333.916209773 St83 IDNR/EEA-95/03 ILLINOIS RIVERWATCH NETWORK Stream Monitoring Manual Illinois Department of Natural Resources Jim Edgar, Governor Brent Manning, Direaor Natural History Suivey Library; ILLINOIS RIVERWATCH NETWORK IDNR/EEA-95/03 Stream Monitoring Manual The person charging this material is responsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for discipli- nary action and may result in dismissal from the University. To renew call Telephone Center, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN OCT 2 9 199? September 1995 Illinois Department of Natural Resoun Jim Edgar. Governor Brent Manning, Director ph: (217)785-5409 fax: (217)785-8575 TDD: (217)785-0211 Printed by Authority of the State of Illinois Printed on Recycled Paper ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Illinois RivcrWatch Networic would like to acknowledge those people who contributed to the writing of this manual The Network could not have produced this monitoring manual wiAout the hard work and scientific expertise of Denise B. Stoeckel from the Illinois Natural History Survey. Bill Ettinger of the Illinois Envirraiinental Protection Agaicy and Jim Mick of the Department of Natural Resources provided technical assistance necessary to ensure that data collected by Illinois Giizen Sci- entists would be useful to state water quality scientists. The Network would also like to thank Mitchell Harris of die Illinois Natural History Survey for assisting in the review of our technical protocols. Our appreciation also goes to Ben Barber of the Nature of Illinois Foundation, Dale Leucht of the USEPA Region V and Brook McDonaU of the DuPage River Project for providing comments and suggestions during the writing of this manual Rnally, the Network wouU like to thank Lieutenant Governor Bob Kustra for bringing us all to- gedier We are especially graiefiil to Dan Sprehe, assistant to die Lieutenant Governor, for his instm- mental role in coordinating die initial work of die Illinois RivcrWatch Network Steering Committee. DanaCurtiss Coordinator, Illinois RiverWatch Network Illinois Department of Natural Resources Table of Contents section Oif: Ttw Illinois RIvtWatch Natwork 2 Chapter I, A Partnership for Illinois Watersheds 1 > Why Illinois needs volunteer stream monitors 1 How the Illinois RiverWalch Network monitors streams 2 Citizen Scientist Stream Monitoring Program 2 RiverWatcher Stream Monitoring Program 2 Chapter 11. Monitoring Illinois Streams 3 What is stream monitoring? 3 Biological monitoring 4 What are benthic macroivertebrates? _ 5 Life cycles of benthic macroinvertebrates 5 Habitat assessment 6 Streams, watersheds, and drainage basins 6 Streams 6 Watersheds and drainage basins 6 Stream channels 6 Riparian zones 6 Stream bottoms 7 Riffles 7 Runs 7 Pools 7 Chapter HI. Getting Started 9 Determining the legal description of the monitoring site 9 What the Group Leader must do 10 Equipment you will need 11 Advance observation of the site 12 Safety procedures 12 Dau management and quality assurance 12 Where to find help 13 S«c0on Two: Tho Chlzen Sc/entfst Stnam Monitoring Prognm Chapter IV. How to Conduct a Citizen Scientist Level Habitat Assessment 14 Assessing your site 14 Marking off your site 14 Making a Site Sketch 15 Filling out the Habitat Assessment Data Sheet 16 Filling out the Habiut Parameter Sheet 18 Channel morphology and flow characteristics 18 Stream banks 18 Watershed features 1 8 Aesthetics 19 Habiut rating 19 Chapter V. How to Conduct a Citizen Scientist Level Macroinvertebrate Community Assessment 20 How to assess a stream's macroinvenebrate community 20 Riffle sampling 21 Leaf pack sampling 22 Sampling snag areas, tree roots, and submerged logs 22 Sampling undercut banks 22 Sampling sediments 22 Chapter VL How to Interpret Citizen Scientist Level Stream Monitoring Data .... 23 Subsampling procedures 23 Metrics 25 Filling out the Macroinvertebrate Dau Sheet 26 Identifying the organisms 27 Calculating the biotic indices 28 Problems and comments 28 Section Thnm: Ttn RhnrWatchT Stnam Monitoring Progrmm Chapter VIL How to Conduct a RiverWatcher Level Habitat Assessment 29 Measuring water quality using macroinvertebrates 29 Filling out the Illinois RiverWatcher Stream Monitoring Dato Sheet 29 Site identification 29 Habitat Assessment 30 Chapter VHI. How to Conduct a RiverWatcher Level Macroinvertebrate Community Assessment 32 Benthic maaoinvenebrates as pollution indicators 32 Group I: Pollution-intolerant 32 Group H: Moderately pollution-intolerant 32 Group ni: Fairly pollution-tolerant 33 Group rV: Pollution-tolerant 33 Illinois RiverWatcher macroinvertebrate assessment procedures 34 Riffle sampling 34 Leaf pack sampling 35 Sampling snag areas, tree roots, and submerged logs 35 Sampling undercut banks 36 Sampling sediments 36 Chapter IX. How to Interpret RiverWatcher Level Stream Monitoring Data 37 Subsampling procedures 37 Macroinvertebrate tally 39 What to do if you find poor water quality 39 What to do with your information 39 App»ndlen Appendix A. Factors That Affect Stream Quality in Illinois 40 Appendix B. The Life History of Macroinvertebrates 42 Appendix C. Macroinvertebrate Identification Key 50 Appendix D. Macroinvertebrate Identification Reference Guide 72 Appendix E. Glossary 74 Appendix F. Suggested Literature and Sources of Information 78 Appendix G. Biological Equipment Suppliers 79 Appendix H. Data Sheets 81 SECTION ONE THE ILUNOIS RIVERWATCH NETWORK Chapter I A Partnership For Illinois Watersheds Welcome to the Illinois RIverWetch NetworkI The time is surely at hand when the people of Illinois will learn to appreciate and develop this great gift of nature in the various directions in which it may be made to serve their interests and their pleasures. —StephenA. Forbes, 1919 Founder andFirstChi^qfthe Illinois Natural History Survey g o The Slate of Illinois is considered a "water-rich state." Three major rivers, the Mississippi, the Ohio, and the Wabash, bonier the state. Another 900 streams can be found within the state's borders. S A stream is a combination of all of its physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. These char- q acteristics change over time in response to both natural and human-caused events. For example, hu- man activities on the land near a stream (such as construction and farming) affea the ecosystem of the stream itself. By observing the number and type of organisms living in a stream and relating that information to the condition of the surrounding habitat, the extent to which human activities have affected a stream can be measured. Why Illinois needs volunteer stream monitors State agencies such as the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois Department of Natural Resources are charged to protect Illinois streams. Unfortunately, these agencies have only enough time and resources to monitor a limited number of streams each year. Of the state's 32,190 total stream miles, only 14.159 — 44 percent — were monitored by state agencies in 1992-93. Some Illinois streams are monitored only once every five years. Illinois' state agencies need many additional "eyes" if they are to observe changes in the state's stream environments year by year. Volunteer monitors can collect vital information about the environment that otherwise would never be discovered. Volimteer monitoring programs also give citizens, scientists." and government agencies at various levels a chance to communicate about environmental issues. The Illinois RiverWatch Networic, or IRWN. is a partnership among Illinois citizens to monitor, restore, and protect the state's rivers and streams. It was established in April 1993 under an initiative of Lieutenant Governor Bob Kustra. The program is coordinated through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. IRWN has three primary objectives: • to educate and inform Illinois citizens about the ecology and importance of Illinois streams: • to provide an opportunity for Illinois citizens to become involved in protecting the health of local streams: and • to provide consistent high-quality data which can be used by scientists to measure how the quality of stream ecosystems is changing over time. Any citizen of Illinois can take part in the Illinois RiverWatch Network's training workshops and monitoring activities. By leaniing to use scientific methods in the field, you will provide valuable information concerning the environmental integrity of the state's stream systems. You will also gain knowledge which will increase your respect and enjoyment of Illinois' natural resources. How the Illinois RiverWatch Network monitors streams This manual teaches volunteers like you about the ecology of watersheds. The manual also ex- plains how to assess both stream biological communities and stream habitats for the Illinois RiverWatch Network. Generally, the biological monitoring procedures described in this manual are best suited for wadeable, small- to medium-size streams. Larger streams and rivers will be included in future monitoring efforts by the Illinois RiverWatch Network. Two types of stream monitoring programs arc organized through IRWN. Both of them - the Citi- zen Scientist Stream Monitoring Program and the RiverWatcher Stream Monitoring Program - arc described in this manual. Both use the same techniques to sample stream life and describe stream conditions, although they use differcnt methods to analyze the data that is t»llected. Citizen Scientist Stream Monitoring Program "Volunteers in die Citizen Scientist Stream Monitoring Program will examine the same stream monitoring sites at the same time each year. This program of annual assessments is designed to provide trend data to measure changes in these sites over extended periods of time. It is described in detail in Section Two of this manual. The annual data collected by volunteer Citizen Scientists will be entered into a statewide database accessible through Ecoforum, an electronic bulletin board system (BBS) maintained by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. From the Ecoforum BBS, the data will be retrieved to be validated and analyzed. The infomiation will also be presented in an annual report available to all interested persons. By having Qtizen Scientists report all of their information to one source for validation and analysis, we assure that the information is accurate before any decisions arc made concerning the condition of Illinois streams. If the data indicate potential problems at any sampling site, IRWN will forward that information to the proper government agency for their review. RiverWatcher Stream Monitoring Program The RiverWatcher Stream Monitoring Program (described in detail in Section Three of this manual) asks volunteers to sample at stream sites at least two times a year. This more limited seasonal data will be maintained by RiverWatcher volunteers, who will report any changes in the quality of their stream to their respective IRWN regional coordinator. SECTION ONE THE ILUNOIS RIVERWATCH NETWORK Chapter II Monitoring Illinois Streams c There is a phenomenal resiliency in the mechanisms of the earth. A river or lake is almost never dead. If you give it the slightest chance by stopping pollutants from going into it, then nature usually comes back. — Rene Dubos, 1981 What Is stream monitoring? As a volunteer of the Illinois RiverWatch Network you will study both the organisms of streams (biological monitoring, described below) and their surrounding habitat (habitat assessment, also described below). Biological monitoring techniques sample certain kinds of organisms that live in streams. Habitat assessments describe conditions in the stream itself, including the areas immediately surrounding the stream. Information gained from habitat assessments help to explain changes in stream life identified by biological monitoring. In much the same way. the number and variety of the organisms present in a stream is a useful measure of the health of that habitat Habitat assessments also are useful for classifying streams and for documenting how they change over time. For example, many streams in Illinois have had their channels straightened or dammed and their banks cleared. Such changes have destroyed habitats both within and alongside streams. The loss of these habitats has led to the loss to the state of many aquatic organisms, including whole species of fish, freshwater mussels, crayfish, and aquatic insects. Habitat assessments catalog the namre and extent of these kinds of changes. The data collect will give you an immediate assessment of the condition of a stream at the time you sampled it Data collected over a period of five years or more also begin to show long-term trends in the conditions of the stream. Scientists need both sets of information to ascertain the quality of the environment Here's how it works. Let's say that IRWN Citizen Scientists have snidied Stream A for five years. The volimteers used the same methods in sampling at the same sites on the stream during that time. Each year the Citizen Scientists found the stream to be in good condition, according to accepted criteria (see Figure 1, next page). GOOD WATER QUALITY rodinc Banks SligbtlvTurhid WTTTSr 60 — SO — 40 — 30 — Zo- Stream CTbannelization _^_« Water Velocity lo- ft rf" 'ii ri ri ri AB AB AB AB AB Yearl Year2 Year3 Year4 YearS A = Pollution Intolerant Organism B = Pollution Tolerant Organism Figure 1 . A demonstration of haw volunteer-collected data can provide information concerning stream quality. Looked at together, however, the five years' worth of data tell a different story. As the graph in Figure 1 shows, the overall number of organisms in the stream is decreasing at a slow and steady rate. The data also show that 1) organisms that can tolerate pollution are becoming more common compared to organisms that are intolerant of pollution; 2) that the stream chaimel is more straight (or channelized) over time because of the local construction of homes; 3) that the flow of the water in the stream is growing faster and; 4) that the water is more cloudy, or turbid. Biological monitoring Biological monitoring focuses on the organisms living in a stream. Scientists want to observe changes in the number of types of organisms present in a stream system to determine the richness of the biological community there. They also want to observe the total number of organisms present, which is a measure of the density of the biological community present If community richness and community density change over time, it may indicate the effects of human activity on the stream. Biological stream monitoring is based on the fact that different species react to pollution in differ- ent ways. Pollution-sensitive organisms such as mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies are more sus- ceptible than others to the effects of physical or chemical changes in a stream. Pollution-tolerant organisms such as midges and worms can cope with adverse conditions more easily. The presence or absence of such indicator organisms is an indirect measure of pollution. When a stream becomes polluted, pollution-sensitive organisms decrease in number or disappear — evidence that the stream has problems. Pollution-tolerant organisms increase in variety and number. Such changes in the composition of the stream's biological community compared to a stream known to have good water quality also suggest that the stream ecology is upset What are benthic macroinvertebrates? Benthic macroinvertebrates are animals that are big enough {macro, from the ancient Greek word ^ for long) to see with the naked eye. They also lack backbones {invertebrate) and live at least pan of a their life cycles in or on the bottom (or benthos, another Greek word) of a body of water. 