Upper Great Miami River

Chenoa Courtney, Kristin Gunn, and Megan Lonsdale

•The Upper Great Miami River is located throughout several counties. Including: Auglaize, Hardin, Mercer, Champaign, and Logan

•There are 245 total stream miles

•117.4 miles of the stream were assessed

Kristin’s Hypothesis

Hypothesis: As the Total Suspended Solids increase the QHEI (quality of habitat) and the ICI (diversity of macro-invertebrates) decrease.

Data Analysis

As TSS decreases, ICI and QHEI increases.

Effects of Total suspended solids (TSS) on Habitat quality and macroinvertebrates

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Place & Time

TS

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Avg

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Residue total non-filterable

Av_QHEI

ICI

Conclusion:

• The Total Suspended Solids cover up the macroinvertebrate’s habitat.

• Since the quality of their habitat decreases, the macroinvertebrate’s population also decreases.

• My hypothesis was supported

Chenoa’s Hypothesis

When the substrate quality decreases, the QHEI also

decreases

QHEI vs. Agriculture vs. Forest

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EI

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Av_QHEI

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Forest

Data Analysis: As Ag. and Forest increases, QHEI decreases.

Conclusion

• Agriculture within 90 meters of the river can lower the QHEI.

• When farmers work the land at the edge of the stream, pesticide run-off kills sensitive fish, which lowers the QHEI, which in turn lowers the IBI.

• My hypothesis was supported.

Megan’s Hypothesis

As DO (dissolved oxygen) increases,

so will the IBI (diversity of fish).

Average DO versus Average IBI

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Avera

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BI

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IBIDO

My graph shows that as the DO increases the IBI also increases.

Conclusion• The Upper Great Miami

has very good DO with a healthy fish community

• Fish cannot live without oxygen, so therefore the IBI depends on the DO

• The DO is important because fish that are sensitive will not live in the creek/stream if there was low DO

• My hypothesis was supported

To Increase ICI, IBI, and QHEI

• Don’t remove the cover (removing the cover would cause the DO level to drop) , rocky substrate, or meander (curves in the stream) from the stream

• Don’t farm within 90 meters of a creek/river

Steve

Virginie

Paula

Kathry

n

Leslie

Shannon