Fish Communities Monitoring
Non-point or diffuse sources of pollution are the main factor affecting aquatic resources in the Midwest region of the U.S. (USEPA 1990). Runoff from agricultural/urban areas, discharge from sewage treatment facilities, as well as other human disturbances can cause excessive inputs of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides in streams or rivers.
Historically, water chemistry data has been used to detect changes or trends in stream quality. However, biomonitoring (use of living organisms to assess water quality) has become a useful and vital tool for stream assessments by providing a more integrated picture of past water quality and habitat conditions. Fish assemblages are an important component of stream/river systems with each species carrying out specific roles in the aquatic community. Assessment of entire fish communities provides information on ecosystem integrity and function. Because land use and management of adjacent lands can have a substantial impact on the quality of streams and rivers in our national parks, the Heartland I&M and Prairie Cluster Prototype Programs began an aquatic monitoring program to detect trends in water quality, physical habitat, and fish assemblage integrity in prairie parks and large river parks.
Reports
Monitoring Questions and Approach
- What is the status and long-term trends of fish assemblages in prairie parks and large river parks?
- Annual fish sampling at these parks to obtain data on number of species present, relative abundance of species, and overall health of the community. Fish are collected with seines and electrofishing techniques in prairie and big river parks.
- What is the condition and trends in aquatic habitat in both prairie parks and big river parks?
- Annual collection of water quality and physical habitat data in conjunction with fish sampling. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, and turbidity are measured at each sample site. Point-transect habitat data is collected to obtain information on macrohabitat.
- Within prairie parks containing the endangered Topeka Shiner (Notropis topeka), what is the status and long-term trends of this species?
- Annual fish sampling to determine abundance and trends of this species through time. Annual habitat sampling to determine the type and condition of habitat for this species. Seining within prairie park boundaries and aquatic habitat collection.
- Can changes in fish assemblage status or habitat quality be correlated with management regimes?
- Record management actions for correlation with fish assemblage and habitat data.
Protocol
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Dodd, H.R., D.G Peitz, G.A. Rowell, D.E. Bowles, and L.M. Morrison. 2008. Protocol for Monitoring Fish Communities in Small Streams in the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network. Natural Resource Report NPS/HTLN/NRR - 2008/052. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. (PDF)
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Petersen, J.C., Justus, B.J., Dodd, H.R., Bowles, D.E., Morrison, L.W., Williams, M.H., and Rowell, G.A., 2008. Methods for monitoring fish communities of Buffalo National River and Ozark National Scenic Riverways in the Ozark Plateaus of Arkansas and Missouri: Version 1: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1302, 94 p. (PDF)
- Peitz, D.G and Gareth A. Rowell. 2004. Fish Community Monitoring in Prairie Park Streams with Emphasis on Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka). Heartland I&M Network and Prairie Cluster Prototype Monitoring Program, National Park Service, Republic, MO. (PDF)
Reports
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Go to the Reports page
References
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McDonald, T. 2004. Ecological Survey Recommendations for the Buffalo National River and Ozark National Scenic Riverways Parks. West, Inc., Cheyenne, WY. (PDF)
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USEPA. 1990. The quality of our nation's water: a summary of the 1988 National Water Quality Inventory. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Report 440/490-005, Washington, D. C.
Links
Contact Information
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Hope Dodd
Fisheries Biologist (417-836-3163)