The Ecology of Insects Associated with Waste Water Lagoons Redacted for Privacy Abstract Approved Profe S
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AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF. Brian Thornas Sturgess for the M. S. in Entornology (Narne) (Degree) (Major) Date theeis is presented Septernber 4, 19 64 Title The Ecology of Insects Associated with Waste Water Lagoons Redacted for Privacy Abstract approved Profe s The purpose of this study was to deterrnine what insect species occurred in waste water facilities at Corvallis, Oregon, and to correlate these species with the chernical, physical, and biological features comrnon to these facilities. Data collected on a routine basis included dissolved oxygen, ternperature, algal density, and insect population sarnples. Most of this work was conducted during L963-64 at an experirnental waste water lagoon that received rnunici- pal sewage from Corvallis. Observations were also rnade at an agri- cultural waste water lagoon that received wastes frorn a hog farrn located at Oregon State University. Insect larvae were collected with an aquatic dip net and a six inch square Eckrnan dredge. Adults were collected in a floating trap. Environrnental conditions for insects occurring in the experi- mental waste water lagoon fluctuated rapidly at tirnes. This was due to shock loadings of influent containing high arnounts of biochernical oxidation demand. \4rhen these variations in environ- mental conditions are considered, any insect population occurring in the lagoon rnust be either tolerant to these fluctuations, seasonal residents, or transitory residents. All the insect species confined their activities to the peripheral portions of the lagoon. Eight spe- ciee of the Herniptera were recovered; and of these Notonectidae and Corixidae were the most numerous. Dytiscidae and Hydrophili- dae were the rnost important Coleoptera. Representatives of Dip.. tera were the most abundant species. Larval Culicidae were seasonally abundant. Psychodidae and Syrphidae were infrequent in occurrence. The larval populations of the farnily Chironornidae were the rnost dorninant feature of the lagoon. Procladius sp. and Chironornus sp. were perrlanent residents and were lirnited in their rnicro- distribution to an ar€a 0. 6 feet to 2.6 f.eet deep and two to seven feet frorn the shore. No insects were recovered frorn the central areas of the Lagoon. The rnain chernical and physical factors affecting the insect populations in the lagoon are, influent quality and quantity, wave action, bottorn sedirnents, and clirnatic conditions. Arnong the biological rnechanisrns affecting the insect populations are algal photosynthesis, peripheral vegetation, and insect predator-prey relationships. THE ECOLOGY OF INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH WASTE WATER LAGOONS by BRIAN THOMAS STURGESS A THESIS submitted to OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY in partial fulfillrnent of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Septernber, L964 APPROVED: Redacted for Privacy Profes sor of Entornology In Charge of Major Redacted for Privacy Chairman, Departrnent of Entornology Redacted for Privacy Graduate School Date thcsis is preeented Septernber 4, 1964 Typed by I:ctty Hoetetter ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to express rny sincere appreciation to the following per- sons for their assistance during the course of study and preparation of this thesis: To rny rnajor professor, Dr. R. L. Goulding, for his guidarice during this study and for his assistance in the writing of the rnanu- s c ript. To Dr. P. O. Ritcher, Chairrnan, Department of Entornology, and Dr. N. H. Anderson for the critical reading of the rnanuscripi;. To the many staff rnernbers of the Civil Engineering Depart- rnent. In particular I thank Dr. M.E. Northcraft for the use of equiprnent and laboratory facilities. To the following specialists for identifications of aquatic in- sects: Dr. J. D. Lattin (Herniptera), Dr. J.E. Sublette (Chironorni- dae) and Dr. F. C. Harrnston (Dolichopodidae). And finally to rny wife Rornana for her assistance, understand- ing, and patience. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION t MATERIALS AND METHODS Procedures for obtaining chernical sarnples 4 Procedures for obtaining physical sarnples . 5 Procedures for obtaining biological sarnples 6 Laboratory procedures for insect rearing B Description of waste stabilization facilities q PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL FINDINGS . 13 Influentquality . t3 Dissolved oxygen relationships . 15 Sludge deposition . i9 Chernical observations at farrn stabitization pond . Z0 BIOLOGICAL RESULTS . z6 Order Odonata Z9 Order Herniptera Z9 Order Coleoptera . 30 Order Diptera. 3l LaboratoryObservations. .38 Observations at a farrn stabilization pond . 