8 Macroinvertebrates include aquatic insects (such as mayflies, stoneflies. caddisflies, midges, and beetles), snails, worms, freshwater clams, mussels, and crayfish. Some benthic macroinvertebrates. like midges, are small and may grow no larger than 1/2 inch in length. Others, like the three ridge mussel, can be over ten inches long. In addition to being sensitive to changes in the stream's overall ecological integrity, benthic macroinvertebrates offer other advantages to scientists looking for indications of stream pollution. • They are relatively easy to sample. Benthic macroinvertebrates are abundant and can be easily collected and identified by trained Citizen Scientists or other volunteers. • They are relatively immobile. Animals such as fish can escape toxic spills or degraded habitats by swimming away from them. Migratory animals may spend only a small portion of their life cycle in a particular stream before moving on to larger rivers, wetland areas, or ^ other streams. Changes in populations of such mobile species thus do not necessarily signal o changes in the sampled stream. In contrast, most macroinvertebrates spend a large pan of their ^ life cycle (often more than a year) in the same pan of a stream, clinging to surfaces so as not to be swept away with the water's current When such stable conmiunities change over time. g it often indicates problems in the stream. • They are continuous indicators of environmental quality. The composition of benthic macroinvenebrate communities in a stream reflects the stream's physical and chemical conditions over time. In contrast, monitoring for certain water qualities (such as the amount of oxygen dissolved in it) describes the condition of the water only at the time the samples were taken. • They are a critical pan of the aquatic food web. Benthic macroinvertebrates form a vital link in the food chain that connects aquatic plants, algae, and leaf litter to the fish species of our rivers and streams. Therefore, the condition of the benthic macroinvenebrate community reflects the stability and diversity of the larger aquatic food web. Life cycles of benthic macroinvertebrates Most of the benthic macroinvertebrates that you will encounter are aquatic insects. Aquatic insects have complex life cycles and live in the water only during certain stages of their development Aquatic insects may go through one of two kinds of development, or metamorphosis. Aquatic insects that have complete metamorphosis undergo four stages of development They lay their eggs in water, and they hatch into larvae that feed and grow in the water. (These larval insects do not resemble the adult insects: many appear worm-like.) The fully-grown larvae develop into pupae that do not feed while they develop the many organs and structures they need as adults, such as wings and antetuiae. The fuUy-formed adults of some species (midges and flies, for example) emerge from the water and live in the habitat surrounding the stream. Others, such as riffle beetles, continue to live in the stream itself. After mating, adults of all aquatic insect species lay eggs in the water, beginning the life cycle all over again. Aquatic insects that have incomplete metamorphosis undergo only three stages of development The eggs hatch into nymphs (which are referred to as larvae by many authorities). Nymphs feed and grow in the water while they develop adult structures and organs; they do this in stages, or instars. until they emerge as adults. The life cycle begins again when eggs are laid in the water by the adults. Appendix B describes the life histories of many of the aquatic insects that you will come across during your sampling. Appendix B also provides sketches of the larvae, nymph, and adult stages of these insects so you can see how they look alike or different Benthic macroinvertebrates have both common names and scientific names. Because common names may vary, this manual uses scientific names for the most part. Common names are used where they can help in the identification process. Scientific names are commonly derived ftxjm Latin or Greek words and reflect the organism's place in the system devised by biologists to classify nature. Each group in this system is caUed a taxon. The various taxa, are arranged in taxonomic ranks from the largest group to the smallest — kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. For example, the Qass Insecta includes all of the insects and is made up of many orders, one of which— the Order Ephemeroptera— includes all mayflies. "Volunteers in the RiverWatcher program vkdll identify benthic macroinvertebrates to the level of Order, volunteers in the Qtizen Scientist Stream Monitoring program will learn to identify them more specifically, to the level of Family. Habitat assessment Streams, watersheds, and drainage basins Stream habitats are complex. Assessing their quality requires understanding their many parts, including the following. Streams. Streams may begin when water flows from ponds or lakes, or they may arise from below-ground, from springs or seepage areas. Such beginner streams arc small, and are referred to as headwater streams. Headwaters flow toward lower-lying land downstream; as tiiey go, they converge with one or more other headwater streams to form medium-size streams. Medium-size streams then flow and converge with other streams (either headwater or mediimi-size streams) and form rivers. Watersheds and drainage basins. Streams thus collea water from the landscape surrounding them. The area of land from which water drains into a given stream is referred to as that stream's watershed. A river's drainage basin is a watershed on a bigger scale — that area of land, including watersheds of headwater streams and medium-size streams, from which all of the river's water drains. Since all of the water in a drainage basin flows to a common point, conditions in the head- water streams affea the larger streams and rivers fed by them. Monitoring the conditions in head- water streams thus gives clues to conditions downstream. Stream channels. The part of a stream in which the water flows is the stream channel. The physical characteristics of the stream channel will differ depending on the topography and geology of the area around it Often the same stream will change at different points along its length as the shape and makeup of the surrounding land changes. Such a stream may contain successive segments (or reaches) that arc quite different from each other. Riparian zones. The riparian zone refers to the area of land which is connected with or immedi- ately adjacent to the banks of a stream. The riparian zone includes the stream banks, wetlands and those portions of floodplains and valley bottoms that support riparian vegetation, or those plants which are found in the riparian zone. The lower stream banks, where the land meets the water, may be home to emergent vegetation — plants that are rooted in the soil below the water, but grow to heights above the water level. The higher upper stream banks may have plants that arc rooted in the soil, but that can withstand periodic flooding. When the riparian zone is periodically flooded after heavy rains, food, water, and sediment are carried into the stream from surrounding landscape. Plants growing within the riparian zone hold the soil of the stream's banks in place helping to pre- vent erosiorL The plants also provide habitat for macroinvertebrates and other organisms, such as fish, during floods. Riparian vegetation, such as trees and shrubs also influence the amount of sunlight and heat reach- ing the stream channel. If a stream has no trees or shrubs to shade the water, temperatures would become too high for most macroinvertebrates to survive. Too much shade would block all sunlight, preventing any algae or aquatic plants to grow in the stream. The amount of shading provided by the trees and shrubs in the riparian zone help to provide the correa amount of heat and light to the stream for the existence of macroinvertebrates, fish and plants. /■--^ upuna ^z^..,,^^ >Q ^J&W^ J^r«Ai ' Slraimslil* Cover . . vS^ ^^/\4J U^ Emecgeni Vegetiilon ^^^Fiooopiain Figure 2. Diagram of stream habitats. Stream bottoms In Illinois, the substate, or bottom, of all stream reaches is either rocky or soft The bottom along a soft bottom reach is composed of sand, soft mud, or a mixture of both. The bottom of a rocky bot- tom reach consists of rocks or gravel. The habitat assessment procedures of both Illinois RiverWatch Network monitoring programs are designed for either rocky bottom or soft bottom reaches. A rocky bottom reach is composed of three different but interrelated habitats known as rifDes, pools, and runs. Riffles are areas of turbulent water created by shallow water passing through or over stones or gravel of faiiiy uniform size. Riffles arc excellent places to collect macroinvertebrates. The gravel and rocks of a riffle create nooks and crannies that macroinvertebrates can cling to. crawl under, and hide behind. Stones in sunlit areas of a riffle are often covered with algae and mosses on which certain stream organisms feed. Leaves and other plant material drifting in the stream current also provide food for some macroinvertebrates in riffle areas. As water tumbles over rocks and gravel in a riffle, oxygen from the air is mixed with it. providing the high levels of dissolved oxygen needed by many benthic macroinvertebrates. Runs arc stretches of quieter water commonly found between riffles and pools in larger streams and rivers. Runs have a moderate current and are slightly deeper than riffles. Pools are found both upstream and downstream from riffles. Pools are deeper parts of the stream with relatively slower-moving water. Water in pools differs from the water in other stretches of a river in its chemistry, depth, and speed of current Pools arc catch basins of organic materials. As the current enters a pool it slows down; as it no longer has the energy to cany it, the heavier part of its load of sediment drops to the bottom. Pools usually have larger organisms living in them that have adapted to these different habitats. Crayfish for example feed on the organic matter that collects in the bottoms of pools. As noted, riffles, nms. and pools arc interrclated habitats. The waters of a pool arc affected by what occurs in upstream riffles, and the waters of the riffles are affected by upstream pools. Al- though pools, runs, and riffles are more or less distinct cnvirotunents. many oi^ganisms inhabit all of them. (Fish, for example, can move among all three.) Some animals of the riffles are carried by the current to downstream pools and/or runs. Many organisms of rocky bottom reaches find food in the riffles of a stream but take shelter in its pools. Pool ^"" Riffle ■flHHi Figure 3. Illustration of a rocky bottom reach of a stream. RifQe-nin-pool habitats do not exist in soft bottom reaches. Some macroinvertebrates in soft bot- tom reaches burrow into the sediment of the stream. (Midge larvae and wonns do this, for example). Others live in or on submei:ged and floating logs, submerged roots, vegetation, rip rap along the shore line, or in any leaf or organic debris. Figure 4. Illustration of a soft bottom reach of a stream. SECTION ONE: THE ILLINOIS RIVERWATCH NETWORK Chapter III Getting Started ^ If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do and how to do iL — AbrahamLincoln, 1858 All Citizen Scientist and RiverWatcher groups will be assigned a numbered monitoring site by g the Illinois RiverWatch Network Regional Coordinator. This site will be accessible by a bridge. In addition to convenience of access, IRWN sites are chosen to ensure that no single site is over- sampled and that monitoring will not disturb habitat that is critical to endangered species. ^ If the volimteer group prefers to monitor a site of its own choosing, inform ythe Regional Coordinator or the IRWN Program Coordinator. Your preferred site will be included in the program. ^ DetBminIng the legal description of the monitoring site An accurate legal description of the study site must be determined and entered on the data sheets provided to record information collected in the field. When the volunteer monitoring data is submit- ted to the Illinois RiverWatch Network, this information will be used to make a permanent record of where the data was obtained. The site's legal description should also be recorded in a permanent place where it can be found easily, such as in the volunteer field book or on the cover of your manual. Tthe legal description of the study site will be determined only once. Here's how: Find the stream's name as designated by the US. Geological Survey. The stream names used by the uses should be used for all Illinois RiverWatch Netwoti: activities. Stream names shown on county road maps are often inaccurate and should not be relied upon. Learn which USGS map includes the location of the stream reach you wish to monitor. USGS topographic maps are highly detailed. Both IS-minute and 7 1/2-minute maps are available. The USGS's 7 1/2-rainute "topo" map , for example, shows terrain at a scale of 1:24,000. The Index of Topographic Maps of Illinois divides the state into quadrangles, or "quads , based upon map scale. The smallest squares on the index map indicate the 7 1/2-minute quadrangle maps. The 7 1/2-minute quads arc identified by the name of a city, town, or some prominent natural feature within it Use the index m^ to find the 71/2-minute quad in which your monitoring site is located. Order the map needed. Call or write the Illinois Geological Survey at Natural Resources Build- ing, 615 E. Peabody, Champaign, IL 61820 (217/333-4747; fax 217/333-2830). When ordering, be sure to indicate the name of the map, and that it should be a 7 1/2-minute map. As of 1993. all 7 1/2-minute quad maps cost $3.00 each. Determine the township, range, and section number of the one-sguare-mile block containing your site. First locate the smdy site on the 7 1/2-minute quad map. Note that each 7 1/2-minutc topographic quadrangle map represents an area of 36 square miles, divided into townships and sections, the latter being squares one square mile in area. Each square-mile block is designated by a township number, a range number, and its own section number. Townships are measured north-south; ranges are measured east-west To find the township and range of the block on which the site is located, look to the edges of the m^. The township numbers are printed in red on the sides of the map, and range numbers are printed in red along the top and bottom of a 7 1/2-minute map. Section numbers are printed in red and are located in the middle of each square-mile block. Determine the quarter section of your site. After you have determined the township, range, and section number of the square-mile block containing the study site, outline that block with a pencil or pen. Now divide that block into a northwest quarter (NW). a northeast quarter (NE). a southwest quarter (SW), and a southeast quarter (SE). E>etermine which quarter contains the the site and include this quarter section in the legal description of the study site. (See the example below). Record the legal description of your study site. The legal description of the study site will need to be recorded in two places. Place this information where it can easily be found, such as on the inside cover of the manual or field