchment area 3,446 acres A stream flowing through a densely forested area. An example of a forested stream.
Urban Land Use 3.4 %
Agricultural Land Use 15.8 %
Forested Land Use 78.2 %


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

Physical Stream Habitat
Instream Habitat 8/20 (Marginal)
Epifaunal Substrate 7/20 (Marginal)
Velocity/Depth Diversity 11/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 72 meters 		12/20 (Suboptimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 9 meters 		9/20 (Marginal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
Water temperature 23.1 ° C
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 5.5 mg/L
pH (lab) 6.04
Conductivity 48 µmho/cm
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		48.1 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 6.9352 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
Bluegill 31
Redfin Pickerel 5
Tadpole Madtom 3
Tessellated Darter 3
American Eel 2
Eastern Mudminnow 1
Margined Madtom 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
Fowler's Toad
Northern Green Frog

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Garlic Mustard
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Stiltgrass
Multiflora Rose
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Prosimulium Black Fly 53
Orthocladiinae Midge 18
Stegopterna Black Fly 15
Parachaetocladius Non-Biting Midge 5
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 3
Nanocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 2
Hyalella Amphipod 2
Eurylophella Mayfly 2
Neoporus 2
Tanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Isoperla Stripetail Stonefly 2
Acerpenna Tiny Blue-Winged Olive Mayflies 2
Dineutus Whirlygig Beetle 1
Eccoptura Yellow Stone Stonefly 1
Cheumatopsyche Net-Spinning Caddisfly 1
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 1
Crangonyx Amphipod 1
Simuliidae Black Fly 1
Gomphidae Clubtail Dragonfly 1
Hexatoma Crane Fly 1
Paraphaenocladius Non-Biting Midges 1
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 1
Perlodidae Perlodid Stonefly 1
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 1
Leuctridae Rolledwinged Stonefly 1
Ancyronyx Spider Riffle Beetle 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.