Influence of Watershed Urbanization on Fine Sediment and Macroinvertebrate Assemblage Characteristics in Tennessee Ridge and Valley Streams

Abstract

Benthic macroinvertebrates and sediments were sampled in second-to fourth-order Tennessee Ridge and Valley streams and evaluated relative to urban land use and natural riparian cover. Site-specific estimates of EPT family richness (number of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera families) ranged from 3 to 15. Urban land use in the watershed (from < 1 to 27 %) was directly correlated with total suspended solids, sediment coverage, sediment depth, and oligochaete abundance. Watershed urban land use was inversely correlated with EPT family richness and relative abundances of EPT, filterers, and predators. Riparian forest cover was inversely correlated with total suspended solids, and total plant/wetland cover in the buffer was directly correlated with overall invertebrate taxa richness. Although natural riparian features appeared to have a positive influence on stream habitat quality and biotic conditions, correlations were stronger at the catchment scale. Relationships observed in this study underscore the negative effects of increased watershed urbanization on environmental conditions (more sedimentation) and benthic invertebrate assemblages (fewer pollution-sensitive insects, filterers, and predators) in small to midsize streams.

Effects of deposited fine sediment on life history traits of Physa integra snails

“…Benthic invertebrates can be affected by elevated levels of suspended sediment, bedload transport and sediment deposition at the individual (physiology and behavior; McClelland & Brusven, 1980;Newcombe & MacDonald, 1991;Peeters et al, 2006), population (Stone et al, 2005), and community (composition, diversity, richness and food web dynamics; Freeman & Schorr, 2004;Kaller & Hartman, 2004;Schofield et al, 2004, Rabeni et al, 2005 levels. At the individual level, increases in suspended sediment levels tend to clog feeding structures and reduce feeding efficiency in filter-feeding invertebrates, which can reduce growth rates and may cause mortality (Newcombe & MacDonald, 1991).…”

Review of the effects of in-stream pipeline crossing construction on aquatic ecosystems and examination of Canadian methodologies for impact assessment

“…Less diverse and more tolerant taxa occurred in stream reaches that were exposed to increased turbidity, nutrients, and specific conductance generated by riparian disturbance. In a similar study, Freeman and Schorr (2004) noted that increased TSS concentration and sediment accumulation in small, urban streams in the United States resulted in increased abundance of tolerant, and decreased richness of sensitive invertebrates. Abundance of sensitive taxa, filterers, and predators was also reduced in these streams.…”

Effects of urbanization, construction activity, management practices, and impoundments on suspended-sediment transport in Johnson County, northeast Kansas, February 2006 through November 2008

“…Additionally, fine sediment deposition in streambeds has been linked to decreases in the diversity of fish and macroinvertebrate communities (Walters and others, 2003;Freeman and Schorr, 2004;U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006).…”

“…Increased water routing to streams from impervious surfaces in urban basins facilitates the transport of sediments (and associated contaminants) downstream. Increased sediment deposition and (or) changes to natural streamflow conditions have been linked to decreased diversity of macroinvertebrate and fish communities (Walters and others, 2003;Freeman and Schorr, 2004;Poff and others, 2006).…”