book. Write down the quarter section of the block first, followed by the block's section number and the range and township numbers (see the figure below for an example). The legal description of the study site will also be listed in the Illinois RiverWatch Site Identification Database. To add the study site to the Illinois RiverWatch Site Identification Database, simply fill out the Site Identification Sheet found in Appendix H Data Sheets. Mail the completed Site Identification Sheet to the Illinois RiverWatch Citizen Scientist Stream Monitoring Program Quality Assurance Officer (Forbes Biological Research Station, 175(X) E CR 1950 N, P.O. Box 590, Havana, IL 62644, 309-543-3950). Citizen Scientist Level stream monitoring data will only be accepted from study sites which have been listed in the Site Identification Database. Figure 5. How to detemine the legal description of your sample site. The above diagram is only part of a US.G.S. topographic map. Notice that Section # 25 has been outlined and divided into 4 equal parts. A hypothetical sample site is circled on the map. The range and township numbers are found on the edges of the map in red ink. The legal description of this site is SW J/4 of Section 25. Range 8 West (R.8W.) and Township 20 North (T.20N.). What the Group Leader must do Each group of IRWN volunteers must appoint a leader who will be responsible for filling out, stor- ing, and handling all monitoring paperwork, such as maps and field data sheets. The Group Leader must also: • Obtain permission from land owners (public or private) before the group enters property. • Follow your organization's procedures for waiver of liability. Adults and parents of minor children should sign liability waiver forms before imdertaking any monitoring activities. • Receive official Illinois RiverWatch Network training and become familiar with the field data sheets before beginning any monitoring activities. • Verify all dau collected by the group before it is entered into the database, or before it is turned in to a regional coordinator. Collection Permits and the Collection of Crayfish and Freshwater Mussels The Illinois Department of Natural Resources does not require Illinois RiverWatch Network volun- a teers to obtain collection pennits for the collection of stream macroinvertebrates. It is very impor- ;. tant however to stress to your group that they are not to collect or kill any crayfish or freshwater mussels. If your group does happen to collea crayfish or fi^shwater mussels during their monitor- ing exercises, simply indicate this on the Subsampling Data Sheet, and then place the organisms back into the stream. If you, or anyone in your group is able to identify the crayfish or freshwater mussel by common or scientific name, we would like to have this information also. Equipment you will need Before you leave for your monitoring site, make certain you have the equipment you will need. It includes: Reference maps (e.g., state road maps and coimiy m:^) indicating general infonnation pertinent to the monitoring area, including nearby roads 5^ Tape measure or rope at least 50 feet long and marked off in 1/10 foot lengths (Engineering rule) o Thermometer. A thermometer that measures temperature on the (Zelsius scale is preferable, ^ but a Fahrenheit thermometer is acceptable. Stopwatch or a any watch with a second hand g Small float (preferably made of some biodegradable material such as cork) to measure velocity. A small orange will also work. Walking stick of known length. Useful for balance, probing, and measuring (dip net can also be used as a walking stick) Boots or waders; tow line and life jackets. Be sure that chest waders have a belt White tray marked with a grid of squares of known area (such as 5 centimeters by 5 centimeters) to use in subsampling. A photographic developing tray works well. Ice-cube tray. (For use by RiverWatcher volunteers only.) Jar of 70 % alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol Bottle of soda water. (Do not use carbonated mineral water or other beverage.) Several small jars with bds (such as baby food jars) for storage of macroinvertebrates Pencils Sampling labels (small slips of paper of at least 1 inch by 2 inches in size, and some tape) 3-gallon bucket (a 5-gallon bucket is also acceptable) Hand lens or magnifying glass Tweezers or forceps (entomology or soft touch forceps work well) Fine-mesh (0.5 millimeter) D-frame or triangular dip net with a ft-ame at least 12 inches wide IRWN Stream Monitoring Manual Field data sheets, photocopied from the IRWN manual (see Appendix H) Rubber gloves, to protect against contamination Camera and film to document specific conditions Calculator Insect repellent, sun screen, sun glasses, and a hat Compass WhisUe Towel, a blanket, and a dry change of clothing suitable for the season, in a waterproof bag Fire starter (candle and a cheap lighter) Small first aid kit, flashlight, and extra batteries Water for drinking Wash and soap for washing hands Water bottle (a clean dishwashing soap bottle) See Appendix Gfor a list of suppliers of biological equipment. 11 Advance observation of the site It is always best to observe the study site at least one week prior to sampling. This will enable identification of the best sampling areas in advance, which will save time during sampling later. Chapters V and VIII explain how to determine the best sampling areas for the two IRWN monitoring programs. Safyty procedures Personal safety is one of IRWN's highest concerns. Doing field sampling of any kind requires that certain precautions be observed. • Before leaving for your site, let someone know where you are going and when you will be expected back. • Always work in groups, or with partners. • Please don't put yourself in danger by attempting to collect information alone. Reschedule for a time when other volunteers arc available. • Do not collect under difiicult conditions. Collecting samples at certain locations under certain conditions can be testing. Make allowances for your own physical limitations. Do not walk on unstable banks. Be careful when stepping on rocks and wood, as they may be slippery when wet. Bring along or find a suitable walking stick for balance while climbing down steep banks or wading. • Do not attempt to cross streams that are swift and above the knee in depth. A stream bed can be very slippery and dangerous in places. • Do not cross private property without the landowner's permission. Use public access points (e.g., city or state roads and parks) to approach a monitoring site. • Bring fresh water to drink. • Be careful to dismrb streamside vegetation as little as possible. Watch out for poison ivy, which commonly grows on stream banks. • Wash hands with soap and potable water at the end of the monitoring exercise, and before eating. • Shoes must be worn rather than sandals or opened-toed shoes. If chest waders are worn, they must be secured at the waist with a belt. • Wear life vests Data management and quality assurance It is important that the data sheets are complete and in a standardized form. Always use the data sheets provided by IRWN to record data during your sampling. Keep the data sheets provided with this manual (see Appendix H) as originals, and make copies to use in the field. If data sheets or analysis procedures are updated, new data sheets will be sent to you or your Group Leader. Use this manual to store all instnictions, data sheets, and other information gained from your monitoring experiences. Site identification information must be complete on all sheets. Site identification blocks are found in the upper right hand comer of the data sheets. • Site identification number Date on which sampling, assessment, or macroinvertebrate identification was performed • Stream name. Enter the name as it appears on your USGS topo m:^. • County You may make mistakes while entering information on the data sheets. Also, your Group Leader may find a mistake during data verification, such as a mathematical error. If mistakes are made, place one line through the error, initialize the error, and then write the correct value next to the error. Do not make large cross-out marks or otherwise try to hide the error. The original entry must be known for verification purposes. The Group Leader should make a note on the data sheet as to why the correction was made. (Examples include "mathematical error" or "miscount of individuals.") Make copies of all your data sheets, and send the original data sheets to your Regional Coordina- tor. Any questions that arise later about the reported data will be easier to address if the Group Leader keeps a copy of the data. Your Regional Coordinator will make sure that the information is accurate and complete before sending it on to the Quahty Assurance Officer. Where to find help If problems arise, or you have questions concerning any aspect of monitoring woric, please call your Illinois RiverWatch Coordinator or the Quality Assurance Officer for the Citizen Scientist Stream Monitoring Program. Illinois RiverWatch Network Coordinator Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Energy and Environmental Assessment (217)785-5409 Citizen Scientist Stream Monitoring Program Quality Assurance Officer Illinois Natural History Survey Forbes Biological Research Station (309)543-3950 Write in the space below the names, addresses, and phone numbers of your Regiotud Coordinator and other people important for your area: 13 SECTION TWO: THE CITIZEN SaENTIST STREAM MONITORING PROGRAM Chapter IV How to Conduct an Annual Habitat Assessment The children must be drawn towards and not away from the woods and fields and waters and must be led to see more clearly that...a man cut off from frUowship with the creatures of the open air is like a tree deprived of all its lateral roots and trimmed to a single branch. He may grow down and up, but he cannot grow out —StephenA.Forbes,1891 The fonnal procedures for collecting annual stream trend data under IRWN's Qtizen Scientist Stream Monitoring Program arc given in the next two chapters. These procedures were developed to be carried out by Citizen Scientists once a year during an eight-week period from May to June. The same stream site is to be sampled during the same eight-week period each year by the same Gtizen Scientists group. A Citizen Scientist habitat assessment notes the physical and chemical characteristics of a stream system that affea the stream ecosystem, and thus its biotic (or living) coinmunity. Some of these characteristics are "natural" to the waterehed system of which the stream is a part; others are "cul- tural" and reflect human use of the stream. This habitat assessment complements the annual benthic macroinvertebrate assessment described in Chapter V. Assessing your site What you will need 1 . Citizen Scientist Level Site Sketch Sheet, Habitat Assessment Sheet and Habitat Parameter Sheet 2. Clip Board and pencil/pen 3. Graduate 50-foot length of rope, or a measuring tape in Engineering rule (A measuring tape marked off in tenths of a foot) 4. A watch with a second hand, or a stopwatch 5 . An orange or some other similar, biodegradable object 6. Thermometer 7. Empty jar Marking off the site If the site is located by a bridge, measure 100 feet upstream from the bridge. If for some reason a sample cannot be taken upstream (for example, no safe access or no owner permission), then measure 100 feet downstream from the bridge. Be sure to indicate this on the Habitat Assessment Sheet The mapping of the sample area will start at this point If the site is in an area of public ownership, such as a state park or forest preserve, and there are no physical obstructions nearby (such as bridges or dams), map the site beginning at the location assigned. Use the following instructions in either case. Note: If you question the condition of the stream site, contact the Regional Coordinator, die IRWN Quality Control Officer, or the IRWN Coordinator. Making a Site Sketch By drawing a map of the study site, the volunteer will become familiar with the terrain and stream features and provide a record of conditions in the habitat • Using a 50-foot length of string or twine or a tape meastirc. measure four 50-foot lengths along either side of the stream upstream from the starting point for a total of 200 feet This marks a study reach that will be the focus of the sampling activities. • Make a sketch of the study site on the Site Sketch sheet Draw the sketch to appear as if the observation point is from above (See Figure 6 for example). Use a compass or topo map to determine which direction is North and note it on the sheet • Note with an arrow the direction the water is moving. Note on the sketch the location of rifQes, runs, pools, ditches, wetlands, dams, rip rap, tributaries, landscape features, vegeution. and roads. Include important feamres outside the 200-foot study site, but note that they arc outside the reach. • Take a photo of the 200-foot study site to provide additional information for later uses. This photo also can be compared to future photos taicen of the same site to illustrate any significant changes that may occur since the first visit Site ID: lA-/.-7^-/ Date: /^-^-^^ Stream: K*W»/> Ct*.t.k County: ru.)4o^ Cs . Illinois RiverWatch Networic - Citizen Stream Monitoring Program Site Sketch Sketch «n aerial view of the 200 foot study reach. Be sure to mark North and the direction of stream flow. Note features such as riffles, runs, pools, ditches, wetlands, dams, riprap, tributaries, landscape features, vegetation, and roads. Indicate habitat assessment and macroinvertebrate collection locations. Record notes and observations below sketch or on back. J?W!^rtc-uX>^ ^^/r:"::^^^^ ymmy^'7~7m?imr7(vnf =^=:^ — I I Figure 6. An example of Site Sketch sheet. Filling out the Site Identification and Habitat Assessment Data Sheet Enter the following information on the Site Identification and Habitat Assessment Data Sheet Site ID (enter the IRWN site number) Date Stream (enter the name as it appears on your USGS topo map) County ^ Group name and team members Stan Time/End Tune (measured ftom time all work on site is completed) o J* Present weather/Weather in past 48 hours. If conditions were mixed over the past 48 hours (e.g., storaiy two days ago, and clear/sunny one day ago) select the weather condition that describes the worst recent weather. Water Appearance is a physical indicator of water pollution. Select the term or terms that best describe the physical appearance of the water in the stream. Please note that the stream bottom can alter the apparent color of the water. To avoid this, put stream water in a white tray or bucket, or fill a clear bottle and place a white sheet of paper behind the bottle. Then check all of the following that ^jply. Clear — colorless, transparent ^ l\irbid — cloudy brown due to silt or organic material suspended in the water. ;a Milky — cloudy-white or gray; not transparent May be natural or due to pollution, jj Foamy — caused by both nature or pollution from excessive nutrients or detergents. Dark Brown — may indicate that acids are being released into the stream due to decaying '^ plants. This occurs naturally in the fall of the year. Oily Sheen — a multicolored reflection in the surface of the water. Can occur naturally, or it may indicate oil floating in the stream. Reddish — may indicate acids draining into the water. Green — may indicate excess nutrients being released into the stream. Other — any other observation regarding water color not described above. Water Odor also is a physical indicator of water pollution. None — indicates good water quality. Sewage — may indicate the release of human waste material. (See note below.) Chlorine — may indicate that a sewage treatment plant is over-chlorinating its efQuent Fish — may indicate the presence of excessive algal growth or dead fish. Rotten Eggs — a sulfurous smell that may indicate sewage pollution, as hydrogen sulfide gas is a produa of sewage decomposition. (See note below.) Petroleum — may indicate an oil spill from marine or terrcsoial sources. Other Note: If you smell sewage or rotten eggs, please do not enter the water. Notify the nearest Illinois RiverWatch Network Regional Field Office. Temperature limits biological activity in streams because many aquadc oi]ganisms need water of specific temperatures (for example, to breed). Also, since cold water holds more dissolved oxygen than warm water does, temperature directly affects the amount of oxygen available to these oi]ganisms. Measure water temperature by submerging a thermometer for at least two minutes in a stream run. Measure air temperature by holding a thermometer in the air for about two minutes. Temperatures may be recorded in either Fahrenheit ("F) or centigrade or Celsius (°C). If your thermometer reads both, please indicate temperature in °C. Algal Growth. Algae are both an important food source and a habitat for many organisms. How- ever, excessive algal growth is an indicator of possible nutrient problems. Estimate the percentage of the stream bottom covered by algae. 