Grantee Research Project Results
2004 Progress Report: Developing Relations Among Human Activities, Stressors, and Stream Ecosystem Responses and Linkage in Integrated Regional, Multi-Stressor Models
EPA Grant Number: R830884Title: Developing Relations Among Human Activities, Stressors, and Stream Ecosystem Responses and Linkage in Integrated Regional, Multi-Stressor Models
Investigators: Stevenson, R. Jan , Wiley, Michael J. , Seelbach, Paul W. , Pijanowski, Bryan , Hyndman, David
Institution: Michigan State University , University of Michigan , Purdue University
Current Institution: Michigan State University , Purdue University , University of Michigan
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: May 1, 2003 through April 30, 2006 (Extended to January 31, 2008)
Project Period Covered by this Report: May 1, 2004 through April 30, 2005
Project Amount: $748,527
RFA: Developing Regional-Scale Stressor-Response Models for Use in Environmental Decision-making (2002) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Aquatic Ecosystems
Objective:
Nutrients, sediments, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, and hydrology are common ecological factors in streams affected by humans, and all have profound effects on valued ecological attributes. Few models explain relations among human activities, these stressors, and valued ecological attributes with sufficient precision for total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and stream management. The lack of precision in models may be caused by complications with refining individual stressor-response relationships and distinguishing responses caused by multiple stressors. The objectives of this research project are to relate human activities to multiple common stressors and to relate those stressors to the natural fisheries capital as well as ecological integrity of stream ecosystems.
Progress Summary:
We have had three major accomplishments during Year 2 of the project. A network of locations was established at which we are gathering data at different spatial and temporal scales. Refined statistical models relating land use, riparian buffer condition, nutrients, algal biomass, and low DO have been developed based on these data. Process-based hydrologic and biogeochemical models have been calibrated and linked in one of our targeted Michigan watersheds. We have submitted two manuscripts for publication based on previous work on review of historic data and new data, and one of these has been accepted for publication.
Our network of locations where new data are gathered was designed to better understand relationships between land use, hydrology, nutrients, algae production, DO, and biological condition of algal, invertebrate, and fish assemblages. Based on our past research and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) 305(b) reports, we decided that hydrology and nutrients were the most important stressors of biological condition in streams in the region for which we have little information. This focus also allows us to support state efforts to develop nutrient criteria. The network of stations is stratified, so that we can allocate different levels of effort to different sets of locations based on the objectives of sampling those sites.
Broad Scale
During Year 2, we conducted surveys of stream conditions throughout the southern Michigan region and continued to compile existing information from a variety of sources. The Crane Creek monitoring program was developed and implemented. Real-time continuous data are now available for Crane Creek for DO, depth, pH, specific conductivity, temperature, and turbidity. We conducted extensive surveys of four watersheds and calibrated a process-based watershed model for one of them, Cedar Creek. In addition, we conducted a low DO survey last year, which was a great success.
The low DO survey approach is an innovative approach where different crews sample the same set of streams at different times for complementary purposes. The key is sampling DO concentrations in as many streams as possible during the early morning hours, between dawn and 9:00 or 10:00 a.m., and then returning to those streams later in the day to complete the water chemistry and biological sampling. DO concentrations vary diurnally in streams, with light and photosynthesis producing DO and respiration consuming it. DO increases during the day when photosynthetic rates by algae exceed respiration rates of all organisms, plants, animals, and bacteria. DO decreases during late evening and night when respiration rates exceed photosynthetic rates. The magnitude of diurnal DO variation in streams enables calculation of photosynthetic rates and respiration rates in a stream. Assessing DO early in the morning, rather than anytime during the day, enables assessment of the DO during the critical time of day when lowest DO occurs and can affect biota in streams.
Use of the low DO survey approach enabled observation of patterns between land use, nutrients, algal biomass, and nutrients in streams. These are documented in a paper just submitted by Welty, et al. (submitted, 2005). Nutrients, algal biomass, and low DO were related to agricultural land use in watersheds. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were positively related to agricultural land use in watersheds. Chlorophyll a measures of algal biomass increased with nutrient concentrations. DO concentrations during early morning decreased with increasing chlorophyll a concentrations. Interestingly, indirect relationships in the causal pathway from land use to nutrients, algal biomass, and low DO were often better than direct relationships. Documenting relationships with nutrient concentrations is notoriously difficult because of their temporal variability related to weather and loading and to complex biogeochemical interactions in the channel. Thus, the percentage of agricultural land use in the watershed, a stable indicator of nutrient loading, was better correlated than nutrient concentrations with low DO in streams. During the low DO survey, we coordinated sampling with the MDEQ to help them study effects of concentrated animal feeding operations.
