Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm

William Griffiths Kimmel; David Gordon Argent

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12

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Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm

William Griffiths Kimmel, David Gordon Argent

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 6, Issue 2)

Received: 23 April 2018 Accepted: 8 May 2018 Published: 28 May 2018

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Abstract

Surface and underground extraction of coal has degraded many landscapes throughout the Appalachian region of the United States. The deleterious effects on steam biota of untreated acidic drainages high in heavy metals from active and abandoned sites have been well-documented. Mitigation strategies frequently include the addition of strong neutralizing agents in order to elevate pH and precipitate toxic metals. The resulting effluents exhibit high concentrations of sulfates, chlorides, carbonates, and other ions which can markedly raise the specific conductance of receiving streams. However, the impacts of such inputs on stream ecosystems are not well-studied. This study documents one such case, Whiteley Creek, a Monongahela River tributary in southwestern Pennsylvania, which receives treated effluents producing in-stream conductivity values in excess of 4,000 µS/cm. Fish and macroinvertebrate communities were sampled at ten sites from its headwaters to its Monongahela River confluence exhibiting conductivity values ranging from 2,400 – 5,400 µS/cm. Specific conductance showed no relationship to taxonomic richness of either community; however fish abundance declined with increasing conductivity, while macroinvertebrates increased. Extant communities dominated by tolerant taxa resulted in low macroinvertebrate and fish Indices of Biotic Integrity scores indicative of community stress. This study underscores the importance of biomonitoring and bioassessment of streams receiving effluents of chemically-treated acid mine drainages.

Published in	International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 6, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12
Page(s)	47-52
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Macroinvertebrates, Fish, Specific Conductance

References

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APA Style

William Griffiths Kimmel, David Gordon Argent. (2018). Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 6(2), 47-52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12

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ACS Style

William Griffiths Kimmel; David Gordon Argent. Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2018, 6(2), 47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12

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AMA Style

William Griffiths Kimmel, David Gordon Argent. Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2018;6(2):47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12,
  author = {William Griffiths Kimmel and David Gordon Argent},
  title = {Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {6},
  number = {2},
  pages = {47-52},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20180602.12},
  abstract = {Surface and underground extraction of coal has degraded many landscapes throughout the Appalachian region of the United States. The deleterious effects on steam biota of untreated acidic drainages high in heavy metals from active and abandoned sites have been well-documented. Mitigation strategies frequently include the addition of strong neutralizing agents in order to elevate pH and precipitate toxic metals. The resulting effluents exhibit high concentrations of sulfates, chlorides, carbonates, and other ions which can markedly raise the specific conductance of receiving streams. However, the impacts of such inputs on stream ecosystems are not well-studied. This study documents one such case, Whiteley Creek, a Monongahela River tributary in southwestern Pennsylvania, which receives treated effluents producing in-stream conductivity values in excess of 4,000 µS/cm. Fish and macroinvertebrate communities were sampled at ten sites from its headwaters to its Monongahela River confluence exhibiting conductivity values ranging from 2,400 – 5,400 µS/cm. Specific conductance showed no relationship to taxonomic richness of either community; however fish abundance declined with increasing conductivity, while macroinvertebrates increased. Extant communities dominated by tolerant taxa resulted in low macroinvertebrate and fish Indices of Biotic Integrity scores indicative of community stress. This study underscores the importance of biomonitoring and bioassessment of streams receiving effluents of chemically-treated acid mine drainages.},
 year = {2018}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm
AU  - William Griffiths Kimmel
AU  - David Gordon Argent
Y1  - 2018/05/28
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 47
EP  - 52
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12
AB  - Surface and underground extraction of coal has degraded many landscapes throughout the Appalachian region of the United States. The deleterious effects on steam biota of untreated acidic drainages high in heavy metals from active and abandoned sites have been well-documented. Mitigation strategies frequently include the addition of strong neutralizing agents in order to elevate pH and precipitate toxic metals. The resulting effluents exhibit high concentrations of sulfates, chlorides, carbonates, and other ions which can markedly raise the specific conductance of receiving streams. However, the impacts of such inputs on stream ecosystems are not well-studied. This study documents one such case, Whiteley Creek, a Monongahela River tributary in southwestern Pennsylvania, which receives treated effluents producing in-stream conductivity values in excess of 4,000 µS/cm. Fish and macroinvertebrate communities were sampled at ten sites from its headwaters to its Monongahela River confluence exhibiting conductivity values ranging from 2,400 – 5,400 µS/cm. Specific conductance showed no relationship to taxonomic richness of either community; however fish abundance declined with increasing conductivity, while macroinvertebrates increased. Extant communities dominated by tolerant taxa resulted in low macroinvertebrate and fish Indices of Biotic Integrity scores indicative of community stress. This study underscores the importance of biomonitoring and bioassessment of streams receiving effluents of chemically-treated acid mine drainages.
VL  - 6
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

