The Use of The Use of Ephemeroptera, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Plecoptera, and

Trichoptera Trichoptera In the Bioassessment of In the Bioassessment of

Water Quality. Water Quality.

The Use of The Use of Ephemeroptera, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Plecoptera, and

Trichoptera Trichoptera In the Bioassessment of In the Bioassessment of

Water Quality. Water Quality.

Bill Bill HickmanHickman

Fall 2005Fall 2005

Bill Bill HickmanHickman

Fall 2005Fall 2005

HistoryHistory• 1848: Scientists identify the absence of caddisfly larva 1848: Scientists identify the absence of caddisfly larva

as the result of a city located upstream as the result of a city located upstream • 1909: European Scientists provided the first1909: European Scientists provided the first

comprehensive system of biological watercomprehensive system of biological waterassessmentassessment

• 1928: Study of the Illinois River reveals that most 1928: Study of the Illinois River reveals that most members of the three orders (EPT) are highlymembers of the three orders (EPT) are highlysensitive to a variety of pollutantssensitive to a variety of pollutants

• 1970s North Carolina researchers had compiled enough 1970s North Carolina researchers had compiled enough information on the state’s water ways to develop a information on the state’s water ways to develop a

basebase line data set.line data set.• 1981: Annual monitoring of North Carolina’s waterways 1981: Annual monitoring of North Carolina’s waterways

waswasinitiated by the NCDENR in 1981. Within a year, thisinitiated by the NCDENR in 1981. Within a year, thispractice became standardized. practice became standardized.

Physical Physical CharacteristicsCharacteristics• TemperatureTemperature• TurbidityTurbidity• Habitat Habitat • BuffersBuffers• Bank slopeBank slope• Land useLand use

• TemperatureTemperature• TurbidityTurbidity• Habitat Habitat • BuffersBuffers• Bank slopeBank slope• Land useLand use

Chemical AnalysisChemical Analysis• TESTTEST

– Ph Ph

– Dissolved ODissolved O22

– Nitrogen Nitrogen – PhosphorusPhosphorus– ToxicityToxicity

• TESTTEST– Ph Ph

– Dissolved ODissolved O22

– Nitrogen Nitrogen – PhosphorusPhosphorus– ToxicityToxicity

ChemicalChemical• DISADVANTAGESDISADVANTAGES

– Requires expensive lab equipment Requires expensive lab equipment – Wide variation in concentrations of pollutants Wide variation in concentrations of pollutants

from one time to another from one time to another – Can only show substances that are in the Can only show substances that are in the

samplesample•"Chemical measurements are like taking "Chemical measurements are like taking

snapshots of the ecosystem, whereas snapshots of the ecosystem, whereas biological measurements are like making a biological measurements are like making a videotape" (Prof. David M. Rosenberg PhD, videotape" (Prof. David M. Rosenberg PhD, Univ. of Manitoba and the Freshwater Univ. of Manitoba and the Freshwater Institute, DFO, Winnipeg. cf.  Bull. Entomol. Institute, DFO, Winnipeg. cf.  Bull. Entomol. Soc. Can. 1998.  30(4):144-152).Soc. Can. 1998.  30(4):144-152).

Biotic IndicesBiotic Indices• Total Taxa RichnessTotal Taxa Richness

– Simplest measure of diversity Simplest measure of diversity – Decreases with decrease in water Decreases with decrease in water

qualityquality•As less tolerant spp. die outAs less tolerant spp. die out

• NC Biotic Index (NCBI) NCDEHNRNC Biotic Index (NCBI) NCDEHNR– Reflects general level of pollution Reflects general level of pollution

regardless of sourceregardless of source

• Total Taxa RichnessTotal Taxa Richness– Simplest measure of diversity Simplest measure of diversity – Decreases with decrease in water Decreases with decrease in water

qualityquality•As less tolerant spp. die outAs less tolerant spp. die out

• NC Biotic Index (NCBI) NCDEHNRNC Biotic Index (NCBI) NCDEHNR– Reflects general level of pollution Reflects general level of pollution

regardless of sourceregardless of source

Biotic IndicesBiotic Indices• Ratio of EPT/chironomidae abundanceRatio of EPT/chironomidae abundance

