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Benthic Invertebrates

Evaluation of Aquatic Ecosystem Health Using a Multi-metric Index of Biological Integrity for Okanagan Streams. Benthic Invertebrates. Benthic invertebrates are sedentary and integrate aquatic impacts (chemical, physical, biological). Integration over long time periods.

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Benthic Invertebrates

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  1. Evaluation of Aquatic Ecosystem Health Using a Multi-metric Index of Biological Integrity for Okanagan Streams

  2. Benthic Invertebrates • Benthic invertebrates are sedentary and integrate aquatic impacts (chemical, physical, biological). • Integration over long time periods. • Benthic invertebrates are a direct measure of the ecosystem to be protected and not surrogate such as a chemical concentration, physical habitat measure etc.

  3. Benthic-Index of Biological Integrity • 21 Benthic invertebrate measures or metrics tested for predictable response to increasing environmental disturbance e.g. • Decrease in total # taxa • Decrease in plecoptera, ephemeroptera and trichoptera • Increase in % tolerants • Increase in dominance • Decrease in % predators, clinger, and intolerant taxa • Local evaluation or calibration to find metrics which respond within study area. • Index of Biological Integrity used in US, Japan, Europe- Fish, Birds and Plants

  4. 22 low elevation streams sampled 1999 to 2001 • Streams chosen to represent a gradient of conditions from low to high human influence. • Candidate streams chosen and ranked thru discussions with agency staff; satellite image interpretation and habitat evaluation using Alaska Stream Condition Index (ASCI) evaluation process • Sampled in early October • 3 replicate surber samples • Sampled in low to moderate gradient riffles • Water quality • Sediment quality Kelowna McDougall Trepanier Powers Bellevue Peachland Greata Chute Eneas Naramata Trout

  5. OkanaganStreams

  6. Peachland Chute McDougall ups BX ups Greata Bellevue Powers Trapanier Inkameep x2 Trout ups Shorts Coldstream ups Naramata Shingle Trout nr mth Shuttleworth Prairie Ellis Kelowna BX @ 30th Eneas

  7. Perlidae Acroneuria lycoris

  8. Ephemerellidae Ephemerella grandis

  9. Coleoptera Elmidae sp.

  10. Culicidae

  11. Limnephilidae larva and case

  12. Chloroperlidae Chloroperla coloradensis

  13. Megaloptera Sialis sp.

  14. Metric Cut-Off Values

  15. 8 Metric Okanagan B-IBI

  16. B-IBI Next Steps • Incorporate August/September 2002 data • Multivariate and other analysis of data set • Test a Family level B-IBI for more rapid assessment work or stewardship group use • Determine utility in compliance monitoring, and stream assessment and restoration programs • Reporting to public through SOE, Living Rivers reporting. • Collaborative aquatic ecosystem assessments integrating expertise in water quality, habitat/watershed GIS, and aquatic invertebrates.

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