Aquatic EcologyAquatic EcologyAquatic EcologyAquatic Ecology• Water CycleWater Cycle

• Watershed EcologyWatershed Ecology

• Water PollutionWater Pollution

• Water QualityWater Quality

• Water CycleWater Cycle

• Watershed EcologyWatershed Ecology

• Water PollutionWater Pollution

• Water QualityWater Quality

Water CycleWater CycleWater CycleWater Cycle

WatershedsWatershedsWatershedsWatersheds

• Watershed ecology Watershed ecology • Watershed ecology Watershed ecology

Polluted StreamsPolluted StreamsPolluted StreamsPolluted Streams

Non-point Source Pollution

Garbage in streams can create poor water quality conditions from leachates

Non-point Source Pollution

Garbage in streams can create poor water quality conditions from leachates

Point Source Pollution

Industrial wastes empty directly into a stream

Point Source Pollution

Industrial wastes empty directly into a stream

Pollution SourcesPollution SourcesPollution SourcesPollution SourcesPoint-SourcesPoint-Sources (permit (permit

regulated)regulated)

- factories - factories

- food processors- food processors

- confined animal - confined animal feeding feeding operationsoperations

- sewage - sewage treatmenttreatment

Point-SourcesPoint-Sources (permit (permit

regulated)regulated)

- factories - factories

- food processors- food processors

- confined animal - confined animal feeding feeding operationsoperations

- sewage - sewage treatmenttreatment

Non-Point Sources (stormwater runoff)

- parking lots (oil, gas, antifreeze)

- household detergents (N / P)

- household chemicals

- excess fertilizers (N / heavy metals)

- Ag and urban pesticides

- Sediment (erosion)

- illegal dumping / litter leachates

- pet waste / waterfowl (N / P,

bacteria)

Non-Point Sources (stormwater runoff)

- parking lots (oil, gas, antifreeze)

- household detergents (N / P)

- household chemicals

- excess fertilizers (N / heavy metals)

- Ag and urban pesticides

- Sediment (erosion)

- illegal dumping / litter leachates

- pet waste / waterfowl (N / P,

bacteria)

Why Monitor ?Why Monitor ?Why Monitor ?Why Monitor ?• Baseline data collection Baseline data collection

• Analyze data for trends and Identify Analyze data for trends and Identify potential problemspotential problems

• Determine further testing needs Determine further testing needs ORORTake Action to correct problemsTake Action to correct problems

• Address concerns on a local level where Address concerns on a local level where agencies may not have dataagencies may not have data

• Baseline data collection Baseline data collection

• Analyze data for trends and Identify Analyze data for trends and Identify potential problemspotential problems

• Determine further testing needs Determine further testing needs ORORTake Action to correct problemsTake Action to correct problems

• Address concerns on a local level where Address concerns on a local level where agencies may not have dataagencies may not have data

Water Testing ResourcesWater Testing ResourcesWater Testing ResourcesWater Testing Resources

• Oregon’s DEQ offers Water Quality Oregon’s DEQ offers Water Quality training to volunteer groupstraining to volunteer groups

• Marion SWCD/ some Watershed Marion SWCD/ some Watershed CouncilsCouncils

• OSU Extension OSU Extension

• Adopt-A-Stream at local High SchoolsAdopt-A-Stream at local High Schools

• Oregon’s DEQ offers Water Quality Oregon’s DEQ offers Water Quality training to volunteer groupstraining to volunteer groups

• Marion SWCD/ some Watershed Marion SWCD/ some Watershed CouncilsCouncils

• OSU Extension OSU Extension

• Adopt-A-Stream at local High SchoolsAdopt-A-Stream at local High Schools

Water Quality TestingWater Quality TestingWater Quality TestingWater Quality Testing

Collecting Field Collecting Field SamplesSamples

Collecting Field Collecting Field SamplesSamples

Gather data for presentations, project monitoring, local stream studies

Gather data for presentations, project monitoring, local stream studies

Basic -Basic -Physical Chemistry:Physical Chemistry:

