Qualitative Spot Biotic Survey of Oaks Creek, White Creek, Cripple Creek, and Moe Pond in Otsego County, New York

Qualitative spot biotic survey of Oaks Creek, White Creek, Cripple Creek, and Moe Pond in Otsego County, New York

Jeffrey S. Heilveil1 and Brett Buckhout2

INTRODUCTION

As non-native species move across the landscape and hydrofracking and other human impacts increase in scope, it is becoming more critical than ever that we can quantify changes to community structure. In order to do that, however, we must first have baseline data on which species are initially present. These baseline data also have the benefit of facilitating species- specific research by identifying populations that can be used in future studies. While the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has a stream bioassessment program, only certain navigable waters are covered and not all taxa are targeted, reducing the utility of the data collected. To increase our knowledge of the taxa present in the environs surrounding the SUNY College at Oneonta Biological Field Station in Otsego County, NY four water bodies (three streams and one pond) were qualitatively sampled for vertebrates, invertebrates, and algae.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Site Selection:

Oaks Creek, which flows for approximately 150 Km from Canadarago Lake to its confluence with the Susquehanna River, has a watershed of approximately 188.67 Km2. The riparian corridor is mostly wooded, though the creek does pass through a few farms and underneath NYS route 80. A previous survey of Oaks Creek was performed by Hingula (2005); however, the nature of the study required limited sampling and the list of taxa collected contained several suspect identifications. Oaks Creek was sampled upstream of the junction of Otsego County roads 26 & 59 (42.68oN, 74.96oW), chosen to coincide with transect 7 of Hingula (2005). White Creek drains Allan Lake and flows for 5.65 Km to Lake Otsego. The creek passes through some shallow wetlands, prior to flowing under NYS route 80. White creek was sampled at this crossing (42.81oN, 74.90oW), approximately 501 m upstream from Lake Otsego, where it flows primarily over bedrock. Cripple Creek flows for 5.70 Km from where it drains Young Lake to where it empties into Lake Otsego. The creek flows through a mix of farms and wooded areas. The creek was surveyed where it crosses Bartlett road (42.82oN, 74.90oW), 1.77 Km upstream from Lake Otsego, a site situated favorably for use in courses and future research.

1 Assistant Professor, SUNY Oneonta Biology Department. 2 BFS Intern, summer 2012. Current affiliation: SUNY College at Oneonta. Funding provided by the Otsego County Land Trust.

Moe Pond is has an area of approximately 1.56 Km2 and is situated northwest of Cooperstown, NY, slight less than 1.5 Km from Lake Otsego. The pond is actually an impoundment, with a mostly forested edge. The SUNY College at Oneonta has recently constructed a field research laboratory at the site and therefore the generation of baseline data will greatly facilitate future research. Moe Pond was sampled in a ~ 40 m radius from the spillway (42.71oN, 74.94oW). At each stream site, qualitative surveys were conducted for aquatic invertebrates using dip nets and kick screens (where appropriate), while fishes were captured via single-pass backpack electroshocking. Invertebrate sampling was performed for 3 – 6 hours of effort per site, and insects were preserved in 70% ethanol and returned to the laboratory for identification to lowest feasible taxonomic level. Fishes were identified in the field, if possible, and returned to their habitat. If they could not be confidently identified, the fish were returned to the Biological Field Station for identification and use in other Field Station research projects. Additionally, benthic algae (sensu lato) were removed from four small cobbles at each site and returned to the laboratory for identification. Sampling at Moe Pond was strictly for macroinvertebrates and performed for 6 hours of effort using dip and aerial nets. Identification of insect genera was performed in accordance with Merritt and Cummins (1995), while non-insect arthropods were identified using either Pennak (1978) or Hobbs (1989). Gastropods were identified using Harman (1982). Fishes were identified using Smith (1986). Chrysophytes were identified using Wehr et al. (2002). All names were verified as being valid as per the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (http://www.itis.gov).

