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Community responses of Chironomidae (Diptera) to organic enrichment in a small Kansas Stream
Coler, Barbara G.
Coler, Barbara G.
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Abstract
Collections of chironomid pupal exuviae were made from February 1982 through February 1983 to biologically monitor water quality in two streams in Johnson County, Kansas. A comparative study was conducted, as Mill Creek is stressed by organic pollution resulting from the addition of chlorinated sewage effluent, while Cedar Creek, the control stream, is free of point source pollution. Both streams are relatively free of non-point sources of pollution.
The exuvial collections and accompanying physical-chemical data reflected vast dissimilarities between the two streams. Evaluation of the biological data (species composition, relative abundances, community indices) illustrated that water quality was much higher in Cedar Creek. The physical-chemical data corroborated these findings.
Comparisons of data for two methods of biological monitoring suggest that utilization of the chironomid community alone (i.e., chironomid pupal exuviae) will result in an adequate and accurate assessment of water quality under organic pollution stress.
Examination of chironomid emergence phenologies was not exacting but did indicate that species in either stream may be employing different emergence strategies to ensure survival within their home streams. Mill Creek species tended towards a continuous emergence pattern, while Cedar Creek species revealed more discrete and synchronized emergence patterns.
Overall, the trend in Mill Creek was toward a very reduced and therefore simple system, while Cedar Creek exhibited a much more diverse and highly complex system.
Description
M.A. University of Kansas, Entomology 1984
Date
1984-05-31
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University of Kansas
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coler_1984_924712.pdf
Adobe PDF, 2.68 MB