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Journal of Environmental Hydrology
ISSN 1058-3912 |
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Electronic Journal of the International Association for
Environmental Hydrology
JEH Volume 14 (2006), Paper 11 Posted August 29, 2006 INFLUENCE OF WATER QUALITY ON MACROINVERTEBRATE POPULATION AND DIVERSITY
Christine W. Li1 2Department of Biology, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 3Department of Earth Sciences, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN 4Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC ABSTRACT The environmental impact of urbanization is ubiquitous. Biodiversity within an ecosystem can be a simple means to determine the impact of urban development and overall environmental health of a region, and careful evaluation of waterways can provide insight into environmental health. Watersheds from three unique microenvironments in rural Tennessee were systematically compared. Water samples from rural and urban watersheds around Cookeville, TN were collected and analyzed. GIS was used to delineate watersheds, and land use and land cover data were computed to obtain urban areas in each watershed. Water samples were collected from three sites, all 3rd ordered streams. Macroinvertebrate identification, counting and indexes were developed. The North Carolina Biological Index was used to compute the Biotic Index Score. Habitat assessment and land use data were compared to measurements of water quality. Computation from percent dominance and percent clingers showed that watersheds exert their own characteristics. Percent urban area has negative impact on the diversity of macroinvertebrate community and dominance. Habitat assessment also supports such findings. Reference: Li, C.W., S.B. Cook, P. Li, and J.W. Hollingsworth. 2006. Influence of water quality on macroinvertebrate population and diversity, Journal of Environmental Hydrology, Vol. 14, Paper 11. CONTACT: Peter Li Department of Earth Sciences Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN 38505 E-mail: Email: pli@tntech.edu |
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