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THE USE OF MACROINVERTEBRATE ASSEMBLAGES TO DIAGNOSE CAUSES OF IMPAIRMENT IN LAKE MICHIGAN COASTAL WETLANDS
Citation:
Pearson, M S., M F. Moffett, T. M. Jicha, C M. Elonen, AND B. H. Hill. THE USE OF MACROINVERTEBRATE ASSEMBLAGES TO DIAGNOSE CAUSES OF IMPAIRMENT IN LAKE MICHIGAN COASTAL WETLANDS. Presented at 52nd Annual Meeting of North American Benthological Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada, June 6-10, 2004.
Description:
Our understanding of the causes of biological impairment in Great Lakes coastal wetland ecosystems lags behind our understanding of causes of these impairments in streams. In 2000 and 2001 a regional EMAP study of Lake Michigan coastal riverine wetlands was undertaken with the goal of developing nutrient, habitat, and sediment criteria and to develop community and landscape-level diagnostic indicators of wetland impairment. Macroinvertebrates were sampled from 39 randomly-selected, riverine wetlands surrounding Lake Michigan. Water and sediment chemistries and wetland habitat data were collected along wetland transects. Land cover data at 3 spatial scales was collected via satellite imagery. Ordination analysis showed weak correlations (r2 =0.2) between the relative abundance of the benthic macroinvertebrates, land cover, and water chemistry. This finding was in contrast to diatom assemblages sampled at the same sites which show significant relationships with nonpoint source pollutants and specific land covers (Thompson et. al NABS 2004). Ordinations showed that 8 of 19 sites sampled in 2000 were dominated by three species of amphipods and appear to be linked to higher sediment nitrogen concentrations. Sites with higher percent cover of wooded wetland and forest showed increased species richness and/or sensitive taxa. This abstract does not necessarily reflect USEPA policy.
Impact Statement
Benefits of this research include methods to assess beneficial uses of Great Lakes wetlands, and provide regional water quality managers with tools to implement TMDLs for waters impaired by nutrients and suspended sediments.
Our understanding of the causes of biological impairment in Great Lakes coastal wetland ecosystems lags behind our understanding of causes of these impairments in streams. In 2000 and 2001 a regional EMAP study of Lake Michigan coastal riverine wetlands was undertaken with the goal of developing nutrient, habitat and sediment criteria and to develop community and landscape-level diagnostic indicators of wetland impairment. Macroinvertebrates were sampled from 39 randomly-selected, riverine wetlands surrounding Lake Michigan. Water and sediment chemistries, and wetland habitat data were collected along wetland transects. Land cover data at 3 spatial scales was collected via satellite imagery. Ordination analysis showed weak correlations (r2 =0.2) between the relative abundance of the benthic macroinvertebrates, land cover and water chemistry. This finding was in contrast to diatom assemblages sampled at the same sites which show significant relationships with nonpoint source pollutants and specific land covers (Thompson et. al NABS 2004). Ordinations showed 8 of 19 sites sampled in 2000 were dominated by three species of amphipods and appear to be linked to higher sediment nitrogen concentrations. Sites with higher percent cover of wooded wetland and forest showed increased species richness and/or sensitive taxa. This abstract does not necessarily reflect USEPA policy.
Impact Statement
Benefits of this research include methods to assess beneficial uses of Great Lakes wetlands, and provide regional water quality managers with tools to implement TMDLs for waters impaired by nutrients and suspended sediments.