1. Analyzing Stream Condition Using EMAP Algae Data By Nick Paretti ARIZONA PHYCOLOGY ECOL 475

2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) The EMAP Western Pilot Study requires a representative sample of biotic assemblages along with physical and chemical measures across 12 western states The sampling consists of the five following components: water chemistry, physical habitat, periphyton assemblage, benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage, and aquatic vertebrate assemblage. The data will be used to generate state and regional scale assessments of the condition of ecological resources in the western United States, and to identify stressors associated with the degradation of these resources.

3. Questions to Answer EPA What proportion of stream and river miles in the western U.S. are in acceptable (or poor) biological condition? What is the relative importance of potential stressors (habitat modification, sedimentation, nutrients, temperature, grazing, timber harvest, etc.) in streams and rivers across the West? This project Use a random subset of data (n=168) Statistical analyses Oneway ANOVA and simple regression Determine if algae can be used as an indicator of stream condition

4. Cladophora Chlorophyte (Green Algae) Chlorophylls a and b Xanthans and Carotenoids Filamentous Habitat for Macroinvertebrate Fish cover for young Food source

5. Microcystis Cyanobacteria (blue- green algae) Unicellular clusters Nitrogen fixation Chlorophyll a and phycobilins Indicator of eutrophication Lacking a membrane- bounded nucleus Wide range of temperatures

6. EMAP Protocol Randomly selected Site Reach 40 X channel width 11 transects Canopy cover Densiometer Six measurements are obtained at each cross-section transect  Measurements in four directions at mid-channel and one at each bank Water body character Assign a rating of 1 (highly disturbed) to 5 (pristine) based on your  5. Beautiful, could not be any nicer.  4. Very minor aesthetic problems; excellent for swimming, boating, enjoyment.  3. Enjoyment impaired.  2. Level of enjoyment substantially reduced.  1. Enjoyment nearly impossible.

7. Canopy Cover Riparian canopy cover Stream temperatures Shading / Light penetration Inputs of coarse and fine particulate organic material Organic inputs are food for stream organisms

8. Relation of Canopy Negative Relationship Less light Less photosynthesis Less primary productivity R-square.04 F-ratio <.0001 N=168

9. Dominant Land Use Algal biomass as an indicator of nutrient enrichment Problems related to excessive nutrient enrichment Eutrophication Algal blooms Depletion of Oxygen Suburban/ town Human activities, fertilizer application, burning of fossil fuels Range Animal Waste Agriculture Eutrophic Fertilizers Forested streams Oligotrophic Leaf litter

10. Dominant Land Use Oneway ANOVA Analyzing percent algae The Forest dominated stream is statistically different than Range and Suburban/town Statistically level 5 of Pristine is different than level 1 Trends Prob > F 0.0024 Prob > F 0.0686

11. Nutrients Water Chemistry Inconclusive evidence comparing percent algae to Nutrient concentrations Selected chemicals NO3, DOC, DIC, NH4, total phosphorus, total nitrogen (dissolved inorganic and organic nitrogen and articulate organic and inorganic nitrogen, minus N2 gas) The forest dominated stream is statistically different than the agriculture dominated stream

12. Nutrients

13. Stream Order Increased Velocity Increased Volume Increased Inputs Organic Matter Human Influences Fertilizers Nutrient Load More Algae Blooms Analyzing percent algae A first order stream is statistically different than a seventh order stream Trends

14. Stream Order Prob > F 0.0119

15. Conclusions Algae as a biological indicator Identify algae Identify stressors associated with the degradation of stream habitat Canopy Cover Dominant Land use Aesthetic appeal Nutrients Stream Order Interpret the data and apply it to vertebrate communities and restoration Produce unbiased estimates of the ecological condition of surface waters across a large geographic area (or areas) of the West