Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Stream and wetland restoration activities seek to improve the function of aquatic ecosystems. Measurement of the diversity and abundance of aquatic insects are commonly used to evaluate the success of restoration efforts, but these measurements are often very time consuming. In this study, we attempt to construct an efficient method that can be used to rapidly assess the diversity and abundance of aquatic insects as a measure of the quality of stream restoration. We suspended uniform sized pieces of cardboard paper coated with adhesive to trap insects in three different environments: one restored and two unrestored streams with similar characteristics. In two independent sampling periods, three traps were suspended above a water feature at seven locations across these three streams. Once the traps were retrieved insects attached to them were identified to order (suborder for Nematocera and Brachycera), counted, and assigned to an aquatic or terrestrial origin. High abundance of individuals in the suborder Nematocera were recorded during the first sample period while the same was true for the suborder Brachycera during the second sample period. These suborders were also the only two recorded that could not be distinguished as an aquatic or terrestrial origin at this classification. It is our recommendation that for this methodology to be useful in rapid quality assessment, individuals in these suborders must be identified to a level that distinguishes them, and more sampling periods must be conducted to accurately describe insects that emerge according to certain traits or environmental conditions.
Included in
Animal Experimentation and Research Commons, Biodiversity Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Hydrology Commons, Systems Biology Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
Rapid assesment of aquatic insect diversity and abundance used to evaluate the quality of stream restoration
Stream and wetland restoration activities seek to improve the function of aquatic ecosystems. Measurement of the diversity and abundance of aquatic insects are commonly used to evaluate the success of restoration efforts, but these measurements are often very time consuming. In this study, we attempt to construct an efficient method that can be used to rapidly assess the diversity and abundance of aquatic insects as a measure of the quality of stream restoration. We suspended uniform sized pieces of cardboard paper coated with adhesive to trap insects in three different environments: one restored and two unrestored streams with similar characteristics. In two independent sampling periods, three traps were suspended above a water feature at seven locations across these three streams. Once the traps were retrieved insects attached to them were identified to order (suborder for Nematocera and Brachycera), counted, and assigned to an aquatic or terrestrial origin. High abundance of individuals in the suborder Nematocera were recorded during the first sample period while the same was true for the suborder Brachycera during the second sample period. These suborders were also the only two recorded that could not be distinguished as an aquatic or terrestrial origin at this classification. It is our recommendation that for this methodology to be useful in rapid quality assessment, individuals in these suborders must be identified to a level that distinguishes them, and more sampling periods must be conducted to accurately describe insects that emerge according to certain traits or environmental conditions.
Comments
Emily Jones - Ecologist at the University of Louisville's Stream Institute
Jesse Robinson - Senior Research Engineer at the University of Louisville's Stream Institute