Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: A Biologically Driven National Classification Scheme for U.S. Streams and Rivers
EPA Grant Number: R829498Title: A Biologically Driven National Classification Scheme for U.S. Streams and Rivers
Investigators: Herlihy, Alan T. , Pan, Yangdong , Hughes, Robert
Institution: Oregon State University , Portland State University
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: February 1, 2002 through January 31, 2005 (Extended to January 31, 2006)
Project Amount: $747,541
RFA: Development of National Aquatic Ecosystem Classifications and Reference Conditions (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Aquatic Ecosystems , Water
Objective:
Analyzing stream biological assemblage data at a national scale is extremely difficult and rarely attempted due to the problems of compiling the necessary database. Our goal was to assemble a national database for the conterminous 48 U.S. states of stream/river fish, macroinvertebrate and periphyton assemblages derived from regional scale synoptic surveys. Our objectives were to 1) use our national database to develop 10-30 biologically driven national "classes" of stream systems; 2) within each class, separate natural from anthropogenic effects on stream ecological condition; and 3) establish quantitative relationships between catchment and riparian condition and water body condition (structure and function).
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Conclusions:
Conclusions and Contribution to Environmental Understanding and Problem Solving:
Conducting biological assessments of stream condition at a national scale requires a classification scheme to report results, define reference conditions and expectations, and interpret data. Given that such assessments are based on stream biota, we think that the classification should be driven by biology as well. In this study, we examined site groupings based on clustering national fish and macroinvertebrate data sets. Our findings include:
- Biological clusters did not form spatial adjacent groupings that can be mapped as discrete units.
- Biological clusters were definable and predictable from indicator species.
- Existing spatial classifications (e.g., ecoregions, drainage basins), as well as site and landscape data, explained less than half of the biological variability that can be explained by biological classifications.
- Spatial schemes based on ecoregion, drainage basins, physiography, and political boundaries all had very similar classification strengths with respect to defining biological similarity indicating that the similarity was mostly strongly driven by site proximity.
- Predicting biological clusters worked best when both site and catchment scale data were included.
- Results were not strongly influenced by using data subsets that removed disturbed sites and alien species suggesting that the underlying mechanisms controlling the pattern in national scale fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages have strong natural drivers and are fairly robust to the effects of anthropogenic disturbance and introduced species.
Recently, EPA conducted a National Wadeable Streams Assessment (EPA 841-B-06-002). Results and databases from this STAR project were used to help derive reporting units, reference conditions, and reference site data for that national EPA assessment.
Journal Articles on this Report : 4 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 42 publications | 11 publications in selected types | All 4 journal articles |
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Gerth WJ, Herlihy AT. Effect of sampling different habitat types in regional macroinvertebrate bioassessment surveys. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 2006;25(2):501-512. |
R829498 (2004) R829498 (Final) |
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Munn MD, Waite IR, Larsen DP, Herlihy AT. The relative influence of geographic location and reach-scale habitat on benthic invertebrate assemblages in six ecoregions. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 2009;154(1-4):1-14. |
R829498 (Final) |
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Pan Y, Hill BH, Husby P, Hall RK, Kaufmann PR. Relationships between environmental variables and benthic diatom assemblages in California Central Valley streams (USA). Hydrobiologia 2006;561(1):119-130. |
R829498 (Final) |
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Waite IR, Herlihy AT, Larsen DP, Urquhart NS, Klemm DJ. The effects of macroinvertebrate taxonomic resolution in large landscape bioassessments: an example from the Mid-Atlantic Highlands, U.S.A. Freshwater Biology 2004;49(4):474-489. |
R829498 (2003) R829498 (Final) R829095 (Final) R829095C003 (2004) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
Streams, rivers, fish, macroinvertebrates, periphyton, aquatic indicators, stream ecology, EMAP, classification, monitoring , RFA, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Aquatic Ecosystems & Estuarine Research, Hydrology, Aquatic Ecosystem, Ecology and Ecosystems, anthropogenic stress, bioassessment, classifying reference conditions, streams, anthropogenic impact, rivers, national classification system, aquatic ecosystems, water quality, biological indicators, ecological classificationProgress 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.