• pH pH • TemperatureTemperature• Dissolved oxygenDissolved oxygen• Electrical conductivity Electrical conductivity

(hardness)(hardness)• TurbidityTurbidity• Nutrients Nutrients

(nitrates/phosphates)(nitrates/phosphates)• Bacteria (E. coli or Bacteria (E. coli or

fecal coliform tests)fecal coliform tests)

Basic -Basic -Physical Chemistry:Physical Chemistry:

• pH pH • TemperatureTemperature• Dissolved oxygenDissolved oxygen• Electrical conductivity Electrical conductivity

(hardness)(hardness)• TurbidityTurbidity• Nutrients Nutrients

(nitrates/phosphates)(nitrates/phosphates)• Bacteria (E. coli or Bacteria (E. coli or

fecal coliform tests)fecal coliform tests)

Water TestsWater TestsWater TestsWater Tests

Biological testing:Biological testing:

• Macroinvertebrate Macroinvertebrate

samplingsampling

Biological testing:Biological testing:

• Macroinvertebrate Macroinvertebrate

samplingsampling

More advanced tests:More advanced tests:

• Toxins/PesticidesToxins/Pesticides

• Heavy metalsHeavy metals

More advanced tests:More advanced tests:

• Toxins/PesticidesToxins/Pesticides

• Heavy metalsHeavy metals

pHpHpHpH• alkalinity and alkalinity and

acidity (Hacidity (H220 also has 0 also has free H+ and OH- free H+ and OH- ions that determine ions that determine pH)pH)

• Natural soil Natural soil characteristics -characteristics -charged particles charged particles like Mg++, Ca++, like Mg++, Ca++, Na+ can alter pHNa+ can alter pH

• Rainwater is acidic Rainwater is acidic at 5.6at 5.6

• Fertilizers, plant Fertilizers, plant decomposition decomposition (tannic acid) lowers (tannic acid) lowers pHpH

• Most fish and Most fish and aquatic life survives aquatic life survives in 5-9 pH rangein 5-9 pH range

• alkalinity and alkalinity and acidity (Hacidity (H220 also has 0 also has free H+ and OH- free H+ and OH- ions that determine ions that determine pH)pH)

• Natural soil Natural soil characteristics -characteristics -charged particles charged particles like Mg++, Ca++, like Mg++, Ca++, Na+ can alter pHNa+ can alter pH

• Rainwater is acidic Rainwater is acidic at 5.6at 5.6

• Fertilizers, plant Fertilizers, plant decomposition decomposition (tannic acid) lowers (tannic acid) lowers pHpH

• Most fish and Most fish and aquatic life survives aquatic life survives in 5-9 pH rangein 5-9 pH range

TemperatureTemperatureTemperatureTemperature• Many Oregon streams exceed state standardsMany Oregon streams exceed state standards• Salmon & trout prefer clear cool streams, begin to die at Salmon & trout prefer clear cool streams, begin to die at 70 70 00 F F • Most aquatic life is cold-blooded and adapted to conditions Most aquatic life is cold-blooded and adapted to conditions 41 & 7741 & 77

00 FF

Factors that influence stream temperature: Factors that influence stream temperature: Shade:Shade: Streamside vegetation keeps streams cooler longer Streamside vegetation keeps streams cooler longer

(especially small streams)(especially small streams) Turbidity:Turbidity: excess causes increased temperature by suspended excess causes increased temperature by suspended

particles absorbing more solar radiationparticles absorbing more solar radiation

Flow:Flow: slow-moving water heats up more quickly slow-moving water heats up more quickly

Volume:Volume: Shallow streams heat up more quickly Shallow streams heat up more quickly

Snow Pack:Snow Pack: melting ice / snow in headwaters keeps streams colder. melting ice / snow in headwaters keeps streams colder.

Air Temp: Air Temp: surrounding air temperatures influence stream surrounding air temperatures influence stream temperatures.temperatures.