4L DISCUSSION SUMMARY 54 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 56 LtrST OF TABLES Table _Prg" Dissolved oxygen deterrninations, ternperature readings, and algal sarnples. Experirnental waste water lagoon, Corvallis, Oregon. .I4 2 Diurnal variation in dissolved oxygen content at the surface of the secondary celI, February 28, 1964. l8 3 Dissolved oxygen gradient in pprn to water depth and distance frorn the shore. South transect, waste water lagoon, 2 P. M., February 28, L964. lB 4 Variation in deptJr of core sarnples of bottorn sludge to water depth in feet. Waste water lagoon, February 28, 1964 . ,2r 5 Insects recovered frorn the experirnental waste stabilization lagoon at Corvallis, Oregon . 27 5 Nurnbers of larval Chironornidae recovered by 5 inch square dredge sarnples. North transect, prirnary cel1, waste water lagoon, August 2, L963 . 33 7 Nurnbers of larval Chironornidae recovered by 6 inch s(Iuare dredge sarnples. East transect, secondary ceIl, waste water lagoon, Corvallis, August 5, 1963 . 34 8 Nurnbers of larva1 Chironornidae recovered by 6 inch square dredge sarnples. South transect, secondary cel1, waste water lagoon, Corvallis, August !, 1963 . 34 9 Nurnbers of larval Chironornidae recovered by 6 inch square dredge sarnples. North transect, prirnary cell, waste water lagoon, Corvallis, February 6, L964 . 36 I0 Nurnbers of larval Chironornidae recovered by 6 inch square dredge sarnples. East transect, secondary cell, waste water lagoon, Corvallis, February 7, 1964. 36 1l Nurnbers of larval Chironornidae recovered by 6 inch sguare dredge sarnples. South transect, secondary ceIl, waste water lagoon, Corvallis, February 10, 1964 . 37 LIST OF F'IGURES Figure Page I Six inch square Eckrnan dredge used to obtain larval Chironornidae frorn the bottorn of the lagoon 7 ?, Floating pyrarnidal ernergence trap used to trap adult Chironom idae as they ernerged frorn the water . 7 3 Experirne ntal waste water lagoon plan. Corvallis, Oregon 10 4 East ce1l of the waste water lagoon showing grass growing along the periphery of the lagoon . l l 5 Agricultural waste water lagoon at the hog farrn. Oregon State University . l l 6 Old ox-bow of Oak Creek showing the result of effluent frorn the agricultural waste water lagoon. lZ 7 Core sarnples frorn the north transect showing an increase of sludge deposition rate to depth . ZZ 8 Core sarnples frorn the east transect showing an increase of sludge deposition rate to depth . Zz 9 Core sarnples of the south transect showing an increase of sludge depositj.on rate to depth . 23 I0 Dissolved oxygen deterrninations of sarnples taken frorn the secondary cell , experirnental waste water lagoon, Corvallis, Oregon . .25 I I Ternporal distribution of insect farnilies occurring at the experirnental waste water lagoon z8 THE ECOLOGY OF INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH WASTE WATER LAGOONS INTRODUCTION The following is a study of insects naturally occurring in ex- perirnental waste water lagoon at the City of Corvallis, and also in- cludes observations of insects and their environrnental conditions in a farrn stabilization pond located at the hog farrn of the Oregon State University Agricultural Experirnent Station, Corvallis. Observa- tions began in June 1963 and a wide variety of environrnental changes, and attendant consequences to the insect populations under study, were recorded before the terrnination of this work in March, 1964. The purpose of this study was to deterrnine what insect popula- tions occurred in the waste water facilities being studied, and to correlate the insect population structure with the physical and cherni- cal conditions found in these facilities. As our rnodern society continues to expand, waste water dis- posal problerns also expand. Waste water disposal by conventional treatrnent plants is becorning rnore expensive to operate and rnain- tain, Many smaller cornrnunities and industrial rnanufacturing plants cannot afford this increase in cost of waste water treatrnent. One answer to the high cost of waste water treatrnent is the waste water lagoon. These waste water lagoons can be built for about $4.-50 to $20.00 per capita, or about one eighth to one half the cost of a conventional plant (5, p, 771, Several general descriptions of the use of waste water lagoons and the rnechanisrn of sewage treatrnent are published (4, 9, 1I, 27, and 32). In this mechanisrn bacteria and unicellular algae play the principal role of stabilizing decornposable organic rnaterials. Microbial decornposition of unstable organic matter is usually oxidation carried out by saprophytic organisrns. These organisrns use the organic rnaterial as a source of energy in their rnetabolism. Factors affecting the degree of stabilization are the nature of the organic rnaterial and the availability of dissolved oxygen, Oxidative biochemical reactions are aerobic bacteria utilizing dissolved oxy- gen are cornplete. They produce carbon dioxide and water as end products and yield a rnaximurn of energy. Oxidation by anaerobic bacteria is incornplete, as far as sta-