– Even distribution=good water qualityEven distribution=good water quality– Dominance of chironomidea=poor water Dominance of chironomidea=poor water

qualityquality• >50% suggest eutrophic conditions >50% suggest eutrophic conditions

• Percent contribution of dominant speciesPercent contribution of dominant species– >35% poor>35% poor– 35-25% fair35-25% fair– <25% good<25% good

• Ratio of EPT/chironomidae abundanceRatio of EPT/chironomidae abundance– Even distribution=good water qualityEven distribution=good water quality– Dominance of chironomidea=poor water Dominance of chironomidea=poor water

qualityquality• >50% suggest eutrophic conditions >50% suggest eutrophic conditions

• Percent contribution of dominant speciesPercent contribution of dominant species– >35% poor>35% poor– 35-25% fair35-25% fair– <25% good<25% good

Biological Biological AssessmentAssessment• Bio ReconBio Recon

– Identify locations in need of further Identify locations in need of further study study

• Show effects of long term exposure Show effects of long term exposure – Many spp. Live a year or moreMany spp. Live a year or more– Most can not escape the effects of Most can not escape the effects of

pollutionpollution

Biological Biological AssessmentAssessment

• Ease of collectionEase of collection– Volunteers can be quickly trained to collect Volunteers can be quickly trained to collect

samples, with supervisionsamples, with supervision– Aquatic insects generally abundant Aquatic insects generally abundant

• Inexpensive Inexpensive – Requires no high tech toolsRequires no high tech tools

•Only simple tools, man power, and taxonomic Only simple tools, man power, and taxonomic expertise requiredexpertise required

Sampling:Sampling:• Field Equipment/Supplies Needed for Benthic Field Equipment/Supplies Needed for Benthic

Macroinvertebrate Sampling: Multi-habitat Approach Macroinvertebrate Sampling: Multi-habitat Approach • standard D-frame dip net, 500 opening mesh, 0.3 m width (~ 1.0 ft standard D-frame dip net, 500 opening mesh, 0.3 m width (~ 1.0 ft

frame width) frame width) • sieve bucket, with 500 opening mesh sieve bucket, with 500 opening mesh • 95% ethanol 95% ethanol • sample containers, sample container labels sample containers, sample container labels • forceps forceps • pencils, clipboard pencils, clipboard • Benthic Macroinvertebrate Field Data Sheet* Benthic Macroinvertebrate Field Data Sheet* • first aid kit first aid kit • waders (chest-high or hip boots) waders (chest-high or hip boots) • rubber gloves (arm-length) rubber gloves (arm-length) • camera camera • Global Positioning System (GPS) Unit Global Positioning System (GPS) Unit • * It is helpful to copy fieldsheets onto * It is helpful to copy fieldsheets onto water-resistant paper for use in wet weatherwater-resistant paper for use in wet weather conditions conditions

• Field Equipment/Supplies Needed for Benthic Field Equipment/Supplies Needed for Benthic Macroinvertebrate Sampling: Multi-habitat Approach Macroinvertebrate Sampling: Multi-habitat Approach

• standard D-frame dip net, 500 opening mesh, 0.3 m width (~ 1.0 ft standard D-frame dip net, 500 opening mesh, 0.3 m width (~ 1.0 ft frame width) frame width)

• sieve bucket, with 500 opening mesh sieve bucket, with 500 opening mesh • 95% ethanol 95% ethanol • sample containers, sample container labels sample containers, sample container labels • forceps forceps • pencils, clipboard pencils, clipboard • Benthic Macroinvertebrate Field Data Sheet* Benthic Macroinvertebrate Field Data Sheet* • first aid kit first aid kit • waders (chest-high or hip boots) waders (chest-high or hip boots) • rubber gloves (arm-length) rubber gloves (arm-length) • camera camera • Global Positioning System (GPS) Unit Global Positioning System (GPS) Unit • * It is helpful to copy fieldsheets onto * It is helpful to copy fieldsheets onto water-resistant paper for use in wet weatherwater-resistant paper for use in wet weather conditions conditions