• Many Oregon streams exceed state standardsMany Oregon streams exceed state standards• Salmon & trout prefer clear cool streams, begin to die at Salmon & trout prefer clear cool streams, begin to die at 70 70 00 F F • Most aquatic life is cold-blooded and adapted to conditions Most aquatic life is cold-blooded and adapted to conditions 41 & 7741 & 77

00 FF

Factors that influence stream temperature: Factors that influence stream temperature: Shade:Shade: Streamside vegetation keeps streams cooler longer Streamside vegetation keeps streams cooler longer

(especially small streams)(especially small streams) Turbidity:Turbidity: excess causes increased temperature by suspended excess causes increased temperature by suspended

particles absorbing more solar radiationparticles absorbing more solar radiation

Flow:Flow: slow-moving water heats up more quickly slow-moving water heats up more quickly

Volume:Volume: Shallow streams heat up more quickly Shallow streams heat up more quickly

Snow Pack:Snow Pack: melting ice / snow in headwaters keeps streams colder. melting ice / snow in headwaters keeps streams colder.

Air Temp: Air Temp: surrounding air temperatures influence stream surrounding air temperatures influence stream temperatures.temperatures.

water boils

human body

lethal for salmon

water freezes

ooCC ooFF

100100 212212

9090 194194

8080 176176

7070 158158

6060 140140

5050 122122

4040 98.98.66

3030 8686

2020 6868

1010 5050

00 3232

-10-10 1414

-20-20 00

ooCC ooFF

5-13 C / 41-55 5-13 C / 41-55 o o FF(cold water fish)(cold water fish)Salmon, trout, sculpins,Salmon, trout, sculpins,mayflies, caddisflies,mayflies, caddisflies,stonefliesstoneflies

13-20 C / 55-68o FSome salmon/trout,

lamprey, sturgeon, shad, dace,

stickleback, walleye,Sculpins, mayflies,

caddisflies

20-25 C / 68-77o F(warm water fish)bass, bluegill, bullheads,carp, crappie,pikeminnow, suckersdragonflies, somecaddisflies, true flies

Collecting Continuous Temperature dataCollecting Continuous Temperature data

Summer deployment of units in streams

collect continuous summer temperaturedata

download and create graphs of Maximum Temps

Summer deployment of units in streams

collect continuous summer temperaturedata

download and create graphs of Maximum Temps

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Distance from drainage divide (miles)

62

64

66

68

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

Water Temperature (deg F)

Maximum 7-day water temperatureLate July 2004 hot spell, except as noted

Abiqua Cr at river mile 6.1upper limit for salmonids

Abiqua Cr at river mile 7.6 (late July 2002)

North Fork Silver Cr at river mile 2.4 (late July 2002)

Pudding River and lower elevation tributaries

Higher elevation tributaries

Circles are Pudding Watershed Council data.Squares are Department of Environmental Quality data.

Y = 61.3 +5.25 ln(X)R-square = 0.82, n = 20

Dissolved OxygenDissolved OxygenDissolved OxygenDissolved Oxygen• Warmer water holds less DOWarmer water holds less DO

• Algae give off oxygen when they respire during the day and use Algae give off oxygen when they respire during the day and use up oxygen when they decompose up oxygen when they decompose

• Biological Oxygen Demand or BOD: total OBiological Oxygen Demand or BOD: total O22 use by plants & use by plants & animalsanimals

• DO concentrations often lowest late at nightDO concentrations often lowest late at night

• Salmon and trout need levels above 4 mg/L, prefer to spawn in Salmon and trout need levels above 4 mg/L, prefer to spawn in areas above 8 mg/Lareas above 8 mg/L

• Warmer water holds less DOWarmer water holds less DO

• Algae give off oxygen when they respire during the day and use Algae give off oxygen when they respire during the day and use up oxygen when they decompose up oxygen when they decompose

• Biological Oxygen Demand or BOD: total OBiological Oxygen Demand or BOD: total O22 use by plants & use by plants & animalsanimals

