MBSS Site Summary for: ZEKI-216-A-2011

Site Photos

Field photo showing stream conditions at site ZEKI-216-A-2011-1 (Opens in a new window) Field photo showing stream conditions at site ZEKI-216-A-2011-2 (Opens in a new window)

Located on PINEY BRANCH in the Zekiah Swamp watershed, 8-digit code: 02140108.
This stream was visited in the spring on 3/14/2011 and again in the summer on 6/27/2011.

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 - 3.3 / 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 3,962 acres A highly channelized urban stream with concrete banks. An example of a highly channelized urban stream.
Urban Land Use 20.9 %
Agricultural Land Use 16.9 %
Forested Land Use 47.5 %


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 13/20 (Suboptimal)
Pool Quality
Pool Extent = 62 meters 		17/20 (Optimal)
Riffle Quality
Riffle Extent = 14 meters 		8/20 (Marginal)
Shading 85 %
Embeddedness 35 %


Stream Water Quality:
pH (lab) 6.86
Alkalinity
(acid neutralizing capacity) 		287 µeq/L
Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) 4.6574 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
Eastern Mudminnow 11
Bluegill 7
American Eel 3
Fallfish 3
Brown Bullhead 1
Largemouth Bass 1
Redfin Pickerel 1
Tadpole Madtom 1
Biologists sampling fish communities.
Electrofishing to sample fish communities.

Amphibians and Reptiles:
American Bullfrog
Northern Green Frog
Spotted Salamander

Crayfish:
Orconectes limosus
Procambarus clarkii

Exotic Plants:
Japanese Stiltgrass
 

Benthic Macroinvertebrates:
Sensitive taxa: Green, Tolerant: Red, Intermediate: Gold.
Genus/Family Common Name Count
Hydrobaenus Midge 23
Orthocladius Non-Biting Midges 16
Physa Air-Breathing Freshwater Snail 13
Caecidotea Isopod 10
Dubiraphia Riffle Beetle 9
Prostoia Spring Stonefly 5
Siphlonurus Gray Drake Mayfly 4
Ameletus Combmouthed Minnow Mayfly 4
Ablabesmyia Non-Biting Midge 3
LIMNEPHILIDAE Northern Casemaker Caddisfly 3
Neoporous Predaceous Diving Beetle 2
Tanypodinae Non-Biting Midges 2
Micropsectra Non-Biting Midges 2
Rheotanytarsus Non-Biting Midges 2
Crangonyx Amphipod 2
Hyalella Amphipod 2
Synurella Amphipod 2
TUBIFICIDAE Aquatic Worm 1
Peltodytes Crawling Water Beetle 1
Stempellinella Non-Biting Midges 1
Polypedilum Non-Biting Midges 1
Argia Narrow-Winged Damselfly 1
NEMOURIDAE Nemourid Stonefly 1
Thienemannimyia Group Non-Biting Midges 1
LUMBRICULIDAE Worm 1
Microcylloepus Riffle Beetle 1
Centroptilum Small Minnow Mayfly 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.