Upper Paint Creek

By Group 3 :Tina Liu, Elli Schwartz, Bailey Eckerle

Interesting FactsPaint Creek is part of

a State Park with many trails and cavesIf the Creek was 4 miles longer it would

be a riverHas bass, carp, catfish, sunfish, and many small animals

like frogs and rabbits.A watershed is an area of land that

forms the drainage system for a stream,

lake or river.

Habitat’s Effect on the Diversity

of FishHypothesis: By having a good habitat, the

diversity of fish will increase and the riparian zone can act as a filter for the pollutants.

There are lots of different things that can

affect the habitat:

a) Agriculturea. Run-off carries fertilizerb. Stream is polluted with excess nutrients

b) Forestc) Urban

a. Sediment/Siltation(sand, silt, clay)

b. Toxic Substances (heavy metals, oil and petroleum products)

Comparison between the Habitat and the Diversity of Fish

1001

084

1001

097

1002

097

2001

086

2001

097

2001

006

3001

006

3002

087

3002

006

3003

006

3005

084

3005

006

4001

006

4002

006

4004

097

4005

097

4006

096

4007

097

4008

006

5001

097

5002

089

5002

006

5003

097

5004

097

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

AvIBI

AvQHEI

Place and Date

Equals

Hypothesis The more urban land use around a stream, the lower the fish

diversity score. Helps show how healthy a stream is.

Equals

Land Use

Diversity Score

Substrate vs. ICI

Hypothesis Based on my information, as the

quality of the substrate in the

Upper Paint Watershed decreases,

so does the macro-invertebrate community.

There are a lot of factors that play a role in the

quality of the substrate, like:

Food SupplyShelterReproduction

A substrate is the rocky bottom of a stream.

Substrate Score

1001

084

1001

097

1002

097

2001

086

2001

097

2001

006

3001

006

3002

087

3002

006

3003

006

3005

084

3005

006

4001

006

4002

006

4004

097

4005

097

4006

096

4007

097

4008

006

5001

097

5002

089

5002

006

5003

097

5004

097

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

20.0

AvICI

AvSUBSTRATE

ICI Score

Comparison between Macro-Invertebrates and ICI

Final Conclusions Best PracticesThe better the habitat,

the more diversity of fish

Urban runoff results in areas with limited percolation. This

runoff pollutes local streams and kills off the

fish living thereA healthy substrate has

food supply, shelter, and areas for

reproduction for macro-invertebrates and fish

Keep plants in your yard to prevent erosion

Don’t litter or pollute—everything flows to the streams in some way

Farmers should leave a 10 meter area by the stream

unplowed to prevent fertilizers from entering the

stream

Remember: we get our resources from these

streams, so let’s keep them clean!

And we would like to thank

The Ohio State University The Ohio Supercomputer Center

The Ohio EPA P&G

Battelle AEP

And all of our wonderful chaperones, teachers and advisors.