Start Date
April 2024
Location
2nd floor - Library
Abstract
The purpose of this experiment was to assess the impact of Kreis Dam on the macroinvertebrate community structure of Sharon Creek in Sharonville, Ohio. Three testing sites for sample collection with a steam reach of 35-50 meters each were selected based on the presence of riffles: upstream of the dam (US), downstream nearest to the dam (DS1), and downstream furthest from the dam (DS2). At each site, five kick samples were collected from riffles using a Surber sample, 500-micron D-framed net and sieve, and scrub brush. One composite sample was collected at each site with fifteen minutes to pick macroinvertebrates from various habitat types (riffles, runs, pools, and margins). The collected macroinvertebrates were identified to the family taxonomic level using a dichotomous key. Data metrics performed included density, %EPT, and Hilsenhoff Family-Level Biotic Index from each sample, with statistical significance determined by ANOVA and Tukey tests. Mean total riffle macroinvertebrate density upstream was significantly greater compared to the two downstream sites (US and DS1 (Tukey: p<0.01); US and DS2 (Tukey: p< 0.01)). Neither downstream site was statistically significantly different from the other. While there is no significant difference between sites for %EPT (ANOVA: F=0.92, df=2,12, p<0.42), the overall trend in the data suggests that the %EPT is highest at the upstream site, lower at the site closest to the dam, then lowest at the site furthest from the dam, thus decreasing moving from upstream to downstream. A significant difference in Hilsenhoff scores between the upstream and downstream sites was observed (US and DS1 (Tukey: p<0.05); US and DS2 (Tukey: p<0.05)), but no statistically significant difference between the two downstream sites, with US scoring ‘fairly poor,’ DS1 ‘good,’ and DS2 ‘very good.’
Assessing Dam Impacts on Stream Macroinvertebrate Community Structure.
2nd floor - Library
The purpose of this experiment was to assess the impact of Kreis Dam on the macroinvertebrate community structure of Sharon Creek in Sharonville, Ohio. Three testing sites for sample collection with a steam reach of 35-50 meters each were selected based on the presence of riffles: upstream of the dam (US), downstream nearest to the dam (DS1), and downstream furthest from the dam (DS2). At each site, five kick samples were collected from riffles using a Surber sample, 500-micron D-framed net and sieve, and scrub brush. One composite sample was collected at each site with fifteen minutes to pick macroinvertebrates from various habitat types (riffles, runs, pools, and margins). The collected macroinvertebrates were identified to the family taxonomic level using a dichotomous key. Data metrics performed included density, %EPT, and Hilsenhoff Family-Level Biotic Index from each sample, with statistical significance determined by ANOVA and Tukey tests. Mean total riffle macroinvertebrate density upstream was significantly greater compared to the two downstream sites (US and DS1 (Tukey: p<0.01); US and DS2 (Tukey: p< 0.01)). Neither downstream site was statistically significantly different from the other. While there is no significant difference between sites for %EPT (ANOVA: F=0.92, df=2,12, p<0.42), the overall trend in the data suggests that the %EPT is highest at the upstream site, lower at the site closest to the dam, then lowest at the site furthest from the dam, thus decreasing moving from upstream to downstream. A significant difference in Hilsenhoff scores between the upstream and downstream sites was observed (US and DS1 (Tukey: p<0.05); US and DS2 (Tukey: p<0.05)), but no statistically significant difference between the two downstream sites, with US scoring ‘fairly poor,’ DS1 ‘good,’ and DS2 ‘very good.’