• DO concentrations often lowest late at nightDO concentrations often lowest late at night

• Salmon and trout need levels above 4 mg/L, prefer to spawn in Salmon and trout need levels above 4 mg/L, prefer to spawn in areas above 8 mg/Lareas above 8 mg/L

Nutrients Nutrients (nitrates/phosphates)(nitrates/phosphates)Nutrients Nutrients (nitrates/phosphates)(nitrates/phosphates)

• Water needs plant nutrients in small Water needs plant nutrients in small quantitiesquantities

• Too much can cause unstable “blooms” of Too much can cause unstable “blooms” of algae that, when decomposing, consume all algae that, when decomposing, consume all the available dissolved oxygenthe available dissolved oxygen

Sources:Sources: artificial fertilizers, decomposing artificial fertilizers, decomposing plant material, open manure piles, plant material, open manure piles, detergents, wildlife and pet wastedetergents, wildlife and pet waste

• Water needs plant nutrients in small Water needs plant nutrients in small quantitiesquantities

• Too much can cause unstable “blooms” of Too much can cause unstable “blooms” of algae that, when decomposing, consume all algae that, when decomposing, consume all the available dissolved oxygenthe available dissolved oxygen

Sources:Sources: artificial fertilizers, decomposing artificial fertilizers, decomposing plant material, open manure piles, plant material, open manure piles, detergents, wildlife and pet wastedetergents, wildlife and pet waste

TurbidityTurbidityTurbidityTurbidity

• Suspended particles in water columnSuspended particles in water column• Instrument measures amount of light that can pass Instrument measures amount of light that can pass

through the water column in NTUs Nepholometric through the water column in NTUs Nepholometric Turbidity UnitsTurbidity Units

• Suspended sedimentSuspended sediment often carries soil-attached often carries soil-attached pesticides, fertilizers or other polluted runoffpesticides, fertilizers or other polluted runoff

• Sediment buries aquatic eggs, suffocates gills, warms Sediment buries aquatic eggs, suffocates gills, warms water water

• Accelerated erosion costs money in loss of topsoil, Accelerated erosion costs money in loss of topsoil, highways and sometimes homes, resulting in dredging highways and sometimes homes, resulting in dredging costs and lifespan of damscosts and lifespan of dams

• 5 NTU’s drinking water limit, 25 NTU’s fish begin to be 5 NTU’s drinking water limit, 25 NTU’s fish begin to be impaired, 100-1000 NTU’s often the level found during impaired, 100-1000 NTU’s often the level found during floods or when accelerated erosion is occurring, such floods or when accelerated erosion is occurring, such as on disturbed, unprotected soil.as on disturbed, unprotected soil.

• Suspended particles in water columnSuspended particles in water column• Instrument measures amount of light that can pass Instrument measures amount of light that can pass

through the water column in NTUs Nepholometric through the water column in NTUs Nepholometric Turbidity UnitsTurbidity Units

• Suspended sedimentSuspended sediment often carries soil-attached often carries soil-attached pesticides, fertilizers or other polluted runoffpesticides, fertilizers or other polluted runoff

• Sediment buries aquatic eggs, suffocates gills, warms Sediment buries aquatic eggs, suffocates gills, warms water water

• Accelerated erosion costs money in loss of topsoil, Accelerated erosion costs money in loss of topsoil, highways and sometimes homes, resulting in dredging highways and sometimes homes, resulting in dredging costs and lifespan of damscosts and lifespan of dams

• 5 NTU’s drinking water limit, 25 NTU’s fish begin to be 5 NTU’s drinking water limit, 25 NTU’s fish begin to be impaired, 100-1000 NTU’s often the level found during impaired, 100-1000 NTU’s often the level found during floods or when accelerated erosion is occurring, such floods or when accelerated erosion is occurring, such as on disturbed, unprotected soil.as on disturbed, unprotected soil.