RESULTS

All eight orders of commonly encountered insects were found at the stream sites; unsurprisingly, no plecopterans were found in Moe Pond. More specifically, 48 genera of insects, representing 31 families from eight orders, were recovered from the Oaks Creek site (Table 1). In addition to a host of non-insect invertebrates, six species of diatoms, one snapping turtle, and 16 fishes were also observed at this site (Table 2). White Creek was found to support 30 genera of insects from 25 families (Table 3), one native crayfish species, five species of diatoms, and 12 fishes (Table 4). Cripple Creek supported 31 insect genera (Table 5), a small number of non-insect invertebrates, four genera of diatoms, and eight fishes (Table 6). Perhaps most notable about Cripple Creek was the presence of vast tracts of the chlorophyte Cladophora, which drastically altered the surface habitat of the stream. Only 17 genera of insects were recovered from Moe Pond, along with a couple of non-insect arthropods (Table 7). Class Order Family Genus Insecta Ephemeroptera Baetidae Baetis Insecta Ephemeroptera Caenidae Caenis Insecta Ephemeroptera Ephemerellidae Drunella Insecta Ephemeroptera Ephemerellidae Timpanoga Insecta Ephemeroptera Ephemeridae Ephemera Insecta Ephemeroptera Ephemeridae Hexagenia Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Epeorus Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Heptagenia Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae MacCaffertium Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Stenacron Insecta Ephemeroptera Isonychiidae Isonychia Insecta Ephemeroptera Leptophlebiidae Paraleptophlebia Insecta Ephemeroptera Potamanthidae Anthopotamus Insecta Odonata Aeshnidae Boyeria Insecta Odonata Calopterygidae Calopteryx Insecta Plecoptera Perlidae Acroneuria Insecta Plecoptera Perlidae Agnetina Insecta Plecoptera Perlidae Neoperla Insecta Plecoptera Perlidae Paragnetina Insecta Plecoptera Pteronarcyidae Pteronarcys Insecta Hemiptera Corixidae Dasycorixa Insecta Hemiptera Corixidae Hesperocorixa Insecta Hemiptera Corixidae Trichocorixa Insecta Hemiptera Veliidae Rhagovelia Insecta Trichoptera Glossosomatidae Glossosoma Insecta Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Ceratopsyche Insecta Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Cheumatopsyche Insecta Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Hydropsyche Insecta Trichoptera Leptoceridae Ceraclea Insecta Trichoptera Philopotamidae Chimarra Insecta Trichoptera Rhyacophilidae Rhyacophila Insecta Trichoptera Uenoidae Neophylax Insecta Megaloptera Corydalidae Nigronia Insecta Megaloptera Sialidae Sialis Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Ancyronyx Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Dubraphia Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Optioservus Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Oulimnus Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Promoresia Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Stenelmis Insecta Coleoptera Hydrophilidae Paracymus Insecta Coleoptera Psephenidae Psephenus Insecta Diptera Athericidae Atherix Insecta Diptera Ceratopogonidae Probezzia Insecta Diptera Chironomidae N/A Insecta Diptera Simuliidae Prosimulium Insecta Diptera Tabanidae N/A Insecta Diptera Tipulidae Hexatoma Table 1. Insect genera recovered from Oaks Creek. Class Order Family Genus Specific epithet Bacillariophyceae Achnanthales CocconeidaceaCocconeis N/A Bacillariophyceae Naviculales Naviculaceae Navicula 2 Spp. Coscinodiscophyc Melosirales Melosiraceae Melosira N/A Fragilariophyceae Fragilariales Fragilariaceae Diatoma 2 Spp. Turbellaria N/A N/A N/A N/A Clitellata N/A N/A N/A N/A Bivalva Veneroida Dreissenidae Dreissena polymorpha Bivalva Veneroida Pisidiidae Pisidium N/A Gastropoda Neotaeniglossa Pleuroceridae Elimia virginica Gastropoda Neotaeniglossa Pleuroceridae Spirodon carinata Malacostraca Amphipoda Gammaridae Gammarus N/A Malacostraca Amphipoda Haustoriidae Pontoporeia affinis Malacostraca Decapoda Cambaridae Orconectes rusticus Malacostraca Isopoda Asellidae Caecidotea N/A Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Catostomidae Hypentelium nigricans Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Exoglossum maxillingua Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Hybognathus hankinsoni Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Hybognathus regius Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Luxilius cornutus Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Nocomis micropogon Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Notropis amoenus Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Notropis hudsonius Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Notropis rubellus Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Rhinichthys atratulus Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Rhinichthys cataractae Actinopterygii Perciformes Centrarchidae Amblopites rupestris Actinopterygii Perciformes Centrarchidae Micropterus dolomieu Actinopterygii Perciformes Percidae Etheostoma olmstedi Actinopterygii Scopaeniformes Cottidae Cottus cognatus Actinopterygii Siluriformes Ictaluridae Noturus insignis Reptilia Testudines Chelydridae Chelydra serpentina Table 2. Non-insects recovered from Oaks Creek. Class Order Family Genus Insecta Ephemeroptera