16 Submerged Aquatic Plants. Arc therc rooted, vascular plants present underneath the water's surface? Riparian (streamside) Vegetation. Identify the riparian vegetation by name. If you do not know 3 the specific names of the plants that you see, describe them generically as "ferns" or "small bushes" g or "grasses," etc. ^ Canopy Cover. Estimate the percentage of the 200-foot study reach that is prcsendy shaded by ^ trees and shrubs. Bottom Substrate is the material in and on the stream bottom that macroinveitebrates attach to, *^ feed ftom, or crawl oa Estimate the percentage of each of the several kinds of substrate materials described below that make up the stream bottom in the study reach. Bedrock Boulder (any rock larger than 10 inches in diameter) Cobble (2 J- 10 inches) Gravel (0.1-2.5 inches) «* Sand (smaller than 0. 1 inches) o Silt 1^ Other (includes organic debris such as logs, sticks, and leaves) Stream Discharge Estimate, lb estimate the volume of water flowing through the stream at a particular point, measure the width, depth, and water velocity in the center of the stream site. Within the 200-foot study reach, find a stretch of stream with a relatively smooth bottom and where the water flows unifomily. (A rim works best if one is present). Measure stream width with string or tape measure. Mark this spot by either tying the string across the stream, or by placing sticks on opposite banks to indicate the points between which the width was measured. (Estimates of stream discharge wiU be measured from this line later.) Be sure to indicate on the site sketch where the width measurement was taken. The width of streams that are too deep or too wide to measure directly may be estimated by measuring from the bridge. If the stream's width must be estimated, indicate on the data sheet that the width measurement was estimated rather than measured directly. Measure stream depth in the same arca that stream width was measured. Measure stream depth at three evenly spaced siwts across the stream. Total the three depth values and divide by three to deteimine the average depth in feet The velocity calculation requires the following steps. 1 . Mark off spots five feet upstream and five feet downstream from the spots where stream depth was measured. 2. Measure the time it takes a stick, leaf, orange, or odier biodegradable object to float the 10-foot distance from the upstream marked spot to the downstream one. 3. Record the time in seconds in the appropriate space on the field data sheet 4. Determine the water velocity in feet per second by dividing 10 feet by the time measured (in seconds). 5. Repeat steps 2-4 for the two remaining spots across the stream. 6. Total the three velocities and divide by three to deteraiine the average velocity in feet per second. (For example: If it took an orange 23 seconds to travel from your partner to you, divide 10 feet by 23 seconds, which is 0.43 feet per second). Dischaige is a measurement of the amount, or volume, of water flowing past a point lb calculate stream dischaige, multiply the average stream depth (feet) by stream width (feet) by average velocity (feet/seconds), using the foraiula on die data sheet Record the result in units of cubic feet per second (feet-'/second). Space for these calculations are provided on your Site Identification and Habitat Assessment Sheet Watershed Features. Record all land uses observed in the watershed area upstream and on either side of the study reach as far as you can see. Indicate which land uses are dominant (D) and which afifea only small areas (x). Also note the presence and approximate distance of dams, sewage treat- ment plants, pig farms, etc., upstream from your smdy reach. Channel Alteration. Indicate whether or not the stream segment has been channelized, or straightened. If the monitoring site does show channelization, estimate the portion of the 200-foot section that has been affected. Personal Observations. Enter here any observations that you feel are importaiu to the quality of the habitat of the stream and its environs, including any characteristics not mentioned on the data Filling out the Habitat Parameter Sheet A parameter (from the Greek word for measure) is a measurable aspea of stream habitat Each habitat parameter listed on the Habitat Parameter Sheet has four numbered boxes that may be used to rate what you see. (The parameters are described more fully below.) Select the rating that best fits your observation in each case and record the number in the space marlced "Score." If you feel the actual condition falls somewhere between two descriptions write in an intermediate value. Ibtaling the scores for all the parameters will determine the quality of the stream's habitat, ac- cording to a ratings scale devised for this purpose. Channel morphology and flow characteristics 1 . Embeddedness. Describes how much of the surface area of the larger materials in the channel (boulders, cobbles, and gravel) is covered by sediment Embeddedness indicates how suitable the stream substrate is as habitat for benthic macroinvenebrates and as a site for fish spawning and egg incubation. 2. Substrate Stability. Describes the availability of stable substrates suitable formacroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrates in Illinois' soft bottom streams are most abundant on submerged logs or snags, in undercut banks, or on aquatic vegetation. 3. Instream Cover (availability offish habitat). Describes the relative quantity and variety of natural structures in the stream that are available to fish for hiding, resting, or egg laying. These include fallen trees, logs, boulders, and undercut banks, 4. Pool Substrate Characterization. Describes the type and condition of bottom substrates found in pools. Firmer sediment types (such as gravel or sand) and rooted aquatic plants support a wider variety of oi^anisms than pool substrates dominated by mud or bedrock that has no plants. The wider the variety of substrate types in a pool (including root mats on the banks) the greater the diversity of organisms it can support Stream banks 5. Streambank Vegetative Stability (water's edge to top of bank). An estimate of the ability of the bank to resist erosion, and thus of its potential to cause instream sedimentation. Stream bank soil is generaUy held in place by plam root systems, although protection from erosion may also be provided by boulders, cobbles, or gravel. An estimate of the density of vegetation covering the banks (or its proportion of boulders, cobbles, or gravel) indicates bank stability. 6. Bank Stability. An estimate of the steepness of the stream's banks. Steeper banks are generally more subject to erosion and failure, and may not support stable vegetatiott Erosion also varies with different types of soils. Sandy soils, for example, normally will erode more than clay soils. 7. Riparian Vegetation Zone Width. The width of the natural vegetation found from the edge of the stream bank landward for about 10 feet Healthy riparian vegetation provides a buffer zone that shades the stream, intercepts nutrients and sedimem from adjacent land, and supplies food for the organisms in the stream. Watershed features Land Use (top of bank to 30 yards). Evaluates the degree to which the region surrounding the ^ monitoring site has been disturbed by humans. Disturbed land uses include crop fields, pastures, a barnyards, commercial and residential sites, and levees. Undisturbed land uses include bare rock, g woodland, shrubland, and wetlands. ^ 9. Wafer5/icJ£ro«on. Estimates the amount of erosion fiDm the surrounding land into the stream. ;a Soil erosion can destroy habitat and reduce the potential of the stream to support aquatic life. Such estimates are made by observing watershed and stream characteristics. tso 10. Watershed Nonpoint Source Pollution and Other Compromising Factors. Estimates the s amount of pollution carried into the stream by surface runoff from its watershed. Nonpoint source pollution is defined as difiiise agricultural and urban runoff f mm such sources as feedlots, septic systems, seepage from dams and impoundments, mines, etc. Such runoff can pollute the water with p>esticides, heavy metals, increased nutrients, or bacteria. It can also alter water temperature, and lower levels of dissolved oxygen. s Aesthetics o 1 1 . Aesthetics. A personal estimate of the condition of the stream. Even though a stream may ^ not be capable of supporting higher organisms such as fish, for example, it may have desirable aesthetic qualities that deserve protection. Factors important in this evaluation include: - visual attractiveness land use ^ degree of change in the stream *» recovery potential nauralness of the geologic values historical values diversity of the plants and animals Habitat rating Total Score. Total the ratings scores for all parameters. Compare the total score to the ratings scale to determine if the habitat of the stream is rated as Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor. HablMi Scprg Ranns > 120 Excellent 90-119 Good 60-90 Fair <60 Poor Note: If you cannot complete any pan of the habitat assessment information, please iu3te this on the data sheet and give a relevant reason, e.g., "water too deep", "not enough time", or "the instructions are unclear." If you have any suggestions for improving these procedures, please give them to your Regioiuil Coordinator, the IRWN coordinator, or the Quality Assurance Officer. 19 SECTION TWO: THE CITIZEN SaENTISTSTREAkl MONITORING PROGRAM Chapter V How to Conduct a Citizen Scientist Level Macroinvertebrate Community Assessment o 3 For real company and friendship, there is nothing outside of the animal kingdom that is comparable to a river. — Henry VanDyke The foimal procedures, or protocols, for sampling a stream site to collect biological stream trend data imder IRWN's Citizen Scientist Stream Monitoring Program are given on the following pages. These procedures were developed to be carried out by citizen scientists once a year during an eight- ^ week period from May to June. The same stream sites are to be sampled during the same eight-week period each year by the same Citizen Scientists. ^ The procedures for the collection of macroinvertebrates by Citizen Scientists for the purpose of 3 stream quality assessment were developed through the cooperation of state scientists from the nii- K nois Natural History Survey, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Illinois Department of ;^ Natural Resources. Every effort was made to create a program which would produce scientifically valid volunteer collected information for the sute of Illinois. Therefore it is important that the pro- cedures for the collection and identification of stream macroinvertebrates, as outlined in this manual, be followed with the same amount of attention to detail each time you monitor. This macroinvertebrate conmiunity assessment complements the habitat assessment described in Chapter IV. How to assess a stream's macminvertebrBte community What you will need 1. Dip net 2. Bucket (3 or 5-gallon) 3. Forceps 4. Qtizen Scientist Level Subsampling Data Sheet Before you begin sampling, be sure to determine whether the stream reach is a rocky bottom reach or a soft bottom reach. Each is described in Chapter H. If you are not sure which type of stream reach is present at the monitoring site, or which habitats are available to sample from, ask for help from your IRWN Regional Coordinator, the Illinois RiverWatch Networic Coordinator, or the IRWN Quality Assurance Officer. At each monitoring site, you will sample for macroinvertebrates in the same 200-foot section of the stream. More specifically, you will sample from the two habitats within this smdy reach that contain the highest diversity of macroinvertebrates. These habitats are listed below in order of high- est diversity to lowest diversity: 20 Riffles Most Diverse Habitat Leaf Packs ir Snag areas, submerged logs, tree roots Undercut banks u Sediments Uast Diverse Habitat Which type of habitats you sample thus will depend upon the characteristics of the particular stream segment you arc monitoring. For example, for a rocky bottom reach, a rifQe area with vari- ous leaf packs would offer the best collecting sites. If the stream segment has a soft bottom reach, a fallen tree that offers built-up debris (a snag area) and undercut banks will be the best place to collect Training at Qtizcn Scientist stream monitoring woricshops will provide you with the knowledge to determine which kinds of sites are best for sampling. Also, it is a good idea to observe the stream area at least one week prior to sampling so that the best sampling habitats will already be identified before actual sampling begins. Before collecting macroinveitebrates, observe what types of habitats are available in the 200-foot study site. Select the two most diverse habitats available and indicate the choices by checking the corresponding habitats listed on the Subsampling Data Sheet Next observe what types of macroinvertebrate habitats are present in that 50-foot section. Selea the two most diverse habitats available for sampling and indicate your choices by checking the corre- sponding habitats listed on the Subsampling Data Sheet RifHe sampling 1 . Have one member of the team walk down the center of the rifQe. Compare all of the riffles within your 50-foot section in tenns of speed of water flow and size of rocks. Selea two areas in the riffle — one with the greatest flow speed and the largest rocks (up to 14 inches in diameter) and the other with the slowest flow speed and the smallest rocks. Sample from both of these sites. The rifQe site that is positioned farthest downstream will be sampled first Follow steps 2-6 below for the first riffle site, then repeat the procedures for the remaining riffle site. 2. Fill a plastic 3-gallon bucket s^jproximately one-third full with clean stream water. Fill the wash bottle with clean stream water. Position one volunteer with a dip net on the downstream edge of the riffle. Place the 1 of the net flush on the stream bottom, with the net handle perpendicular to the current of the stream. A second volunteer picks up large rocks within a 1 foot by 1 foot area directly in front of the net and place them in the bucket containing water. 