1. Five Years of Biomonitoring at a Southern New Hampshire Stream
Otter Brook Farm
Harris Center For Conservation Education
Rick Van de Poll, Ph. D.
Laurel Swope, M.S.

2. Otter Brook Farm Overview
“The Otter Brook Farm Trust exists to preserve the integrity, the stability, the beauty and the sanctity of its community, which includes land, water, plants and animals and the people who live there and those that visit for education and inspiration.”
Otter Brook Farm Mission Statement May 2008

3. Harris Center in the Schools Program

4. Otter Brook Farm Project
Began in Spring 2008
Two local 8th-Grade classes focus on Field Ecology
High School Envirothon skills training
Adult Ed Programs & Field Trips

5. Otter Brook Farm Project
Over 100 students served each year
Teacher & Parent assisted hands-on learning
Coached by experts & professional biologists
Culminates in June Symposium for both schools

6. OBF Water Quality Sampling Sites

7. Otter Brook Farm Bogle Brook Site
Nigronia sp.

8. Otter Brook Farm Bogle Brook Site
Peltoperla sp.
Acroneuria sp.

9. Otter Brook Farm Bogle Brook Site
White sucker
Creek chub

10. Otter Brook Farm Bogle Brook Site
Siphloplecton sp.
Hagenius brevistylus

11. NH Rapid Stream Assessment Technique
This was the data form we first used, which was then modified after several years of field testing

12. Field Testing Results Using the RSAT Data Form
Students were far better collectors than anticipated
> 100 bugs were usually collected
Species diversity ranged from 17 – 44 spp.
Species were regularly ID’d well below RSAT groups
The RSAT WQ Index was better understood when based on 100 points

13. Changes Made to the RSAT Data Form
WQ Index based on 100 pts
WQ ratios per group were altered to better reflect distribution data
Tolerance groups were re-aligned according to EPA biometrics data and regional tolerance values
Greater specificity was given to the level of effort and substrate type(s) sampled

14. The NH RSAT Data Form
NEW

15. Sample Species – Nov 2012 Organism Insect Order # Found 11/13/12
Total
Mayflies
Ephemeroptera
Heptageniidae - Flathead mayfly 2 10 12
Leptophlebiidae - Pronggill mayfly 11 9 20
Baetidae - Small Minnow mayfly 14 23
Other Mayfly 5 7
Dragonflies (Anisoptera)
Odonata
Aeshna - Darners 1
Boyeria - Fawn Darner 4
Cordulegaster - Spike tail 13
Libellulidae - Skimmer
Damselflies (Zygoptera)
Calopterygidae - Broadwinged
Stoneflies
Plecoptera
Peltoperlidae - Roachlike stonefly
Perlidae - Common stonefly 6
Perlodidae - Perlodid stonefly
Chloroperlidae - Green stonefly
Nemouridae - Nemourid stonefly 3
Capniidae - Winter stonefly 8
Leuctridae - Rollwinged stonefly
True Bugs
Hemiptera
Notonectidae - Backswimmer
Veliidae - Broad-shouldered water strider
Gerridae - Common water strider
Nepidae - Water scorpion

16. Sample Species – Nov 2012 Caddisflies Trichoptera
Glossosomidae - Saddlecase makers
Hydropsychidae - Common netspinners
Hydroptilidae - Micro caddisflies
Lepidostomatidae - Box casemakers
Leptoceridae - Longhorn casemakers
Limnephilidae - Northern casemakers 4 8 12
(Pycnopsyche - Leafy casemakers) 18 26
Phryganeidae - Giant casemakers 1
Rhyacophilidae - Free-living caddisflies 2
Unknown sand casemaker
Dobsonflies-Fishflies-Alderflies
Megaloptera
Corydalus - Dobsonfly
Nigronia - Fishfly 6
Sialis - Alderfly
Beetles
Coleoptera
Dytiscidae - Predaceous diving beetle
Elmidae - Riffle beetle
Gyrinidae - Whirligig beetle 3
Haliplidae - Crawling water beetle
Hydrophilidae - Water scavenger beetle
Psephenidae - Water penny
True Flies
Diptera
Ceratopogonidae - Biting midges
Chironomidae - Tanypod bloodworms 7
Chironomidae - Chironomid midges
Cuculiidae - Mosquitoes
Tipulidae - Craneflies
sum 81
105
186

17. Findings for

18. Acknowledgments Otter Brook Farm Landowners
Otter Brook Farm is comprised of 1850 acres, over 1000 acres of which is in permanent conservation. Old growth swamp forests, sinuous beaver meadowlands, centuries old cellar holes, rushing streams & trout-filled brooks are all a part of this remarkable landscape. Yet Otter Brook Farm would not even be known or thought of were it not for the vision of its owners and the following of hundreds of students and visitors who come every year to enjoy its beauty…
Acknowledgments
Otter Brook Farm Landowners
Crotched Mountain Foundation
Harris Center for Conservation Education
Peterborough Conservation Commission
NHDES Biomonitoring Program