Assessing Greenfield Community College Wetland Health Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates as Bio-Indicators

Presenter

David James Sheldon

Campus

Greenfield Community College

Sponsor

Amanda LM Hyde, Department of Biology, Greenfield Community College

Schedule

Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A11, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 1 (A1-A20) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Multiple stressors negatively impact species and wetland ecosystems throughout any given watershed. Using benthic macroinvertebrate species as a bioindicator of wetland health is an important tool as they represent past water quality due to low mobility and long life cycle, unlike water samples that only take an instantaneous sample. They are also extensively researched with a large quantity of data on life history and stress tolerances. I implemented a systematic sampling process and created a pollution tolerance index for observed indicator species. This was used in conjunction with chemical analysis of water samples to accurately depict overall health of the wetland on Greenfield Community College campus. My findings indicate the wetland on Greenfield Community College campus is a low-risk wetland, it contains a good richness of taxa, is not currently at risk of eutrophication, and stressors are below problem levels as evidenced by taxa richness and quantity of organisms. However, conditions could change as it is in proximity to a multitude of human activity, and while the chemical analyses correlated with bioindicator species findings, they only provide an ephemeral view of current conditions. Nevertheless, this research could serve as a monitoring tool in the future to conserve the wetland, an important piece of watershed health and biodiversity.

Keywords

Pollutants , Benthic Macroinvertebrates , Wetland Ecosystems , Water Quality

Research Area

Environment Effects on Ecosystems

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