Fine Scale
A process-based model relating precipitation and land use to water quantity and quality in Cedar Creek was calibrated during the past year. The Cedar Creek watershed, like so many watersheds in the glaciated region of the upper Midwest and Great Lakes Region, has poorly developed soils with high permeability that increases the importance of groundwater routes of transport of contaminants to streams. The model provided reasonable flows and regional water levels relative to measured values and resulted in a greatly improved understanding of the influence of agriculture and forested land covers on recharge rates. Results indicate that only 5 percent of precipitation on agricultural regions becomes recharge during the summer period, whereas approximately 10 percent becomes recharge during the rest of the rainfall periods. Forested areas had slightly more recharge relative to agricultural lands. Approximately 30 percent of the snow pack was estimated to end up as groundwater recharge.
A nitrate transport model was developed for the Cedar Creek watershed using the estimated recharge and hydraulic conductivity values from the groundwater model described above. Nitrate concentration sources were developed from estimates of agricultural inputs and measured nitrate in precipitation from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program. Nitrate concentrations in Cedar Creek were predicted much better by a model that included groundwater inputs than by traditional models without it. A 10-year simulation of these sources in the Cedar Creek watershed highlighted the significant role land use plays in influencing the distribution of nutrient concentrations in groundwater and their concentrations in streams.
The instrumentation in Crane Creek is providing high-resolution information used to develop more detailed, process-based models relating land use, weather, nutrient concentrations, organic matter loading and accrual, algal biomass, and low DO. The relationship between continuous measures of DO and time shows the importance of temporal variation at 3 scales and is related to three different processes. On the diurnal scale, DO concentration varies with light periods and photosynthesis. On the daily to weekly scale, weather-related environmental processes disrupt local ecological regulation of DO with influxes of fresh waters and flushing of organic matter and microbes with high oxygen demand. At an intermediate scale, between major weather events, we see large diurnal DO fluctuations and relatively high nighttime DO concentrations shift to lower diurnal fluctuations and lower nighttime DO concentrations. This change is probably a result of development of algal and microbial assemblages after storm disturbance and a shift from dominance by autotrophic to heterotrophic regulation of the stream. The complexity of these processes illustrates the challenge for predicting low DO concentrations in streams with different hydrology and nutrient concentrations. Temporal variation in DO varies complexly and naturally within each stream based on internal processes, which ultimately are regulated by external weather and land use factors.
Future Activities:
Five major strategies are planned for Year 3. First, we plan extensive low flow sampling and early morning and diurnal sampling for sites in our Level IV and Level VI sampling programs. Second, we will continue sampling sites in the Level IV sampling program to characterize temporal variability in conditions in approximately seven watersheds and two or more sites within each watershed. Third, we plan to develop a watershed model for Crane Creek and refine process-based watershed models for Cedar Creek. Fourth, we will initiate studies to better understand biogeochemical processes with the sampling programs in seven watersheds. Finally, we will initiate the process of linking statistical and process-based models for multiple watersheds. As part of a related project, results of our surveys and models are being used to help the MDEQ develop nutrient criteria for streams.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 1 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Stevenson RJ, Rier ST, Riseng CM, Schultz RE, Wiley MJ. Comparing effects of nutrients on algal biomass in streams in two regions with different disturbance regimes and with applications for developing nutrient criteria. Hydrobiologia 2006;561(1):149-165. |
R830884 (2004) R830884 (2005) R830884 (2006) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
water, watersheds, groundwater, ecological effects, dose-response, indicators, ecosystem, regionalization, scaling, aquatic, ecology, hydrology, modeling, Michigan, EPA Region 5,, RFA, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Scientific Discipline, Air, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Water & Watershed, climate change, Air Pollution Effects, Monitoring/Modeling, Regional/Scaling, Environmental Monitoring, decision-making, Ecological Risk Assessment, Atmosphere, Watersheds, Economics & Decision Making, risk assessment, ecosystem modeling, aquatic ecosystem, valued ecological attributes, watershed, ecosystem assessment, effects of multiple stresses, decision analysis, decision making, environmental decision making, risk assessment model, ecological variation, regional scale impacts, water quality, environmental stress, assessment endpoint mechanistic research, ecology assessment models, ecosystem stress, watershed assessment, ecological models, fish models, individual based models, decision support tool, environmental risk assessment, Bayesian classifiers, water monitoring, adaptive implementation modeling, stress responseProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.