Erosion Erosion Erosion Erosion

Erosion Erosion causescauses

sedimentatiosedimentationn

and turbidity and turbidity

Erosion Erosion causescauses

sedimentatiosedimentationn

and turbidity and turbidity

Bacteria (E. coli or fecal Bacteria (E. coli or fecal coliform)coliform)Bacteria (E. coli or fecal Bacteria (E. coli or fecal coliform)coliform)

• Indicator of human or animal wasteIndicator of human or animal waste• Increases in E. coli also increase the chances for Increases in E. coli also increase the chances for

associated pathogenic bacteria which cause diseaseassociated pathogenic bacteria which cause disease

Rural Sources:Rural Sources: failing septic systems, wildlife, runoff failing septic systems, wildlife, runoff from cattle or horses near streams, runoff from from cattle or horses near streams, runoff from confined animal feed lots (horse, pig, dairy, etc)confined animal feed lots (horse, pig, dairy, etc)

Urban Sources:Urban Sources: Pet waste, Pet waste, sewage overflowssewage overflows

• Indicator of human or animal wasteIndicator of human or animal waste• Increases in E. coli also increase the chances for Increases in E. coli also increase the chances for

associated pathogenic bacteria which cause diseaseassociated pathogenic bacteria which cause disease

Rural Sources:Rural Sources: failing septic systems, wildlife, runoff failing septic systems, wildlife, runoff from cattle or horses near streams, runoff from from cattle or horses near streams, runoff from confined animal feed lots (horse, pig, dairy, etc)confined animal feed lots (horse, pig, dairy, etc)

Urban Sources:Urban Sources: Pet waste, Pet waste, sewage overflowssewage overflows

Flow Flow TestingTesting Flow Flow TestingTesting

• Quantify seasonal flow in Cubic Feet / second (CFS) by taking incremental flow measurements across the stream channel

• A quick method to find a rough discharge in CFS is to record the feet/second a floating object travels and multiply by the stream cross sectional area.

• Stream gage stations allow us to quantify water volume moving through the site all through the year

• Quantify seasonal flow in Cubic Feet / second (CFS) by taking incremental flow measurements across the stream channel

• A quick method to find a rough discharge in CFS is to record the feet/second a floating object travels and multiply by the stream cross sectional area.

• Stream gage stations allow us to quantify water volume moving through the site all through the year

Biological SamplingBiological Sampling

Riffle sampling with D-frame kicknetRiffle sampling with D-frame kicknet

Using macroinvertebrate species pollution Using macroinvertebrate species pollution tolerance to measure stream healthtolerance to measure stream health

Using macroinvertebrate species pollution Using macroinvertebrate species pollution tolerance to measure stream healthtolerance to measure stream health

Macroinvertebrate Macroinvertebrate samplingsamplingMacroinvertebrate Macroinvertebrate samplingsampling

Factors:Factors:

• Pollution Pollution tolerancetolerance

• DiversityDiversity

• AbundanceAbundance

• Feeding Feeding groupsgroups

• Sediment Sediment dependencdependencee

• Stream sizeStream size

Factors:Factors:

• Pollution Pollution tolerancetolerance

• DiversityDiversity

• AbundanceAbundance

• Feeding Feeding groupsgroups

• Sediment Sediment dependencdependencee

• Stream sizeStream size

Macroinvertebrate Macroinvertebrate samplingsampling

Macroinvertebrate Macroinvertebrate samplingsampling

Non-Insect GroupsNon-Insect Groups

Water mites, Hydracarina (Water mites, Hydracarina (AcarinaAcarina))

Scuds, sowbugs, crayfish, and pals (Scuds, sowbugs, crayfish, and pals (

CrustaceaCrustacea))

Snails, limpets, clams, and mussels (Snails, limpets, clams, and mussels (

MolluscaMollusca))

Aquatic worms (Aquatic worms (

Oligochaeta, PolychaetaOligochaeta, Polychaeta))

Crayfish worms (Crayfish worms (BranchiobdellidaBranchiobdellida))

