The relationship between algal metrics and nutrients in the Long-Term Receiving Water Study rivers: Spatial and temporal variation
Flinders, C
HERO ID
3608201
Reference Type
Technical Report
Year
2006
Language
English
| HERO ID | 3608201 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2006 |
| Title | The relationship between algal metrics and nutrients in the Long-Term Receiving Water Study rivers: Spatial and temporal variation |
| Authors | Flinders, C |
| Publisher Text | National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) |
| City | Research Triangle Park, NC |
| Abstract | Biocriteria are becoming increasingly adopted into monitoring programs and formally adopted into water quality standards intended to protect waters from deterioration. Biological monitoring programs have typically focused on fish and macroinvertebrate communities, largely excluding benthic algae communities. However, many states are examining the use of algal communities, especially diatoms, as ecological indicators because of their clear response to physical and chemical environmental changes, brief life cycles and rapid rates of reproduction, and specific ecological requirements that correlate strongly with environmental conditions. Spatial and temporal patterns of diatom diversity (Diatom Species Richness, Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index, % Dominant Taxa) and ecological descriptive (%Achnanthes minutissima, Pollution Tolerance Index, % Sensitive Diatoms, % Motile Diatoms) measures were examined in the Long-Term Receiving Waters Study (LTRWS) rivers (Codorus Creek, Leaf River, McKenzie River, Willamette River) to determine the usefulness of this group in determining site differences. Additionally, the relationship between these metrics and the concentration of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) was studied. The only clear spatial pattern in metric response occurred in diversity measures in Codorus Creek. However, this pattern was unrelated to the mill location with sites in the upper reach (both upstream and downstream of mill effluent) having greater species richness and diversity than sites in the lower reach of the study area. Metric patterns were more variable across sites and sampling periods in the other LTRWS rivers, but unrelated to mill location. The relationship between metric score and TN and TP concentrations was river-dependent. In Codorus Creek and the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers, metric-nutrient patterns collected from rock substrates were generally weak. Formost metric-nutrient relationships, nutrient concentration accounted for less than 5% of the variation in metric response, with ecological descriptive measures showing stronger nutrient relationships than diversity metrics. There was a relatively strong relationship between algal metrics and nutrient concentrations in the Leaf River, but relationships differed with natural (sand) or artificial (Hester-Dendy Plate (HD) Samplers) substrate. For both substrate types, there was a relationship between TN and TP and motile diatoms (negative) and sensitive diatoms (positive). Significant relationships between TN and TP and Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (negative) and % Dominant Taxa (positive) were seen only with algal communities on HD samplers. For most Leaf River metrics, the amount of variation in measures explained by nutrient concentration was greater for TP (21 to 66%) than for TN (29 to 33%). The ratio of TN:TP accounted for a significant amount of variation in all HD sampler algal metrics except % Achnanthes minutissima. In contrast, only the percent abundance of sensitive diatoms was significantly related to TN:TP in sand communities. The ratio of TN to TP accounted for 26 to 61% of the variation in metric response for all metrics showing significant TN:TP relationships. Variation in metric response across sites was not related to a measured Stressor and Biocriteria are becoming increasingly adopted into monitoring programs and formally adopted into water quality standards intended to protect waters from deterioration. Biological monitoring programs have typically focused on fish and macroinvertebrate communities, largely excluding benthic algae communities. However, many states are examining the use of algal communities, especially diatoms, as ecological indicators because of their clear response to physical and chemical environmental changes, brief life cycles and rapid rates of reproduction, and specific ecological requirements that correlate strongly with environmental conditions. Spatial and temporal patterns of diatom diversity (Diatom Species Richness, Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index, % Dominant Taxa) and ecological descriptive (% Achnanthes minutissima, Pollution Tolerance Index, % Sensitive Diatoms, % Motile Diatoms) measures were examined in the Long-Term Receiving Waters Study (LTRWS) rivers (Codorus Creek, Leaf River, McKenzie River, Willamette River) to determine the usefulness of this group in determining site differences. Additionally, the relationship between these metrics and the concentration of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) was studied. The only clear spatial pattern in metric response occurred in diversity measures in Codorus Creek. However, this pattern was unrelated to the mill location with sites in the upper reach (both upstream and downstream of mill effluent) having greater species richness and diversity than sites in the lower reach of the study area. Metric patterns were more variable across sites and sampling periods in the other LTRWS rivers, but unrelated to mill location. The relationship between metric score and TN and TP concentrations was river-dependent. |
| Report Number | Technical Bulletin No. 926 |
| Url | http://www.ncasi.org/Programs/Reports-and-Articles/Technical-Bulletins-and-Special-Reports/Technical-Bulletins/Index.aspx |
| Is Certified Translation | No |
| Dupe Override | No |
| Is Public | Yes |
| Language Text | English |