4. With the first volunteer ("netter") still holding the dip net in the riffle, the second volunteer C'kicker") approaches the netter from approximately one foot upstream and drags his or her feet so as to disturb the substrate to a depth of about two inches. As the kicker approaches, the netter sweeps the net in an upward fashion to collect the organisms. This procedure should only take about one to two minutes. 5. Cany the net and bucket to the shoreline. Wash the net out in the bucket and pick off those organisms clinging to the edges of the net and place them in the bucket 6. With your hands, clean the entire surface of the laige rocks in the bucket to remove any clinging macroinvertebrates. Make sure to check each rock for any remaining organisms before going on to the next laige rock. Once a rock has been cleaned thoroughly and checked for remaining organisms, set it aside. Do not toss the rock into the stream. You may disturb the area and upset further sampling. Simply place the rock in the water on the edge of the stream, or place all rocks collected on the shore until sampling is completed. Now sample from the riffle site that is located upstream. After completing steps 2-6 for the second riffle, go on to step 7. 7. Remove any large leaves, sticks, rocks and other debris from the bucket Before setting them aside, examine each item for any macroinvertebrates clinging to their surfaces. 21 Leaf pack sampling Look for larf packs that arc about foizr to six months old. These old leaf packs arc dark brown and slightly decomposed. A handful of leaves is all you need. 1 . Position tiie dip net on the bottom of the stream, immediately downstream from a leaf pack. 2. Gently shake die leaf pack in the water to release some of the organisms, then quickly scoop up the net, capturing both oi]ganisms and the leaf pack in the net 3. Inspect the leaves and other large objects of the leaf pack for organisms before returning them to the stream. These macroinvertebrates are then placed in the bucket containing organisms from the previous sampling efforts. Sampling snag areas, tree roots, and submerged logs Snag areas are accumulations of debris caught or snagged by logs or boulders lodged in the stream current Caddisflies, stoneflies. rifQe beetles, and midges commonly inhabit these areas. 1 . Selea an area on the sruig, tree root, or submerged log which is approximately 3 foot by 3 foot in size. This will be the sampling area for these types of habitat 2. Scrape the surface of the tree roots, logs, or other debris with the net You can also disturb such surfaces by scraping them with your foot or a large stick, or by pulling off some of the bark to get at the organisms hiding undemeath. In all cases, be sure that your net is positioned downstream fiom the snag, so that dislodged material floats toward the net, not away from it 3. Place net contents in the bucket Rinse the net contents with the wash bottle filled with stream water to remove any sediment before placing organisms in the bucket Carefully inspect any leaf litter and organic debris which may have been collected for organisms. 4. Spend IS minutes inspecting the chosen sampling area for any organisms not collected previously. Using your hands or forceps, remove any organisms still clinging to tree roots, logs, or other debris. You may remove a log from the water to better see what may be found, but be sure to put it back where it was found. Sampling undercut banks Undercut banks consist of areas where moving water has cut out areas of vertical or nearly vertical banks, just below the surface of the water. You will find overhanging vegetation and submerged root mats in such areas that harbor many dragonflies, damselflies, and crayfish. 1 . Move the net in a bottom-to-surface modon. jabbing at the bank five times to loosen organisms. 2. Inspea and clean any debris collected and place the collected organisms in the bucket Sampling sediments Selea an area within the study reach that consists of mostly sand and/or mud. These areas can usually be found on the edges of the stream, where the water flows more slowly. 1 . A netter stands downstream of the sediment area with the dip net resting on the bottom. A kicker disturbs the sediment to a depth of about two inches as he or she approaches the net 2. The netter sweeps the net upward to collect the organisms as the kicker approaches. 3. Wash out the sediment from the net by gently moving the net back and forth in the water of the stream, keeping the opening of the net at least an inch or two above the surface of the water 4. Place the organisms captured by the net in the bucket SECTION TWO: THE CITIZEN SCIENTIST STREAM UONITORINQ PROGRAM Chapter VI How to Interpret Annual Stream « Monitoring Data The acid test of our understanding is not whether we can pick ecosystems to bits and pieces on paper, however scientifically, but whether we can put them together in practice and make them work. —A.D.Bradshaw,1983 SubsampUng pmcedums What you will need 1. Citizen Scientist Subsampling Data Sheet ;s 2. Clip Board and pencil/pen 3. White, gridded subsampling pan s 4. Forceps 5. Ice water 6. Bucket with collected organisms 7. Two jars containing alcohol (70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol) 8. Wash bottle filled with stream water there will be many organisms collected from the sampling efforts. Counting and identifying them is easier if a random subsample of a least 100 organisms is removed from the total sample collected. Please note that if fewer than 100 organisms are collected from the study site, there is no need to prepare a subsample. Simply indicate on the Macroinvertebrate Data Sheet that subsampling was not performed because fewer than 100 organisms were collected. If more than 100 organisms are collected, do the following: 1 . Transfer the organisms from the bucket to the gridded pan. To do this, pour the bucket's contents through the dip net Then wash the organisms out of the net into the pan using the wash bottle. Remove any clinging organisms from the net and place them in the pan as well. 2. Add clean stream water to the pan until it is one inch deep. (Measure to the first joint of your index finger). 3. Place the pan on an even surface, preferably one that you can sit next to. (You can place the pan on an upturned bucket, for example, and sit on another upmmed bucket beside it) The availability of a level surface will vary with the sample site, so use your imagination. 4. Gently rock the subsampling pan to evenly distribute organisms across the bottom. Tiy to avoid "clumps" of organisms in the comers of the pan. 5. Selea a numbered square and begin removing organisms lying within that square, counting them as they are removed. Any organism that straddles a line separating two squares is considered to be in the square that contains its head. In the case of organisms whose head is impossible to locate (such as worms), consider the organism to be in the square that contains the largest portion of its body. 23 6. Place oi]gamsms collected from the seleaed numbered square in a jar or pan containing 70% alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol. Continue until all oiganisms have been removed from the selected square. Record the total number on the Subsampling Data Sheet Note: Place all blood worms collected in a separate jar containing alcohol This will make it easier to identify and count these organisms later since the alcohol causes these oi:ganisms to loose their identifying blood red color. Be sure to label the sample containers with the data, sample site i.d. number, and number of organisms in each jar. this infonnation will be needed later. 7. Select a second numbered square and remove and count the organisms within it, using the above procedures. Qear as many squares as are needed to provide at least 100 organisms. Record the square numbers and the number of organisms picked from each on the data sheet, as you did for the first square. After removing 100 oiganisms, continue to remove oi:ganisms from within the last square until it is empty. 8. Look through the oiganisms remaining in the pan for any type of organism that was not collected as part of the subsample. You should collea only one organism of each uncollected type you find. If any additional types are found, indicate on the Subsampling Data Sheet which oi;ganisms were collected after Step 6 of the subsampling was completed. If you are not sure what type of oiganisms they are, at least indicate how many types were collected after subsampling. 9. Discard any organisms remaining in the pan by draining the contents of the pan through the net onto the ground. Place the discarded oiganisms in another large container containing stream water. Now return these organisms to the stream. 10. If you picked oiianisms from four squares on your tray to obtain the 100 organisms needed for your subsample, the density per square is calculated like this: 100 organisms divided by 4 squares equals 25 organisms per square. To find the density of the whole sample, the number of organisms per square is multiplied by the nimiber of squares in the tray. For example, if the above sample tray had 12 squares, its projected organism density per sample would equal 25 organisms per square multiplied by 12 squares equals 300 oiganisms per tray. The equations used to make this calculation are provided on the Subsampling Data Sheet At the bottom of the Subsampling Data Sheet, indicate if any freshwater mussels were found, fingernail clams, zebra mussels, or Asiatic clams in your stream. If less than 100 organisms were collected: 1 . Transfer the oiganisms from the bucket to the gridded pan. To do this, pour the bucket's contents through the dip net Then wash the oi]ganisms out of the net into the pan using the wash bottle. Remove any clinging oiganisms from the net and place them in the pan as well. 2. Add some clean stream water to the pan until it is one inch deep. (Measure to the first joint of the index finger). 3. Place the pan on an even surface, preferably one you can sit next to the pan on. (You can place the pan on an upturned bucket for example, and sit on another upturned bucket beside it). The availability of a level surface will vary with the sample site, so use some imagination. Select all of the blood worms, or red chironomid larvae, and place them in a separate container. Blood worms are difficult to identify once they are preserved in alcohol because they loose ^ their blood red color. Keeping them separate from the remaining sample will help you identify a and count these important indicator organisms. Be sure to count the number of blood worms ;. picked from the sample. Label the container with the date, sample site i.d. number, and the number of blood worms colleaed. This information will be needed later. 5. Place all of the macroinvertebrates in the other jar containing alcohol. NOTE: Be sure to remove all crayfish, mussels or clams from the sample before placing in alco- hol! If crayfish, mussels or clams are foimd at the study site, be sure to indicate what and how many were collected on the Subsample Dau Sheet Metrics Many of the macroinvertebrates will be identified to the appropriate taxonomic family. This should ^ be done in a laboratory setting, either in your classroom or meeting place or in a laboratory provided o by your regional coordinator. ;^ If you are not familiar with macroinvertebrate identification procedures, attend an Illinois RiverWatch Network workshop after you have completed your collection. If you have already at- g tended such a workshop, the key contained in Appendix C in the back of this manual will be usefiil as a refresher on the topic. The Macroinvertebrate Data Sheet wiU provide information about the types of collected macroin- vertebrates (specifically, the various taxa to which they belong) and their numbers. This information will be used to calculate various metrics that can be used to measure the characteristics of streams. The metrics used to assess stream integrity in Illinois by the Citizen Stream Monitoring Program are defined below. Taxa richness measures the abundance of different types of organisms present in a stream site, as determined by the total nimiber of taxa represented. Generally, community richness increases as wa- ter quality, habitat diversity, and habitat suitability increase. However, some pristine headwater streams naturally harbor few taxa, while the number of taxa can actually increase in polluted streams. Community density estimates the total number of organisms collected from the number of organ- isms in a subsample of fewer than 100 organisms. This metric thus indicates the community density of your sample site. Nutrient-enriched water has a high density of organisms. Both toxic chemicals and physical pol- lutants such as silt or sand usually decrease the density of organisms in a stream. Tolerance taxonomic groups are the basis of biotic indices used to describe water quality. Biotic indices use scores based on the pollution tolerances of each taxon present in a given body of water. These in turn are averaged by the abundance of organisms within each of these tolerance groups. In general, lower biotic index scores indicate better water quality. 25 Assessment is made of the presence or absence of tolerance groups by the Macroinvertebrate Biotic Index score and/or by the percent composition of taxa in a stream. The Macroinvertebrate Biotic Index (MBI) was developed by the Illinois EPA to detect organic pollution (such as sewage problems). The MBI summarizes with a single number the various tolerances of the benthic macroinvertebrate a community. These tolerance values arc used in the calculation of the index. MBI values reflect stream quality as follows: 1 . Less than 6.0 = good water quality 2. 6.0 to 7.5 = fair water quality 3. 