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Evaluation of the Impact from Two Point Sources of Acid

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Evaluation of the Impact from Two Point Sources of Acid EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT FROM TWO POINT SOURCES OF ACID MINE DRAINAGE UPON FISH AND MACROINVERTEBRATE ASSEMBLAGES IN SUNDAY CREEK, OH A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science Corey O. Kanuckel March 2003 This thesis entitled EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT FROM TWO POINT SOURCES OF ACID MINE DRAINAGE UPON FISH AND MACROINVERTEBRATE ASSEMBLAGES IN SUNDAY CREEK, OH By Corey O. Kanuckel has been approved for the Program of Environmental Studies and College of Arts and Sciences by Scott M. Moody Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Leslie A. Flemming Dean, College of Arts and Sciences KANUCKEL, COREY O. M.S. March 2003. Ecology Evaluation of the impact from two point sources of acid mine drainage upon fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages in Sunday Creek, OH. (99 pp.) Director of Thesis: Scott M. Moody The primary goal of this study was to quantify the effects from two point sources of acid mine drainage (AMD) upon the receiving biotic assemblages, specifically fish and macroinvertebrates, along the main branch of Sunday Creek, Southeastern OH. This study focused upon the response zone downstream from the Corning and Truetown point sources of AMD through the establishment of sample monitoring stations. These sample stations were analyzed to determine the extent of AMD disturbance over the spatial gradient of the stream. Selected biotic community parameters were compared to physiochemical parameters and sediment metals using a correlation matrix to determine which aspects of AMD appear most responsible for limiting these assemblages. In addition, this study addressed the relationship between sediment toxicity and the effect it has upon macroinvertebrate populations. This was accomplished through a combination of the field sampling study and lab bioassays aimed at testing the toxicity of the sediment at the Corning and Truetown discharge sites upon selected test organisms. Multiple Comparison Tests were used to compare differences in survival between the impacted sediments and reference sediment from the East Branch of Sunday Creek. Results from the t-Test analyses indicate a significant reduction in macroinvertebrate taxa richness, EPT richness, and % EPT for both AMD inputs. The correlation analysis identified strong relationships among acidity, total metals, and Fe in sediment and most of the biological community parameters for both fish and macroinvertebrates. The lab bioassays resulted in significant mortalities for mayflies (Heptageniidae) at both impacted treatments and for daphnia (Cerodaphnia) test organisms at the Truetown sediment treatment. Approved: Scott M. Moody Associate Professor Acknowledgements I would like to thank my advisor Scott Moody for his support, guidance, and approval of this project. I would also like to thank Kelly Johnson for all of her advice and support throughout the length of this project and Brian McCarthy for his advice and assistance. I would like to extend many thanks to Jen Shimala and the Sunday Creek Watershed Group for all of their support and assistance. Thanks to all of the individuals who provided laboratory assistance: Chris Alexander, Jean D’sa, Melanie Hill, Brian Kleinman, Jennifer Last, and Kasey Snyder. EcoAnalysts, of Moscow, Idaho also provided some macroinvertebrate identifications. I would also like to thank Don Miles for his support as well for providing me with additional research and employment opportunities aside from this project. Extra thanks to Ben McCament for his continued support and advice and Jennifer Dickson for all of her encouragement throughout this process. Special thanks to my family for their faithful love and support and to all of those individuals and groups not mentioned who provided support, advice, and encouragement. Table of Contents Acknowledgements..............................................................................................................4 Table of Contents.................................................................................................................5 List of Tables .......................................................................................................................7 List of Figures......................................................................................................................9 Chapter 1: Introduction......................................................................................................10 Bioassessment...............................................................................................................11 Bioindicators.................................................................................................................14 Coal Mining and Acid Mine Drainage..........................................................................15 AMD Effects on Fish and Macroinvertebrates .............................................................20 Study Objectives ...........................................................................................................22 Chapter 2: Investigating the impact from two point sources of AMD on the main branch of Sunday Creek upon fish and macroinvertebrates .........................................24 Introduction...................................................................................................................24 Materials and Methods..................................................................................................25 Study Area ...............................................................................................................25 Site Selections..........................................................................................................25 Site Descriptions ......................................................................................................28 Fish Sampling ..........................................................................................................31 Macroinvertebrate Sampling....................................................................................31 Water and Sediment Chemistry Analysis ................................................................33 Biological Data Analysis .........................................................................................34 Physical Habitat Analysis ........................................................................................36 Results...........................................................................................................................37 Water Chemistry and Sediment Parameters ............................................................37 Biological Community Parameters – Fish ...............................................................43 Biological Community Parameters – Macroinvertebrates.......................................44 Correlation Analyses................................................................................................50 t-Test Analyses.........................................................................................................50 Physical Habitat Analysis ........................................................................................51 Discussion.....................................................................................................................54 Chapter 3: Investigating the toxicity of sediment downstream from the Corning and Truetown AMD discharges through lab bioassays ...........................................61 Introduction...................................................................................................................61 Materials and Methods..................................................................................................63 Mayfly Experiment ..................................................................................................63 Daphnia Experiment ................................................................................................64 Results...........................................................................................................................65 Mayfly Experiment ..................................................................................................65 Daphnia Experiment ................................................................................................66 Discussion.....................................................................................................................69 Chapter 4: Final Conclusions.............................................................................................72 References..........................................................................................................................77 Appendix 1. Macroinvertebrate taxa collected ..................................................................83 Appendix 2. Fish species collected....................................................................................95 Appendix 3. Classification of Ohio stream sediments.......................................................99 List of Tables Table 1.1. Ohio EPA Designated Aquatic Life Uses.........................................................13 Table 1.2. Chemical Reactions in the formation of Acid Mine Drainage .........................17 Table 1.3. AMD Water Quality Criteria ............................................................................18 Table 1.4. US EPA Criteria used for
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