Baetidae Baetis Insecta Ephemeroptera Leptophlebiidae Paraleptophlebia Insecta Ephemeroptera Ephemerellidae Drunella Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Epeorus Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Heptagenia Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae MacCaffertium Insecta Odonata Aeshnidae Boyeria Insecta Odonata Cordulegastridae Cordulegaster Insecta Plecoptera Pteronarcyidae Pteronarcys Insecta Plecoptera Perlidae Acroneuria Insecta Plecoptera Perlidae Agnetina Insecta Plecoptera Leuctridae Leuctra Insecta Hemiptera Gerridae Aquarius Insecta Hemiptera Veliidae Microvelia Insecta Trichoptera Helicopsychidae Helicopsyche Insecta Trichoptera Glossosomatidae Glossosoma Insecta Trichoptera Rhyacophilidae Rhyacophila Insecta Trichoptera Limnephilidae Pycnopsyche Insecta Trichoptera Philopotamidae Dolophilodes Insecta Trichoptera Odontoceridae Psilotreta Insecta Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Ceratopsyche Insecta Megaloptera Corydalidae Nigronia Insecta Coleoptera Psephenidae Psephenus Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Stenelmis (2 spp.) Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Optioservus Insecta Diptera Tipulidae Tipula Insecta Diptera Tipulidae Hexatoma Insecta Diptera Chironomidae N/A Insecta Diptera Athericidae Atherix Insecta Diptera Ceratopogonidae N/A Table 3. Insect genera recovered from White Creek. Class Order Family Genus Specific epithet Bacillariophyceae Achnanthales Cocconeidaceae Cocconeis N/A Bacillariophyceae Naviculales Naviculaceae Navicula N/A Coscinodiscophyceae Melosirales Melosiraceae Melosira N/A Fragilariophyceae Fragilariales Fragilariaceae Diatoma N/A Bacillariophyceae Cymbellales Gomphonemataceae Gomphonema N/A Malacostraca Decapoda Cambaridae Cambarus bartonii Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Catostomidae Catostomus commersonii Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Notemigonus crysoleucas Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Notropis hudsonius Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Rhinichthys atratulus Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Rhinichthys cataractae Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Semotilus atromaculatus Actinopterygii Perciformes Centrarchidae Lepomis gibbosus Actinopterygii Perciformes Centrarchidae Lepomis macrochirus Actinopterygii Perciformes Centrarchidae Micropterus salmoides Actinopterygii Perciformes Percidae Etheostoma olmstedi Actinopterygii Salmoniformes Salmonidae Salmo trutta Actinopterygii Siluriformes Ictaluridae Noturus insignis Table 4. Non-insects recovered from White Creek. Class Order Family Genus Insecta Ephemeroptera Tricorythidae Tricorythodes Insecta Ephemeroptera Leptophlebiidae Paraleptophlebia Insecta Ephemeroptera Baetidae Baetis Insecta Ephemeroptera Ephemerellidae Timpanoga Insecta Ephemeroptera Ephemerellidae Drunella Insecta Ephemeroptera Ephemerellidae Ephemerella Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae MacCaffertium Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Heptagenia Insecta Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Stenacron Insecta Odonata Calopterygidae Calopteryx Insecta Odonata Aeshnidae Boyeria Insecta Plecoptera Pteronarcyidae Pteronarcys Insecta Plecoptera Perlidae Acroneuria Insecta Plecoptera Perlidae Agnetina Insecta Hemiptera Gerridae Gerris Insecta Hemiptera Veliidae Rhagovelia Insecta Trichoptera Odontoceridae Psilotreta Insecta Trichoptera Brachycentridae Micrasema Insecta Trichoptera Glossosomatidae Glossosoma Insecta Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Ceratopsyche Insecta Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Cheumatopsyche Insecta Trichoptera Rhyacophilidae Rhyacophila Insecta Megaloptera Corydalidae Nigronia Insecta Coleoptera Psephenidae Psephenus Insecta Coleoptera Curculionidae* N/A Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Dubiraphia Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Optioservus Insecta Coleoptera Elmidae Oulimnius Insecta Diptera Tipulidae Hexatoma Insecta Diptera Athericidae Atherix Insecta Diptera Chironomidae N/A Table 5. Insects recovered from Cripple Creek. * = potential terrestrial species Class Order Family Genus Specific epithet Bacillariophyceae Thalassiophysales Catenulaceae Amphora N/A Bacillariophyceae Naviculales Naviculaceae Navicula Multiple spp. Coscinodiscophyceae Melosirales Melosiraceae Melosira N/A Bacillariophyceae Cymbellales Gomphonemataceae Gomphonema N/A Gastropoda Neotaeniglossa Physidae Physa integra Malacostraca Amphipoda Gammaridae Gammarus N/A Malacostraca Amphipoda Haustoriidae Pontoporeia affinis Malacostraca Decapoda Cambaridae Orconectes rusticus Malacostraca Isopoda Asellidae Caecidotea N/A Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Catostomidae Erimyzon oblongus Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Exoglossum maxillingua Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Rhinichthys atratulus Actinopterygii Cypriniformes Cyprinidae Rhinichthys cataractae Actinopterygii Perciformes Centrarchidae Micropterus salmoides Actinopterygii Perciformes Percidae Etheostoma olmstedi Actinopterygii Salmoniformes Salmonidae Salmo trutta Actinopterygii Siluriformes Ictaluridae Noturus insignis Table 6. Non-insects recovered from Cripple Creek.