7.6 to 8.9 = poor water quality ^ 4. Greater than or equal to 9.0 = very poor water quality Stream impairment is also reflected in the percent composition (%C) of the various taxa in the macroinvertebrate community. Streams whose macroinvertebrate communities have high percentages of mayflies and stoneflies are considered to be in good health. Streams that harbor a high percentage of midge larvae and aquatic worms are considered to be in poor health, since these organisms are tolerant to some types of pollution that reduce dissolved oxygen levels. FHIing out the MacminvertBbrate Data Sheet Use the Macroinvertebrate Data Sheet to identify the organisms that are collected. Be sure to provide all information that is requested on all forms, lb begin, enter the site identification information, date, and names of volunteers involved in * the collection in the spaces provided at the top of the data sheet If the person who is going to identify the organisms did not also collect the organisms, write this person's name last, then add the letter "I" in parentheses. (Example: John Smith G)) There is also space in which to indicate which type of habitats you collected from in the study reach. Whet you will need 1 . Qtizen Scientist Macroinvertebrate Data Sheet 2. Stereoscope, or dissecting microscope (best to use a scope with magnification range of at least lOX- SOX 3. Pencil/pen 4. Petri dish 5. Macroinvertebrate sample from the assessment 6. Forceps 7. Illinois RiverWatch Macroinvertebrate Key (or some other aquatic insect identification key) 8. Boole of alcohol 9. Calculator 10. Extra jars 11. Sample Labels 26 Identifying the organisms The data sheet provides blocks of fill-in boxes showing common names and taxon names for all of the possible macroinvertebrate taxa found in Illinois streams. It is in these boxes that the number of oi:ganisms within each taxon collected is recorded. It is not expected that volunteers will have found organisms from each taxon listed on the data sheet Mark only those taxa identified from the sample. Also, the taxa listed on the Macroinvertebrate Data Sheet arc not all of the types of organisms that will be collected. Only indicator organisms are counted to assess stream quality. If macroinverte- brates which arc not listed on the data sheet are collected, write the name of the macroinvertebrate. and how many were collected in the section labeled "NOTE:". To identify organisms by taxa. first separate them by general appearance. Then identify the taxa to which they belong with the help of an identification key. Appendix C contains a simple key. A list of more complex identification keys is provided in Appendix F. If in doubt, always check the identification of an organism by asking for help or by identifying it by use of another key. Count the number of organisms identified from each taxon and place this number next to it in the column marked "No. of Organisms (n)." Labeling the collection Once the macroinvenebrates in the sample have been identified and counted, they will need to be placed in a properly labeled container. The label should be written in permanent, non-alcohol soluable ink (several pens can be bought from biological suppliers, see Appendix G, or at a local art supply store), and taped to the outside of the jar. The size of the label will be determined largely by the size of the jar. but overall, it should be no smaller than 1 inch by 2 inches. Regardless of the size, all labels should contain the following information: DATE SITE ID STREAM NAME COUNTY LOCATION NAME Ob IDENTlhlHR An example label is given below for reference: July 5, 1995 #43652 "~^ Kerton Creek Fulton Co. 0.5 mi. west of SR 100 on CR1200E D. Stoeckel _• Calculating the biotic indices Once you have identified and counted all of the organisms, you are ready to calculate the values necessary to assess the site's biological integrity. To do this: 1 . Multiply the number of oiganisms identified from each taxon by its tolerance rating. The 'Tolerance Rating (ti)" is printed on the data sheet in the column next to "No. of Organisms (n)." Enter the resulting number in the last column tided 'Tolerance Value (tv)." 2. Add the numbers in all of the columns in each of the three numbered data blocks. Enter the sums from each column in the bottom row of each block in the spaces maiked "SUBTOTALS." 3. Enter the subtotals from data blocks 1. 2, and 3 in the SUBTOTAL BLOCK. Now add up each column and place the result in the very last row of boxes marked Totals. You should now have numbers representing the total number of taxa CTTaxa"), the total number of organisms ("ZN'*). and <^ the total tolerance value CT(tv)"). (The Greek letter I (sigma) is the symbol for "total.") a Calculate the biotic indices, as follows: a Macroinvertebrate Biotic Index ("MB!"): Divide the total tolerance value by the total number of oi:ganisms. as follows: MBI = Z (IV) 4- ZN "Tsa.i Richness" is the total number of taxa identified: I Taxa "Community Density" is the total number of organisms collected or subsampled. Enter the total . number of oiganism from the sample. (IN)- ZN "Percent Composition" reflects which organisms were most prominent in the stream. To calculate it, enter in column "(n)" the number of organisms collected from each taxon listed in 3 the column titled 'Taxon.* oq Divide the "No. of Organisms (n)" in each taxon by the community density ("ZN") and multiply by 1(X) to obtain the percent composition. ^ (n) + ZN X 100 = %C & a *^ In the space at the bonom of the Macroinvertebrate Data Sheet, record the volunteer monitor's s> observations. For example, note the condition of the organisms, or jot down questions about the identification of a particular taxon. Problems or questions should be directed to the Illinois RiverWatch Network Coordinator, Quality Assurance Officer, or your local Regional Coordinator. Problems and comments 28 SECTION THREE: THE RIVERWATCHER STREAM MONITORING PROGRAM [AJny nation concerned about the quality of life, now and forever, must be concerned about conservation. It will not be merely enough to halt the damage we've done. Our natural heritage must be recovered and restored... s Chapter VII How to Conduct a ;^ RiverWatcher Level Habitat Assessment ^ ^ —VicePresideiU George Bush. 1988 g o The RiverWatcher Stream Monitoring Program is designed for those volunteers who wish to conduct stream monitoring on an easier level than that demanded by the Citizen Scientist Stream Monitoring Program described in Section Two. The RiverWatcher seasonal habitat assessment is: • less detailed; organisms need to be identified only to the level of order, rather than to family; Q • identification of the organisms can be done at the stream site rather than in a laboratory setting. The RiverWatcher program can also be used as a training step for volunteers who would like eventually to advance to the Citizen Scientist level of monitoring expertise. Measuring water quality using macminvertebrates The RiverWatcher assessment of stream quality is based on the macroinvertebrates collected at each sample site. Because they vary in their tolerance of organic water pollution, the number and types of these organisms present at a site indicates overall water quality. In addition to coUecting indicator organisms, volunteers must consider the habitat available within the stream channel. For example, a stream with a very soft, muddy bottom and steep banks may harbor only pollution- tolerant organisms even though its water may be clean, since the stream lacks the habitats needed by pollution-intolerant species, such as riffles and fallen trees. Filling out the Illinois RiverWatcher Stream Monitoring Data Sheet To conduct a RiverWatcher habitat assessment, fill in the Illinois RiverWatcher Stream Monitoring Data Sheet as follows: Site identification Stream (stream name) Type (e.g., rocky bottom or soft bottom) Site # (if this sample site is not used in the Citizen Scientist Stream Monitoring Program, the site will not have a number) Location (for example if you are sampling near a bridge, indicate the road that crosses the stream on that bridge, and your distance upstream or downstream from it) County and Town/City (the latter is the name of the nearest city or town) Date Start Tmie and End Time (the latter is measured fix)m time all work on site is completed) • Participants Group Name 29 Habitat Assessment 1 . Weather Conditions. Note both present conditions and those of the past 48 hours. If conditions were mixed over the past 48 hours (e.g., stormy two days ago. and clear/sunny one day ago) selea the weather condition that describes the worst recent weather. 2. Water appearance is a physical indicator of water pollution. Select the term or terms that best describe the physical appearance of the water in the stream. Please note that the stream bottom can alter the apparent color of the water. To avoid this, put stream water in a white tray or bucket, or fill a clear bottle and place a white sheet of paper behind the bottle. Then check all of the following that apply. Clear — colorless, transparent Ibrbid — cloudy brown due to silt or organic material suspended in the water. Milky — cloudy-white or gray; not transparent May be natural or due to pollution. Foamy — caused by both nature or pollution from excessive nutrients or detergents. Dark Brown — may indicate that acids are being released into the stream due to decaying plants. This occurs naturally in the fall of the year. Oily Sheen — a multicolored reflection in the surface of the water. Can occur namrally, or it may indicate oil floating in the stream. Reddish — may indicate acids draining into the water. Green — may indicate excess nutrients being released into the stream. Other — any other observation regarding water color not described above. Water Odor also is a physical indicator of water pollution. None — indicates good water quality. Sewage — may indicate the release of human waste material. (See note below.) Chlorine — may indicate that a sewage treatment plant is over-chlorinating its efDuent Rsh — may indicate the presence of excessive algal growth or dead fish. Rotten Eggs — a sulfurous smell that may indicate sewage pollution, as hydrogen sulfide gas is a product of sewage decomposition. (See note below.) Petroleum — may indicate an oil spill ftom marine or terrestrial sources. Other Note: If you smell sewage or rotten eggs, please do not enter the water. Notify the nearest Illinois RiverWatch Network Regional Field Office. 4. Temperature limits biological activity in streams because many aquatic organisms need water of specific temperamres (for example, to breed). Also, since cold water holds more dissolved oxy- gen than warm water does, temperature directly affects the amount of oxygen available to these or- ganisms. Measure water temperature by submerging a thermometer for at least two minutes in a stream run. Measure air temperature by holding a thermometer in the air for about two minutes. Temperatures may be recorded in either Fahrenheit (°F) or centigrade (or Celsius, °Q. If your thermometer reads both, please indicate temperature in °C. 5. Algal Growth. Algae are both an important food source and a habitat for many organisms. However, excessive algal growth is an indicator of possible nutrient problems. Estimate the percent- age of the stream bottom covered by algae. 6. Canopy Cover. Estimate the percentage of the 2(X)-foot study reach that is presently shaded by trees and shrubs. 4. The other person will place the orange in the stream, after which you record the time it takes the orange to travel the 10 feet to where you are standing. Divide 10 by the number of elzpscd seconds and place the answer in the space for stream velocity. (For example: If it took an orange 23 seconds to travel to you from your parmer, divide 10 feet by 23 seconds, which is 0.43 feet per second). Enter on Line C. 5 . Compute the Discharge Estimate by multiplying the stream width by its depth and by its velocity (Line A x Line B x Line Q. 9. Land Uses of the Watershed Record all land uses observed in the watershed upstream and on either side of the sample site as far as visible. 10. Personal Observations Enter here any observations that you feel are important to the quality of the habitat of the stream and its environs, including any characteristics not mentioned on the data sheet You may also write comments on the habitat assessment procedures themselves if you feel improvements or adjustments should be made. 7. Bottom Substrate is the material in and on the stream bottom that macroinvenebrates attach to feed from, or crawl on. Estimate the percentage of each of the several kinds of substrate materials "^ described that make up the stream bottom in your study reach. a :: Estimate Stream Discharge. To estimate the volume of water flowing through the stream at a ^ particular point, measure the width, depth, and water velocity in the center of the stream site. Two people are needed for this measurement Wixbin the 200-foot study site, find a stretch of stream with a relatively smooth bottom and where the water flows uniformly. (A run works best if one is present). The width of streams that are too deep or too wide to measure directly may be estimated by mea- suring from the bridge. If you must estimate the stream's width, indicate on the data sheet that the width measurement was estimated rather than measured directly. 1 . Measure stream width from the water's edge on opposing banks. Enter on Line A. 2. With the measuring tape still in place, measure the depth of the water in the center of the stream. Enter on Line B. *^ o Beginning at the same point at which stream depth was measured, measure a distance ^ 5 feet upstream. Another person will stand here with an orange or some other biodegrad able object that floats. Walk S feet down stream from the point of depth measurement g Use a watch with a second hand or a stop watch to record time. 31 SECTION THREE: THE RIVERWATCHER STREAM MONITORINQ PROGRAM Chapter VIII How to Conduct a RiverWatch Level Macroinvertebrate Community Assessment The bundle of sticks crawling about in the water, green worms under stones in the stream, swarms of flies around the lights along river and lake — They are but a few isolated phenomena, however, in a picture of life histories and interrelationships varied in pattern and interesting in detail —Herbert H.Ross Benthic macminvertebtates as pollution indicators Biotic indices use scores based on the pollution tolerances for various groups of organisms, which are averaged by the number of types (or taxa) found within each group. In general, lower biotic in- dex scores indicate better water quality. Four categories of common macroinvertebrate taxa have been selected for use in developing biotic indices for the RiverWatcher Stream Monitoring Program. The pollution tolerances of the various group categories are defined by the relative occurrences of each type of organisms under various water quality conditions. For example, pollution-intolerant organisms will almost never be present in poor quality water. However, in clean water, pollution-tolerant organisms will be represented by only a few individuals, and they are likely to be found only in the slower flowing areas of the stream. Group I: Pollution-intolerant Qean-water macroinvertebrate communities generally cannot tolerate organic pollution (sewage or fertilizers, for example) and (in particular) low levels of dissolved oxygen. These organisms gener- ally compose moderately abundant and diverse taxa. Many different types of organisms are present, but none dominate the conmiunity by their numbers alone. Members of this group generally feed upon fallen leaves and other natural debris that are generated naturally by the stream envirorunent Stoneflies can be found in all types of streams, but they carmot tolerate low dissolved oxygen lev- els or even low levels of pollution; this group will inhabit a stream all year long with the adult stage lasting only about one month. AlderQies and dobsonflies represent some of the largest aquatic in- sects, and can be found in a variety of habitats. (AlderQies are commonly found in clean silt depos- its.) Snipe flies are somewhat more tolerant of pollution than most of Group I organisms, and can be found in the gravel of very clean rifQes. Group n: Moderately pollution-intolerant As the nutrients in streams are eruiched by agricultural fertilizer, municipal sewage, or other sources, the macroinvertebrate community changes. The number of pollution-intolerant forms (Group I organisms) begins to decline as dissolved oxygen levels decrease, and may even disappear. The community may start to rely on food sources outside the natural stream system such as sewage treatment plants; this food is composed of very fine organic matter that many of the organisms filter and scrape from the rocks. If this type of pollution is present in only slight amounts, however, a large number of Group I organisms will still be present in the stream. The macroinvertebraie communities in moderately polluted streams are dominated by caddisflies and mayflies. Mayfly nymphs may be