Aquatic Invertebrates Monitoring
Non-point source pollution including urban and agricultural run off, treated sewage and changes in hydrology threaten water quality and quantity in streams and springs in network parks. Concerns over declining surface water quality have led to the development of various biomonitoring techniques to assess stream water quality in those systems.
Aquatic benthic invertebrates are a diverse group of relatively long-lived sedentary species that often react strongly and predictably to human disturbance making them a cost-effective and conservative tool to monitor stream water quality. Biomonitoring using aquatic invertebrates allows for the assessment of stream water quality along a gradient of conditions from unimpaired (pristine) to severely impacted (heavily polluted and/or disturbed). As such, benthic invertebrates are among the most common group of organisms used to assess water quality in streams worldwide. The National Park Service has implemented monitoring of aquatic invertebrates to help track trends in and identify factors affecting stream water quality.
Invertebrate monitoring of some small prairie streams in the Prairie Cluster parks has been conducted since 1988. Additionally, protocols have been developed for invertebrate monitoring in the mainstem river and tributaries at Buffalo National River and mainstem river and tributaries and large volume springs at Ozark Scenic Riverways.
Reports
| Agate Fossil Beds National Monument | |
| 2005 Aquatic Report | |
| 1989-2002 Status Report | |
Homestead National Monument of America Resource Brief |
|
| 2005 - 2007 Trend Report | |
| 2005 Aquatic Report | |
| 1989-2002 Summary Report | |
| Pipestone National Monument Resource Brief | |
| 2005 - 2007 Trend Report | 2005 Aquatic Report |
| 1989-2002 Summary Report | |
| Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Resource Brief | |
| 2005 Aquatic Report | |
| 1989-2002 Summary Report | |
Monitoring Questions and Approach
- What are the status and trends of invertebrate species diversity, abundance and community metrics?
- Annual sampling at fixed sites in Network streams and springs is conducted to track the population trends of aquatic invertebrate species through time.
- What do changes in the invertebrate community structure indicate about water quality in the stream?
- Analysis of species composition, species diversity, tolerance indices, and family abundance ratios and other metrics serve as a sound estimator of water quality condition in the system.
- What is the range of habitat condition within each stream and how is habitat changing over time?
- Habitat data is collected in conjunction with annual invertebrate sampling so that species abundance, locations, and community structure can be correlated with various habitat parameters and characteristics.
- Can changes in population status or habitat quality be correlated with development and management practices within the watershed?
- Management actions that affect the stream habitat structure and water quality can sometimes be correlated with community structure, habitat data, and trends in water quality.
Protocols
-
Bowles, D. E., M. H. Williams, H. R. Dodd, L. W. Morrison, J. A. Hinsey, C. E. Ciak, G. A. Rowell, M. D. DeBacker, J.L. Haack. 2008. Monitoring Protocol for Aquatic Invertebrates of Small Streams in the Heartland Inventory & Monitoring Network. Natural Resource Report NPS/HTLN/NRR—2008/042. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.(PDF)
- Bowles, D. E., J. A. Luraas, L. W. Morrison, H. R. Dodd, M. H. Williams, G. A. Rowell, M. D. DeBacker, J. A. Hinsey, F. D. Usrey, J. L. Haack. 2007. Protocol for Monitoring Aquatic Invertebrates at Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri, and Buffalo National River, Arkansas. Natural Resource Report NPS/HTLN/NRR–2007/009. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.(PDF)
References
- McDonald, T. 2004. Ecological Survey Recommendations for the Buffalo National River and Ozark National Scenic Riverways Parks. West, Inc., Cheyenne, WY. (PDF)
- Boyle, Terence P. et al. Manual for Implementation and Development of Aquatic Resource Inventory and Monitoring Methodology in Prairie Parks. (PDF)
Reports
Go to the Reports page
Links
Contact Information
-
David Bowles
Aquatic Resources Monitoring Leader (417-836-4702)