Leeches (Leeches (HirudineaHirudinea))

Hydroids (Hydroids (CnidariaCnidaria))

Flatworms (Flatworms (TurbellariaTurbellaria))

Ribbon worms (Ribbon worms (NemerteaNemertea))

Roundworms (Roundworms (NematodaNematoda))

Horsehair worms (Horsehair worms (NematomorphaNematomorpha))

Moss animals (Moss animals (EctoproctaEctoprocta))

Sponges (Sponges (PoriferaPorifera))

Insect Orders

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera)

Stoneflies (Plecoptera)

Caddisflies (Trichoptera)

True flies (Diptera)

Aquatic beetles (Coleoptera)

Dobsonflies and alderflies (

Megaloptera)

Aquatic moths (Lepidoptera)

Dragonflies and damselflies (

Odonata)

Aquatic true bugs (Hemiptera)

Springtails (Collembola)

Pollution-Sensitive Pollution-Sensitive MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebratesMayfly larva

• Important fish food

• They eat plants and algae

• Sleek body

• Abdominal gills

• Most have 3 tails

• Most have a single claw at the end of each leg

Pollution-Sensitive Pollution-Sensitive MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebratesStonefly larva

• Often found on rocks

• Predators and shredders

• Sensitive to human disturbance

• Flat in appearance

• Have two tails with many segments

• Have two claws at the end of each leg

Adult Stoneflies live only for a week to a month

Pollution-Sensitive Pollution-Sensitive MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

Water penny larva

• Armored segments

• Oval body

• Live on rocks in fast water

• Eat algae off rocks

As an adult beetle, the water penny looks very different from the larva stage.

Somewhat Tolerant Somewhat Tolerant MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

Cranefly larva

• Worm-like appearance

• Predators that may eat mosquito larvae

• Found in most aquatic habitats

• Related to flies

• Soft body

• Good food for most aquatic organisms

• No jointed legs

The adult is often mistaken for mosquitoes.

Somewhat Tolerant Somewhat Tolerant MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

Dragonfly and damselfly larva

• Not showy like the adults

• Prey on other insects

• Generally found in still water

• Have jet propulsion

• Dragonflies have thick abdomen and damselflies have thinner abdomen

Somewhat Tolerant Somewhat Tolerant MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

Scuds

Scuds are crustaceans not insects.

• Shrimp-like animals with flat bodies

• Mainly collect and gather dead food

• Found almost anywhere

• Good food source for fish

• Found in urban streams

Somewhat Tolerant Somewhat Tolerant MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

Crayfish / Crawdad

• Have 8 legs and two small to very large claws

• Have muscular and obvious tail

• Predators

• Can be found in urban streams

Pollution Tolerant Pollution Tolerant MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

Mosquito larva

• Do not need good water quality to reproduce

• Found in creeks and other places of standing water.

• Some eggs can dry out and still hatch when flooded.

• Feed on organic matter

• Wriggle

Only female mosquitoes bite.

Pollution Tolerant Pollution Tolerant MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

Black fly larva

• Very common in streams

• Bowling pin shaped

• Well-developed head

• Usually fans on top of head

• Adults are biting insects

Adult females of most black fly species require a blood meal to produce eggs.

Pollution Tolerant Pollution Tolerant MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

Flat worms

• Triangular head

• Noticeable eys spots

•Oblong

•No segments

• Common in urban areas

• Common in biology studies

Pollution Tolerant Pollution Tolerant MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

Leeches

• Variety of shapes and sizes

• Highly segmented, usually flattened bodies

•34 body segments

• Suckers evident on one or both ends

• Dark eye spots

• Have long been used for medical purposes

Marion Soil & Water Marion Soil & Water Conservation DistrictConservation DistrictMarion Soil & Water Marion Soil & Water Conservation DistrictConservation District

For more information:

http://marionswcd.net

503-391-9927(Salem)

For more information:

http://marionswcd.net

503-391-9927(Salem)