the first group to increase in numbers in response to nutrient "^ enrichment Most mayfly nymphs are more tolerant of lower oxygen levels than Group I organisms, a and caddisflies tend to be even more tolerant. c Other organisms will also be found in a moderately polluted stream, but in fewer numbers com- ,j pared to mayflies and caddisflies. Riffle beetles and the water pennies will be present because algae, which they feed on, increase ^ as nutrients in the water increase. However, both of these beetles require moderate water flow in rifQes and are not tolerant of severe polluted conditions. • Crane fly larvae can be found in a variety of habitats but are commonly found in the bottom gravel of rifQes; like other taxa in this group, crane fly larvae arc not tolerant of severe pollution. • Crayfish generally require an abundant source of oxygen but do tolerant some nutrient pollution. However, crayfish are very sensitive to toxic substances that accumulate in the plants and animals they feed upon. • Dragonfly and damselfly nymphs are usually fo^md along the stream margins, in overhanging vegetation, or in slow-moving or standing water. In a moderately poUuted stream, burrowing dragonflies maybe found in the rifQes where the more pollution-sensitive organises can not o survive. Because they are predators, dragonfly and damselfly nymphs are also susceptible to ;^ toxic substances that accumulate in their prey. • Fingernail clams and mussels will also be found in moderately polluted streams. These g organisms filter organic matter suspended in the water, and thus may be affected by the pollutants associated with such matter. Group ni: Fairly pollution-tolerant This group represents macroinvenebrates that can survive in water with lower dissolved oxygen levels. Fairly pollution-tolerant macroinvertebrates often replace the less tolerant organisms in the stream. For example, black fly larvae will replace caddisfly larvae and the mayfly nymphs, which are less tolerant to pollutants in the rifQes. Some species of the black fly larvae are often quite abun- dant downstream from sewage treatment plants, where large amounts of organic matter is available for their food. Sowbugs and scuds eat decomposing animals and can be extremely abundant in heavily nutrient-enriched streams. Right-handed (gill breathing) snails also feed on decomposing matter and are generally found attached to overhanging vegetation or rocks in moderate to slow cur- rents. Midge larvae feed from a variety of food sources and arc generally tolerant to flucmating pol- lution and dissolved oxygen levels. Two types of midge larvae may be found in this group: the true midges and the biting midges. Group rV: Pollution-tolerant This group can survive in water that has extremely low dissolved oxygen levels and is severely polluted by nutrients. In heavily polluted conditions, pollution-tolerant macroinvertebrates may be present in large quantities (hundreds of thousands of organisms) compared to organisms belonging to other tolerance groups; in some cases they may be the only such organisms present in the stream. Aquatic worms are capable of surviving almost without oxygen as they process sediments for or- ganic matter, which they use as food. Leeches are adapted for heavily stressed conditions and eai plant and animal debris. Some of the pollution-tolerant macroinvertebrates have adaptations which allow them to cope with extremely low dissolved oxygen levels. Left-handed snails (air breathing) pouch snails use a lung- type breathing mechanism rather than gills; this increases their ability to obtain oxygen from the wa- ter, since the diffusion of oxygen through gill membranes becomes impossible when oxygen levels become too low. Bloodworais (a type of midge larvae) use a hemoglobin-type "blood" that assists in carrying oxygen throughout their bodies. 33 Illinois RJvBfWatcher macroinvertebrate assessment procedures What you wiU need 1. Dip net 2. Bucket (3 or 5-gallon) 3. Forceps 4. Qtizen Scientist Level Subsampling Data Sheet Before sampling begins, be sure to determine if the stream reach is a rocky bottom reach or a soft bottom reach. Each is described in Chapter n. If unsure which type of stream reach is present at the monitoring site, or which habitats are available to sample from, ask for help from the IRWN Regional Coordinator, the Illinois RiverWatch Networic Coordinator, or the IRWN Quality Assurance Officer. At each monitoring site, sample for macroinveitebrates in the same 200-foot section of the stream. More specifically, sample from the two habitats within this study reach that contain the highest diversity of macroinvertebrates. These habitats are listed below in order of highest diversity to lowest diversity: Rifiles Most Diverse Habitat Uaf Packs It Snag areas, submerged logs, tree toots Undercut banks II Sediments Least Diverse Habitat Which type of habitats selected for sampling thus will depend upon the characteristics of the par- ticular stream segment chosen as a monitoring site. For example, for a rocky bottom reach, a riffle area with various leaf packs would offer the best collecting sites. If the stream segment has a soft bottom reach, a fallen tree that offers built-up debris and undercut banks will be the best place to collect Training is available from the Illinois RiverWatch Network's regional coordinators that wrill teach which kinds of sites are best for sampling. Also, it is a good idea to observe the stream area at least one week prior to sampling so that the best sampling habitats will already be identified before actual sampling begins. Before beginning, observe what types of macroinvertebrate habitats are present in the 200-foot study site. Select the two most diverse habitats available and indicate the choices by checking the corresponding habitats listed on the Subsampling Data Sheet Rifde sampling 1 . Have one member of the team walk down the center of the rifQe. Compare all of the riffles within the study site in terms of speed of water flow and size of rocks. Select two areas in the rifQe — one with the greatest flow speed and the largest rocks (up to 14 inches in diameter) and the other with the slowest flow speed and the smallest rocks. 2. Sample from both of these sites. The rifQe site that is positioned farthest downstream will be sampled first Follow steps 2-8 below for the first rifQe site, then repeat the procedures for the remaining rifQe site. 3. Fill a plastic 3-gallon bucket approximately one-third fiill with clean stream water. Hll the wash bottle with clean stream water. One volunteer with a dip net should position himself or herself on the downstream edge of the rifQe. The bottom of the net should be placed Hush on the stream bottom, with the net '3 handle positioned perpendicular to the current of the stream. a s A second volunteer should pick up large rocks within a 1 foot by 1 foot area directly in ^ front of the net and place them in the bucket containing water 6. With the first volunteer ("netter") still holding the dip net in the rifQe, the second volunteer ("kicker") ^proaches the netter from approximately one foot upstream and drags his or her feet so as to disturb the substrate to a depth of about two inches. As the kicker approaches, the netter sweeps the net in an upward fashion to collect the organisms. This procedure should only take about one to two minutes. 7. Cany the net and bucket to the shoreline. Wash the net out in the bucket and pick ofif those organisms clinging to the edges of the net and place them in the bucket Do not toss the rock into the stream. You may disturb the area and upset further sampling. Simply place the rock in the water on the edge of the stream, or place all rocks collected on the shore until sampling is completed. 9. Now sample from the rifQe site that is located upstream. When steps 2-8 are finished, for the second rifQe, go on to step 10. 10. Remove any large leaves, sticks, rocks and other debris from the bucket Before setting them aside, examine each item for any macroinvertebrates clinging to their surfaces. Leaf pack sampling Look for leaf packs that are about four to six months old. These old leaf packs are dark brown and slightly decomposed. A handful of leaves is all you need. 1 . Position the dip net on the bottom of the stream, immediately downstream from a leaf pack. 2. Gently shake the leaf pack in the water to release some of the organisms, then quickly scoop up the net capturing both organisms and the leaf pack in the net. 3. Inspect the leaves and other large objects of the leaf pack for oiganisms before returning them 10 the stream. These macroinvertebrates are then placed in the bucket containing organisms from the previous sampling efforts. s With your hands, clean the entire surface of the large rocks in the bucket to remove any <=> clinging macroinvertebrates. Make sure to check each rock for any remaining organisms ^ before going on to the next large rock. Once a rock has been cleaned thoroughly and checked for remaining organisms, set it aside. g Sampling snag areas, tree roots, and submerged logs Snag areas are accumulations of debris caught or snagged by logs or boulders lodged in the stream current. Caddisflies. stoneflies, riffle beetles, and midges commonly inhabit these areas. 1 . Select an area of the snag, tree roots or submerge log which is approximately 3 foot by a 3 foot in size. This will be the sampling area for these habitats. a " Scrape the surface of the tree roots, logs, or other debris with the net. You can also disturb ^ such surfaces by scraping them with your foot or a lai]ge stick, or by pulling off some of the bark to get at the organisms hiding underneath. In all cases, be sure that your net is positioned downstream from the snag, so that dislodged material floats toward the net, s not away from it. 3. Place net contents in the bucket. Rinse the net contents with the wash bottle filled with stream water to remove any sediment before placing organisms in the bucket. Carefully inspect any leaf litter and organic debris which may have been collected for organisms. s 4. Spend 15 minutes inspecting the chosen sampling area for any organisms not collected oq previously. Using your hands or forceps, remove any organisms still clinging to tree roots, logs, or other debris. You may remove a log from the water to better see what may be ^ found, but be sure to put it back where it was found. jj Sampling undercut banks Undercut banks consist of areas where moving water has cut out areas of vertical or nearly vertical *^ banks, just below the surface of the water. Overhanging vegetation and submerged root mats in such ^ areas may harbor many dragonflies, damselflies, and crayfish. 1 . Move the net in a bottom-to-surface motion, jabbing at the bank five times to loosen organisms. 2. Inspect and clean any debris collected and place the collected organisms in the bucket. Sampling sediments Select an area within the study reach that consists of mostly sand and/or mud. These areas can usu- ally be found on the edges of the stream, where the water flows more slowly. 1 . A netter stands downstream of the sediment area with the dip net resting on the bottom. A kicker disturbs the sediment to a depth of about two inches as he or she approaches the net. 2. The netter sweeps the net upward to collect the organisms as the kicker approaches. 3. Wash out the sediment from the net by gently moving the net back and forth in the water of the stream, keeping the opening of the net at least an inch or two above the surface of the water. 4. Place the organisms captured by the net in the bucket. 36 SECTION THREE: THE RIVERWATCHER STREAM MONITORING PROGRAM Chapter IX How to Interpret Seasonal Stream c Monitoring Data "^ For a clear conception of the general and intricate interdependence of the different forms of organic life upon earth, one cannot do better than to study thoroughly the life of a permanent body of fresh water - a river or smaller stream, ... —Stephen A. Forbes. 1903 Subsampling procedums You will collect many organisms from your sampling efforts. Counting and identifying them is ^ easier if a random subsample of at least 100 organisms is removed firora the total sample collected. Please note that if fewer than 100 organisms arc collected from the study site, there is no need to S prepare a subsample. Simply indicate on the data sheet that the subsampling was not performed Q because fewer than 100 oiganisms were collected. «> What you will need 1 . RiverWatcher Data Sheet 2. Gridded subsampling pan 3. Ice water 4. Forceps 5. Wash bottle filled with fresh stream water 6. Ice tray 7. Pencil 8. Twojais 9. RiverWatch Macroinvertebrate Identification Guide (Appendix D) If more than 100 organisms are collected, do the following: 1 . Transfer the oiganisms from the bucket to the gridded pan. To do this, pour the bucket's contents through the dip net Then wash the organisms out of the net into the pan using the wash bottle. Remove any clinging organisms from the net and place them in the pan as well. 2. Add clean stream water to the pan until it is one inch deep. (Measure to the first joint of your index finger). 3. Place the pan on an even surface, preferably one that you can sit next to. (You can place the pan on an upturned bucket, for example, and sit on another upmmed bucket beside it) The availability of a level surface will vary with the sample site, so use your imagination. 4. Gently rock the subsampling pan to evenly distribute organisms across the bottom. Try to avoid "clumps" of organisms in the comers of the pan. 5. Selea a numbered square and begin removing oiganisms lying within that square, counting them as they arc removed. Any organism that straddles a line separating two squares is considered to be in the square that contains its head. In the case of organisms whose head is impossible to locate (such as wonns), consider the oi^anism to be in the square that contains & the largest portion of its body. 6. Place organisms collected from the selected numbered square in a jar or pan containing fresh ^ stream water. Continue until all organisms have been removed from the selected square. Record the total number in the Subsampling section of the RiverWatch Data Sheet ^ 7. Select a second numbered square and remove and count the organisms within it, using the above procedures. Qear as many squares as are needed to provide at least 100 organisms. Record the square numbers and the number of organisms picked from each on the data sheet, as you did for the first square. After removing 100 organisms, continue to remove organisms from within the last square until it is empty. a 8. Look through the organisms remaining in the pan for any type of organism that was not oq collected as part of the subsample. Collect only one organism of each uncollected type. If any additional types are found, indicate on the Subsampling Data Sheet which organisms ^ were collected after the subsampling was completed. If you are not sure what type of a organisms they are, at least indicate how many types were collected after subsampling. a . . Discard any organisms remaining in the pan by draining the contents of the pan through the net onto the ground. Place the discaixled organisms in anodier laiige container containing ^ stream water. Now return these organisms to the stream. 10. You may have had to pick organisms from several squares on your tray to obtain the 100 organisms needed for the subsampe. The Density of Organisms per Square is calculated by dividing the total number of organisms collected (Line A) by the number of squares selected (Line B). 