Benefits of the EPT Taxa Benefits of the EPT Taxa MetricMetricBenefits of the EPT Taxa Benefits of the EPT Taxa MetricMetric

• Saves…..lab time, field time, & Saves…..lab time, field time, & moneymoney

• Bio-ReconBio-Recon

• Emergency Environmental Emergency Environmental AssessmentsAssessments

• Early Alert- time to take actionEarly Alert- time to take action

• Saves…..lab time, field time, & Saves…..lab time, field time, & moneymoney

• Bio-ReconBio-Recon

• Emergency Environmental Emergency Environmental AssessmentsAssessments

• Early Alert- time to take actionEarly Alert- time to take action

Indicators of clean Indicators of clean waterwater

EphemeropteraEphemeroptera::

BaetidaBaetidaee

CaenidaCaenidaee

SIPHLONURIDASIPHLONURIDAEE

HEPTAGENIIDAEHEPTAGENIIDAE

BaetiscidaBaetiscidaee

EPHEMERIADEEPHEMERIADE

ISONYCHIIDAEISONYCHIIDAE

POLYMITARCYIDAEPOLYMITARCYIDAEMayflieMayfliess

Indicators of clean waterIndicators of clean waterPlecopteraPlecoptera: Stoneflies: Stoneflies

Perlidae

Taeniopterygidae

NemouridaePteronarcyidae

Indicators of clean waterIndicators of clean waterTrichopteraTrichoptera: Caddisflies: Caddisflies

HYDROPSYCHIDAHYDROPSYCHIDAEE

LEPTOCERIDAELEPTOCERIDAELEPIDOSTOMATIDAELEPIDOSTOMATIDAE

GOERIDAEGOERIDAE

PHILOPOTAMIDAEPHILOPOTAMIDAERHYACOPHILIDARHYACOPHILIDAEE

Indicators of bad water Indicators of bad water qualityquality

ChironomidaeChironomidae

Indicators of bad water Indicators of bad water qualityquality

ChironomidaeChironomidae

Works CitedWorks CitedLenat David and David Penrose. “History of the EPT Taxa Lenat David and David Penrose. “History of the EPT Taxa

Richness Richness Metric.” Metric.” Bulletin of the North American Bulletin of the North American Benthological SocietyBenthological Society. . Vol 13. 1996.Vol 13. 1996.

““Standard Operating Procedures for Benthic Macroinvertebrates-Standard Operating Procedures for Benthic Macroinvertebrates-Biological Assessment Unit.” North Carolina Biological Assessment Unit.” North Carolina

Department Department of of Environment and Natural Resources. Environment and Natural Resources. NC:Division of Water NC:Division of Water Quality, 2003. Quality, 2003.

““Why Study the Stream-Bottom Macroinvertebrates?” <retrieved Why Study the Stream-Bottom Macroinvertebrates?” <retrieved on on 15 November 15 November from www.people.virginia.edu/~sos-from www.people.virginia.edu/~sos-

iwla/Stream-StudyHomePage/WhyStu...”iwla/Stream-StudyHomePage/WhyStu...” Williams Dudley and Blair Feltmate. Williams Dudley and Blair Feltmate. Aquatic Insects.Aquatic Insects. UK: Cab UK: Cab

International, 1992.International, 1992.Yandora Kimberly. “Rapid Bioassessment of Benthic Yandora Kimberly. “Rapid Bioassessment of Benthic

Macroinvertebrates Macroinvertebrates Illustrates Water Quality in Small Oder Illustrates Water Quality in Small Oder Urban Streams in a Urban Streams in a North Carolina Piedmont City” North Carolina Piedmont City” Greensboro: City of Greensboro, Greensboro: City of Greensboro, 1997. <retrieved on 15 1997. <retrieved on 15 November from November from

www.nwqmc.org/98proceedings/Papers/40-YAnd.html> www.nwqmc.org/98proceedings/Papers/40-YAnd.html>