Class Order Family Genus / species Malacostraca Amphipoda Haustoriidae Pontoporeia affinis Turbellaria N/A N/A N/A Insecta Ephemeroptera Caenidae Caenis Insecta Odonata Aeshnidae Aeshna Insecta Odonata Corduliidae Epitheca Insecta Odonata Coenegrionidae Coenegrion/Enellagma Insecta Odonata Libellulidae Libellula Insecta Odonata Libellulidae Sympetrum Insecta Hemiptera Gerridae Rheumatobates reileyi Insecta Hemiptera Pleidae Neoplea Insecta Trichoptera Leptoceridae Mystacides Insecta Trichoptera Limnephilidae N/A (empty case found) Insecta Trichoptera Molannidae Molanna Insecta Megaloptera Sialidae Sialis Insecta Coleoptera Dytiscidae Uvarus Insecta Coleoptera Haliplidae Haliplus (2 spp.) Insecta Diptera Chironomidae N/A Insecta Diptera Ceratopogonidae Probezzia Insecta Diptera Tabanidae Chrysops Table 7. Invertebrates recovered from Moe Pond. DISCUSSION

Oaks Creek had the greatest diversity of taxa of all the sites sampled. Although richness was greatest for the Ephemeroptera (13 genera), the family with the greatest number of genera was the coleopteran Elmidae (6 genera). Only two of these elmids, Stenelmis and Optioservus, appear in the Otsego County Insect Collection housed at SUNY College at Oneonta, and only Ancyronyx was recovered by Hingula (2005) at this location. Overall, Hingula (2005) recovered seven genera of insects that were not seen in the present study; however, one genus does not exist (potential typographic error of a genus that was collected), one genus has since been split (and the newly created genus was recovered in large numbers), and four of the genera are unlikely to have been found at this location (potential identification errors). The present study revealed 10 genera of Ephemeroptera, 2 of Odonata, 3 of Plecoptera, 4 of Hemiptera, 4 of Trichoptera, 2 of Megaloptera, 6 of Coleoptera, and 5 of Diptera that had not been previously recorded for this site. Of the non- insect arthropods, one additional amphipod was recovered, as was one bivalve, a leech and a flatworm (that were unable to be identified further), and Dreissena polymorpha. The last of these is unsurprising, as Hingula (2005) found D. polymorpha both upstream and downstream of the sampled location. White Creek was the only location sampled that lacked Orconectes rusticus, and the only site found to support native crayfishes. This site also supported a population of Helicopsyche borealis, which has not been recovered recently from other streams in the area, despite heavy sampling (Heilveil, personal observation). This site is perhaps the most promising for future work, due to its distinctive collection of taxa. Cripple Creek had the least richness among the stream sites, but supported both genera that have strict oxygen and flow requirements (e.g. Epeorus), as well as those that do well in less oxygenated waters (i.e. Tricorythodes). It should be noted that Cripple Creek was extensively sampled in June of 2011 by a field entomology course from SUNY College at Oneonta and a far greater number of taxa were encountered. The lack of precipitation in 2012 left Cripple Creek with approximately 1/3 the stream width of the previous summer. Coupled with the Cladophora mats that were present in 2012, but absent the previous summer, these factors may explain the lower levels of taxonomic richness observed. While there were no surprises in the taxa recovered from Moe Pond, these baseline data will be invaluable for comparison with later work. For all of these sites, having current data on which taxa are present will facilitate both the research and teaching mission of the Biology Field Station.

Acknowledgements We would like to thank Matthew Albright, Florian Reyda, and Justin Hulbert for aid in collection and identification, landowners for easier access to the water bodies, and the 2012 BFS summer interns for assistance in sampling. Collections were made under the NYS DEC License to Collect or Possess #1225 assigned to WN Harman. This work was funded by a research grant from the SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station to J.S. Heilveil.

REFERENCES

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Hingula, L. 2005. Benthic macroinvertebrate survey of Oaks Creek, Otsego County, NY, during the initial stages of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) colonization. In 37th Annual Report (2004). SUNY Oneonta Biol. Fld. Sta., SUNY Oneonta.

Hobbs, H. 1989. An illustrated checklist of the American crayfishes (Decapoda: Astacidae, Cambaridae,and Parastacidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Biology. 480:1-236.

Merritt, R.W. and K.W. Cummins. 1995. An introduction to the aquatic insects of North America, 3rd Edition. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company. Dubuque, IA.

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Smith L.C. 1985. The inland fishes of New York State. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Wehr, J.D., R.G. Sheath, P. Kociolek and J.H. Thorp. 2002. Freshwater algae of North America: Ecology and Classification. Academic Press.