1 1 . To And the Density of Organisms in Tray, the number of organisms per square (Line Q is multiplied by the number of squares in the tray. At the bottom of the Subsampling Data Sheet, indicate if any freshwater mussels, fmgemail clams, zebra mussels, or Asiatic clams were found in the study site. If less than 1(X) macroinvertebrates were collected, do the following: 1 . Transfer the organisms from the bucket to the giidded pan. Tb do this, pour the bucket's contents through the dip net Then wash the organisms out of the net into the pan using the wash bottle. Remove any clinging organisms from the net and place them in the pan as well. 2. Add clean stream water to the pan until it is one inch deep. (Measure to the first joint of the index finger). 3. Place the pan on an even surface, preferably one that enables the monitor to sit next to the pan. (Place the pan on an upturned bucket, for example, and sit on another upturned bucket beside it) The availability of a level surface will vary with the sample site, so use some imagination. 38 Macroinvertebrate tally Now you are ready to identify and record the organisms that you have collected. First, put fresh a stream water into the spaces of the ice tray. As the macioinvertebrates are identified, place them in g one of the four tolerance groups of similar organisms by using the spaces of the ice tray. Use the ^^ macroinvertebrate identification reference guide to help you. You may need to look at some of the macroinveitebrates under a magnifying glass, since many are quite small. Once the oiganisms are sorted by type: 1 . Count how many organisms of each type were collected. Enter this number in the space on the right of the name of the organisms. 5. Add all of the group scores and enter the total in the space "F. TOTAL GROUP SCORES." 6. To calculate the Total Cumulative Score, divide 'TOTAL GROUP SCORES" (Line F) by "TOTAL # TAXA" (Line E). The Ibtal Cumulative Score is a rating that will identify the water quality of the stream's habitat, according to the ratings scale devised for this purpose. What to do If you find poor water quality If the results of your stream monitoring session indicate poor water quality, don't panic. Such findings may be the result of something as simple as a calculation error. Recheck the results and review the manual to determine if a mistake was made. Call the Regional Coordinator to discuss the results of the monitoring and review the data sheets. If the problem persists, the Coordinator may decide to accompany you back to the site to repeat the monitoring. In any case, there are many different variables that will impact the quality of a stream. Both direct and indirea factors of stream degradation (such as point and non-point sources of pollution) can affect the water quality of a stream. Additionally, unusual weather conditions can temporarily affea the water quality of a stream. It is suggested that volunteers first bring potential water quality problems to the attention of the Regional Coordinator. The Coordinator can then consult with the RiverWatch Networic's Quality Assurance Officer to make a determination as to whether further action is necessary. What to do with your information The information gathered can be extremely valuable in comparing water quality trends, past and future, in the stream. It is important to share this information with concerned citizens, government officials, resource protection agencies, and conservation organizations. Remember, it is extremely important that findings of find poor water quality be confirmed by professional water quality experts. The Illinois RiverWatch Regional Coordinator will notify the agency or person who can help. ^ 2. When you have finished counting the individual organisms, count the number of taxa, or organism types, that you found within each tolerance group. 3. Multiply the number of taxa in each tolerance group by the group's tolerance value to obtain o a group score. I^ 4. Add the total number of taxa collected from each tolerance group and enter that number in g the space. "E. TOTAL # TAXA. 39 APPENDICES Appendix A. Factors That Affect Stream Quality in Illinois o s Pollutants Pollutants are unwanted materials ranging from litter to industrial waste. Stream pollution in par- ticular comes from a variety of sources and has many complex effects. Benthic macroinvertebratc o communities for example can be affected by pollutants such as sediment, organic wastes, excess nu- ^ trients such as phosphates from detergents, and toxic substances. Several types of pollutants affea Illinois rivers and streams. They include: ^ Sediment from soil erosion has long been considered the most serious threat to water quality in '^o Illinois. The 1990 Illinois Water Quality Report published by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency stated that siltation affects more than 6.500 miles of Illinois streams. Farmfields. mines, ^ cut-over forests, and ui^^aved roads are sources of sediment in streams in niral areas. In urban areas, & ill-managed constniction sites can greatly elevate sediment levels in streams. a Excessive amounts of sediment in the water can destroy macroinvertebratc habitats by filling the spaces between boulders and rocks in which many of these organisms live. Sediment can also hann the filter-feeding mechanisms of some aquatic oiganisms, clog the gills of others, or bury macroinveitebrates entirely. Organic wastes originate from industrial operations such as pulp mills, sugar refineries, and some food processing plants. The most common source of oiganic wastes in Illinois, however, is the discharge from municipal sewage treatment plants. When oiganic wastes enter a stream, they are decomposed by bacteria in the sediments and water. These bacteria consume the oxygen dissolved in the water. The amount of oxygen needed to decompose a given amount of oiganic waste in a stream is called its biological oxygen demand, or BOD. The decomposition of an oiganic waste in a stream that has a high BOD leaves veiy little dissolved oxygen for the fish, aquatic insects, and other oiganisms that live in the stream. Nutrient enrichment refers to the addition of nitrogen andjor phosphorous to an aquatic ecosystem. Wastewater from sewage treatment plants, fertilizers from agricultural runoff, and uitan rtmoff add nitrogen and phosphorous to streams. Other sources of nutrient enrichment include septic tank leak- ages and fann animal wastes. Nutrients occur namrally in stream water. But because nitrogen and phosphorous are key elements in the growth of aquatic plant life such as algae, an increase in these nutrients can significantly increase growth by the plants and animals in the stream. Rapid plant growth in streams results in algal blooms. Besides being unsightly, algal blooms can cause water to smell and taste bad. Because algal masses are organic, their decomposition depletes the available oxygen in water like any other oiganic waste. Nutrient enrichment usually increases the number of macroinveitebrates in a stream at first, but these numbers decline as dissolved oxygen levels decrease. 40 5 Temperature elevation stresses many species of fish and macroinveitebrates that have limited tolerances to high temperatures. Two main factors contribute to temperature elevation in Illinois ^ streams. The loss of riparian zones removes shade-providing plants, exposing streams to direa 3 sunlight for many hours. Also, streams receive some pan of their water from groundwater sources. 5* This (usually) cooler groundwater helps to cool the wanner surface waters entering streams from ^ runoff or rainfall. Irrigation and stream channelization cause water tables to drop, decreasing the volume of cooler groundwater entering streams. Channelization converts natural meandering streams with varied habitats to straight-sided ditches oo ofnearlyunifonn width, depth, current velocity, and substrate. Fewer habitats mean fewer species g capable of living in such modified streams. Bankside vegetation is removed when a stream is channelized, fiirther reducing the biodiversity of the stream. Toxic chemicals have helped degrade many stream ecosystems throughout the United Stales. Truly safe levels of many toxic chemicals have never been determined, and their long-term effects on eco- systems are largely unknown. These chemicals enter streams as a result of irresponsible discharge of industrial wastes, indiscriminate use of agricultural pesticides, and careless dumping of household *^ cleaners. Although toxic chemicals are still getting into Illinois' streams, their'concentrations have o been reduced to the point where most authorities now consider other pollutants (such as sediment ;^ and excess nutrients) more immediate environmental threats. However, the concentration of toxic chemicals in stream waters is not necessarily a true reflection g of their presence in a stream. Plants and animals often absorb these pollutants either fiom the water or sediment and accumulate them in their tissues. Monitoring stream waters for toxic chemicals only does not reliably assess stream quality, since most such chemicals are concentrated not in the water but in the bodies of the organisms living in the stream and in sediments Over time, toxic substances in the tissues of scream organisms may reach levels many times higher than in the stream's water or sediments. When stream organisms that have accumulated toxic chemi- cals are eaten by other oi]ganisms (such as raccoons or fish-eating birds), the toxic chemical is passed along the food chain, leading eventually to humans. Point vs. nonpoint source pollution Pollution is classified according to its source. Point source pollution comes fiom a single identifi- able point such as a factory discharge pipe that empties into a river. Nonpoint source pollution does not come from a clearly defined source. Nonpoint source pollution is primarily runoff from land that contains pesticides, fertilizers, metals, manure, road salt, and other pollutants. Nonpoint source pol- lution originates on fanns, lawns, paved streets and parking lots, construction sites, timber harvest- ing operations, landfills, and home septic systems. Acid rain is another nonpoint source pollutanL Nonpoint source pollution is a major faaor in the deterioration of Illinois' streams. It occurs wherever and whenever soils cannot sufiiciently absorb and filter pollutants contained in storm water drainage and runoff. Nonpoint source pollution can quickly kill a stream by introducing organic and inorganic pollutants that silt streambeds, decrease dissolved oxygen, and poison aquatic organisms. 41 Appendix B. The Life History of Macroinvertebrates One of the most interesting aspects of this program is that participants become familiar with a new group of animals, the aquatic macroinvertebrates. Most people have little, if any, exposure to these organisms. Group leaders hear comments like "1 never knew these things were in here!" What a joy it is to see the surprised faces of both children and adults. To better explain about these animals, brief life history information for each different organism identified in this program is given in this appendix. The synopsis will outline the oiganism's general description, how it reproduces, what it eats, and what the adults look like. COMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS EXAMPLE: CADDISFLY EGGS PUPA INCOMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS EXAMPLE: DRAGONFLY EGGS (Several growing stages, called Instars) an adult or imago. There is no intermediate pupae stage where resemble the adults closely except for wing development. Aquatic Insects The aquatic insects comprise the bulk of benthic macroinverte- brate communities in healthy, freshwater streams. These insects are mostly in their immature form and live their adult life on land, sometimes for only a few hours. Most aquatic insects can be di- vided into two separate groups: ones that develop through com- plete metamorphosis, and ones that develop through incomplete metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is the change that occurs during the organism's development from egg to adult (see Figure 6). Some aquatic in- sects develop through complete metamorphosis, which consists of four stages. These immature in- sects are called larvae and they do not resemble the adults and, in fact, may look grossly different During the pupae stage, the or- ganisms inhabit a "cocoon-like" structure where the transfomiation from larvae to adult occurs. In- complete metamorphosis has three main stages of development (except for the mayfly which has two winged growing stages). These immature insects are called nymphs and they undei:go a series of molts imtil the last decisive ' molt transforms the oiganism into transformation occurs. The nymphs 42 All insects (whether they are adults w imma- ture, or whether they develop through complete or incomplete metamorphosis) have three main body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen (Figure 7). Figure 7. Aquatic Insect Body Parts: Main parts consistant in all aquatic insects Aquatic Insects Stoneflies Metamorphosis: incomplete Nymphs: possess two distina "tails" called cerci, which are actually sensory feelers: brightly colored in tan, brown, gold, and black; length var- ies, up to 1 inch. Reproduction: females dqrasit eggs on top of water where they drift down to the bottom. Adults: resemble nymphs, but possess a long pair of wings folded down the length of the body. Food: some stoneflies are carnivorous, others feed on algae, bacteria, and vegetable debris; eaten by a variety of fish species. 43 AlderfUes Metamorphosis: complete Larvae: possess a single tail filament with dis- tinct hairs; body is thick-skinned with 6 to 8 fila- ments on each side of the abdomen; gills are located near the base of each filament; color brownish. Reproduction: female deposits eggs on vegeta- tion that overhangs water, larvae hatch and fall directly into water. Adults: dark with long wings folded back over the body. Food: larvae are aggressive predators, feeding on other aquatic macroinvertebrates; as secondary consumers, they are eaten by other larger predators. DobsoitfUes Metamorphosis: complete Larvae: often called hellgrammites, possess two large mandibles; several filaments are located along the sides of the abdomen; one pair of short tail filaments used for grasping; color brownish to black with a large dark "plate" behind base of head; six legs; length up to 3 inches. Reproduction: female attaches eggs on over- hanging vegetation; when eggs hatch, the larvae fall directly into the water. Adults: possess two pair of extremely long, colorful wings folded back the length of the body; males possess a pair of long mandibles that can cross that are used to grasp the female during copulation; females possess one pair of mandibles smaller than those of the male. Food: predaceous larvae feed upon other aquatic macroinvertebrates; larvae widely used as fish bait; importam food source for larger game fish. Snipe Flies Metamorphosis: complete Larvae: elongated, cylindrical, slightly flat- tened; cone-shaped abdomen is characteristic; two, long, fringed filaments at end of abdomen; color varies; length up to 1/2 inch. Reproduction: female deposits eggs on overhang- ing vegetation and immediately dies and remains attached to egg m as?^ larvae hatch and drop into water Adults: a moderately sized fly that is usually found around low bushes, shrubbery, and tall grasses. Food: larvae are predaceous, adults mostly feed on blood. ^irillCQiXS;^?^^ i 44 1