macroinvertebrate bioassessment tools aquatic life/nutrient workgroup august 11, 2008
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Macroinvertebrate Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment ToolsBioassessment Tools
Aquatic Life/Nutrient WorkgroupAquatic Life/Nutrient Workgroup
August 11, 2008August 11, 2008
Discussion TopicsDiscussion Topics
Reference and stressed site statusReference and stressed site status O/E (RIVPACS) preliminary resultsO/E (RIVPACS) preliminary results MMI (multimetric index) preliminary resultsMMI (multimetric index) preliminary results BioclassesBioclasses
Reference Site ReviewReference Site Review
Two part process:Two part process: Calculated GIS-based human disturbance values and Calculated GIS-based human disturbance values and
established criteria cutoffsestablished criteria cutoffs Reviewed and critiqued aerial images at EPA using Reviewed and critiqued aerial images at EPA using
Global ExplorerGlobal Explorer
11 additional ref sites added to fill obvious 11 additional ref sites added to fill obvious spatial gaps and large rivers in plains and spatial gaps and large rivers in plains and xeric bioregionsxeric bioregions
Reference SitesReference Sites
168 reference sites finalized in April (90 mnts, 39 168 reference sites finalized in April (90 mnts, 39 plains, 39 xeric)plains, 39 xeric)
4 xeric, 4 plains and 1 mnts sites removed later4 xeric, 4 plains and 1 mnts sites removed later All USFS sites (n=16) retained – midges ID’ed All USFS sites (n=16) retained – midges ID’ed
down to genusdown to genus 12 additional sites w/ low taxa counts could be 12 additional sites w/ low taxa counts could be
removed (USU and TT testing)removed (USU and TT testing)
Reference SitesReference Sites
Stressed Site ReviewStressed Site Review
Flagged human disturbance values (GIS Flagged human disturbance values (GIS derived) that exceeded “acceptable” derived) that exceeded “acceptable” conditions and further reviewed with conditions and further reviewed with Google Earth imagesGoogle Earth images
Sites exhibiting clear characteristics of Sites exhibiting clear characteristics of stressed condition retained after image stressed condition retained after image reviewreview
Stressed SitesStressed Sites
Goal: identify unquestionably stressed Goal: identify unquestionably stressed sites – no marginal onessites – no marginal ones
74 stressed sites finalized in June74 stressed sites finalized in June 31 mnts, 23 plains & 20 xeric31 mnts, 23 plains & 20 xeric
Stressed SitesStressed Sites
O/E Model ProgressO/E Model Progress
Predictor variables calculatedPredictor variables calculated OTU’s assignments redefinedOTU’s assignments redefined
Improved resolutionImproved resolution
Replicate #’s organized & sample IDs Replicate #’s organized & sample IDs selectedselected
Reference sites reviewed by Utah St staff Reference sites reviewed by Utah St staff 6 sites suggested for removal based on additional 6 sites suggested for removal based on additional
aerial image review – WQCD agreedaerial image review – WQCD agreed
O/E Preliminary ModelingO/E Preliminary Modeling
USU modeling based on 143 ref sites and 282 USU modeling based on 143 ref sites and 282 taxa (OTU's)taxa (OTU's)
Rare taxa not used (106 taxa remained)Rare taxa not used (106 taxa remained) Cluster analysis/ordinationCluster analysis/ordination
Used presence/absence of taxa among sitesUsed presence/absence of taxa among sites
Investigating 2 alternate groupings:Investigating 2 alternate groupings: 3 classes – Ecoregions3 classes – Ecoregions 13 classes – Bioclasses 13 classes – Bioclasses
O/E Preliminary ModelingO/E Preliminary Modeling
Spatial distribution of samples coded by 3 bug-defined Spatial distribution of samples coded by 3 bug-defined classesclasses
Performance PlotPerformance Plot
Sites coded by Sites coded by bioregionbioregion
Good agreement Good agreement between what the between what the model predicts at a model predicts at a site and what is site and what is observedobserved
O/E Preliminary ModelingO/E Preliminary Modeling
Spatial dist. of samples coded by 13 bug-defined classesSpatial dist. of samples coded by 13 bug-defined classes
Performance PlotPerformance Plot
Sites are coded by Sites are coded by the group the group assignmentsassignments
Different types of Different types of streams vary in streams vary in predicted and predicted and observed richnessobserved richness
rr22 = 0.85 = 0.85
MMI Preliminary ModelingMMI Preliminary Modeling
Tetra Tech keeping in sync with Utah Tetra Tech keeping in sync with Utah State workState work Same OTU designations, predictor variables, Same OTU designations, predictor variables,
reference sites and samples usedreference sites and samples used
Retained rare taxa – Tetra Tech Retained rare taxa – Tetra Tech investigatinginvestigating further further
Preliminary FindingsPreliminary Findings
Tetra Tech’s ordination similar to Utah Tetra Tech’s ordination similar to Utah State’sState’s Geographic ecoregions not a perfect fitGeographic ecoregions not a perfect fit
Biology is sensitive to the natural gradients Biology is sensitive to the natural gradients in temp. and water amount across the in temp. and water amount across the landscapelandscape
Bioclasses may work better than Bioclasses may work better than ecoregionsecoregions
BioclassesBioclasses
Not defined by geographic regionsNot defined by geographic regions Defined more by broad habitat Defined more by broad habitat
characteristicscharacteristics Doesn’t lend itself to drawing lines on a Doesn’t lend itself to drawing lines on a
mapmap
Bioclass ExampleBioclass Example
Primary predictors appear to be summer Primary predictors appear to be summer water temperature and amount of waterwater temperature and amount of water
Amt of water = Amt of water = ƒƒ (watershed area, (watershed area, precipitation)precipitation)
Stream temp = Stream temp = ƒƒ (amount of water, (amount of water, elevation, latitude)elevation, latitude)
BioclassesBioclasses
Two sites, close together geographically, Two sites, close together geographically, can be in two very different bioclassescan be in two very different bioclasses Mainstem (large watershed) vs. tributary (small)Mainstem (large watershed) vs. tributary (small)
We do some of that already with We do some of that already with mainstems separated from “all tribs,” but mainstems separated from “all tribs,” but not consistentlynot consistently
ExampleExample
How we might identify bioclass membershipHow we might identify bioclass membership
Bioclass xyzBioclass xyz
>100 km>100 km22 Watershed AreaWatershed Area <250 km<250 km22
> 1250 m> 1250 m ElevationElevation <2000 m<2000 m
>ddd.dd>ddd.dd LongitudeLongitude <eee.ee<eee.ee
Upcoming WorkUpcoming Work
Tetra Tech will try further classifications by Tetra Tech will try further classifications by removing rare taxaremoving rare taxa
Critically reviewing how to standardize analysis Critically reviewing how to standardize analysis & treatment of data& treatment of data
Move deeper into the modeling processesMove deeper into the modeling processes O/E – predictive modelingO/E – predictive modeling O/E – estimating probability of capture (pc) & EO/E – estimating probability of capture (pc) & E MMI – metric calculationsMMI – metric calculations
Questions?Questions?
Drunella doddsi
Baetis tricaudatusMayfly
Mayfly
InformationInformation
Utah State website on Predictive Models:Utah State website on Predictive Models: http://129.123.10.240/WMCPortal/http://129.123.10.240/WMCPortal/
DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=2&tabid=27DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=2&tabid=27
Bioassessment tool info and PowerPoint Bioassessment tool info and PowerPoint presentations:presentations: http://www.cwqf.org/Workgroups/Aquatic.asphttp://www.cwqf.org/Workgroups/Aquatic.asp
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