William Griffiths Kimmel

Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, California University of Pennsylvania, California, USA
David Gordon Argent

Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, California University of Pennsylvania, California, USA

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APA Style

William Griffiths Kimmel, David Gordon Argent. (2018). Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 6(2), 47-52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12

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ACS Style

William Griffiths Kimmel; David Gordon Argent. Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2018, 6(2), 47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12

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AMA Style

William Griffiths Kimmel, David Gordon Argent. Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2018;6(2):47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12,
  author = {William Griffiths Kimmel and David Gordon Argent},
  title = {Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm},
  journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
  volume = {6},
  number = {2},
  pages = {47-52},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20180602.12},
  abstract = {Surface and underground extraction of coal has degraded many landscapes throughout the Appalachian region of the United States. The deleterious effects on steam biota of untreated acidic drainages high in heavy metals from active and abandoned sites have been well-documented. Mitigation strategies frequently include the addition of strong neutralizing agents in order to elevate pH and precipitate toxic metals. The resulting effluents exhibit high concentrations of sulfates, chlorides, carbonates, and other ions which can markedly raise the specific conductance of receiving streams. However, the impacts of such inputs on stream ecosystems are not well-studied. This study documents one such case, Whiteley Creek, a Monongahela River tributary in southwestern Pennsylvania, which receives treated effluents producing in-stream conductivity values in excess of 4,000 µS/cm. Fish and macroinvertebrate communities were sampled at ten sites from its headwaters to its Monongahela River confluence exhibiting conductivity values ranging from 2,400 – 5,400 µS/cm. Specific conductance showed no relationship to taxonomic richness of either community; however fish abundance declined with increasing conductivity, while macroinvertebrates increased. Extant communities dominated by tolerant taxa resulted in low macroinvertebrate and fish Indices of Biotic Integrity scores indicative of community stress. This study underscores the importance of biomonitoring and bioassessment of streams receiving effluents of chemically-treated acid mine drainages.},
 year = {2018}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Scuds (Gammaridae) and Darters (Percidae) Dominate Aquatic Communities in a Stream Exhibiting Levels of Specific Conductance Exceeding 4,000 µS/cm
AU  - William Griffiths Kimmel
AU  - David Gordon Argent
Y1  - 2018/05/28
PY  - 2018
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12
T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
SP  - 47
EP  - 52
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7667
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20180602.12
AB  - Surface and underground extraction of coal has degraded many landscapes throughout the Appalachian region of the United States. The deleterious effects on steam biota of untreated acidic drainages high in heavy metals from active and abandoned sites have been well-documented. Mitigation strategies frequently include the addition of strong neutralizing agents in order to elevate pH and precipitate toxic metals. The resulting effluents exhibit high concentrations of sulfates, chlorides, carbonates, and other ions which can markedly raise the specific conductance of receiving streams. However, the impacts of such inputs on stream ecosystems are not well-studied. This study documents one such case, Whiteley Creek, a Monongahela River tributary in southwestern Pennsylvania, which receives treated effluents producing in-stream conductivity values in excess of 4,000 µS/cm. Fish and macroinvertebrate communities were sampled at ten sites from its headwaters to its Monongahela River confluence exhibiting conductivity values ranging from 2,400 – 5,400 µS/cm. Specific conductance showed no relationship to taxonomic richness of either community; however fish abundance declined with increasing conductivity, while macroinvertebrates increased. Extant communities dominated by tolerant taxa resulted in low macroinvertebrate and fish Indices of Biotic Integrity scores indicative of community stress. This study underscores the importance of biomonitoring and bioassessment of streams receiving effluents of chemically-treated acid mine drainages.
VL  - 6
IS  - 2
ER  -

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