The Problem

Most measures of biological recovery from acidification are insufficient, clunky, subject to sampling bias, subjective, difficult to interpret.

Water sampling, while quantitative, is expensive and only measures chemistry, not whether the community is recovering.

Caecidotea

Leuctridae Simulidae Nemouridae

Chironom

idae

The Problem

No good quantitative or qualitative method exists to measure how badly an aquatic invertebrate community is affected by acidification effects. We need one number, not several:

% EPT % Ephemeroptera% Chironomidae % DominantTaxa Richness Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI)Shannon Diversity PA DEP Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI)Density

The Solution?

No metrics are indexed to the effects of acidification on biological communities… we need a Hilsenhoff for acid.

A good metric should also incorporate facets of community health: richness, diversity, and trophic function… and should be sensitive, but not overly sensitive or biased.

The Solution!

Consequently builds from:

1. Acid Tolerance Values (like Hilsenhoff’s PTVs)2. Acid Tolerance Index (the weighted average of PTVs)3. Index of Biotic Acidification (the IBA, a multi-metric

index)

It all began in 2007…

The Process!1. Collect, process, and analyze A LOT of data!

– ~50,000 insects; 10,000+ water quality data values

2. Run Macroinvertebrate Weighted Chemical Means through Principle Components Analysis (PCA)...

3. Run PCA eigenvectors through k-means clustering to assign ATVs to each taxa collected…

4. Assign co-dominance information to assign ATVs to uncollected taxa…

5. Choose metrics for IBA and test, test, test.

Macroinvertebrate Weighted Chemical Means

Taxa pH Acidity Alk45 fakeANC ANC CaD AlD FeD MnD NaD MgD KD SO4

Acentrella MWCM 7.175831 -4.59931 14.14558 18.74489 332.9261 7.834149 0.02278 0.0199 0.00295 0.535483 1.069441 0.500688 8.52376

Atherix MWCM 6.990715 -0.83878 6.860194 7.69897 144.6448 3.482952 0.025238 0.020985 0.002982 1.280265 0.981448 1.054453 7.486414

Stenelmis MWCM 6.988587 -7.1 10.8 17.9 229.9201 3.897 0.03205 0.1605 0.10845 3.354 1.5925 0.999 6.489999

Mystacides MWCM 6.97444 3.974999 5.974999 2 105.9371 2.792499 0.0263 0.021537 0.003487 0.99675 0.82675 1.082666 6.639999

Isogenoides MWCM 6.97444 3.974999 5.974999 2 105.9371 2.792499 0.0263 0.021537 0.003487 0.99675 0.82675 1.082666 6.639999

Agnetina MWCM 6.959685 -4.83808 7.598627 12.43671 202.1648 3.720949 0.026845 0.020783 0.002543 2.382508 1.343942 0.999 6.281492

Rhithrogena MWCM 6.95549 -6 7.699997 13.69999 195.7742 5.256498 0.0177 0.02295 0.0039 5.301998 1.547499 0.999 8.749997

Anthopotamus MWCM 6.947128 -2.9 7.300005 10.20001 200.8297 2.665002 0.0324 0.0199 0.00199 1.034501 1.255001 0.999001 4.320003

Remenus MWCM 6.924595 -5.6 8.099998 13.7 158.7508 4.130999 0.0104 0.0199 0.002895 0.4765 0.964 1.1115 7.419998

Ptychoptera MWCM 6.924595 -5.6 8.1 13.7 158.7508 4.131 0.0104 0.0199 0.002895 0.4765 0.964 1.1115 7.42

Phylocentropus MWCM 6.924595 -5.6 8.099998 13.7 158.7508 4.130999 0.0104 0.0199 0.002895 0.4765 0.964 1.1115 7.419998

Podura MWCM 6.92202 -3.4 9.799998 13.2 203.2675 4.455499 0.05265 0.02795 0.0106 0.718 1.357 0.999 7.449998

Drunella MWCM 6.912731 -5.03859 8.597459 13.63605 202.3538 5.149197 0.021544 0.020743 0.003101 1.971239 1.147833 0.866567 8.23265

Leucrocuta MWCM 6.889013 -1.71557 6.645607 8.361179 151.5079 3.510396 0.030424 0.021253 0.005436 1.512428 1.088057 1.02797 7.35183

Yugus MWCM 6.871548 -3.54104 9.836675 13.37771 242.6052 5.679465 0.025987 0.0199 0.002575 0.559215 0.947632 0.682636 7.420164

Chimarra MWCM 6.871068 -6.49924 10.56733 17.06657 224.785 3.889476 0.034885 0.150743 0.100694 3.149528 1.560355 0.999 6.512453

Paragnetina MWCM 6.867173 -0.48368 5.891577 6.375254 121.1401 2.922677 0.034929 0.029598 0.009933 0.695435 0.881028 1.028056 6.56967

Hydracarina MWCM 6.84799 -1.59781 6.823503 8.421314 148.6907 2.959577 0.042286 0.044877 0.025913 1.108253 0.972531 0.877806 5.923548

Ectopria MWCM 6.840646 -3.3504 7.513346 10.86374 164.4043 3.925189 0.031747 0.0206 0.003869 1.329609 1.121494 0.970695 7.422215

Ephemera MWCM 6.837595 -1.77644 7.015703 8.792144 156.9036 3.463467 0.042459 0.03454 0.020791 1.360974 1.196446 0.955328 7.11798

Isonychia MWCM 6.833088 2.08821 6.302358 4.214148 153.8725 1.958976 0.065821 0.061034 0.055832 0.811949 1.08118 0.999 3.80583

Dubiraphia MWCM 6.827766 1.936748 6.746132 4.809384 153.6744 2.079516 0.069126 0.087024 0.077793 1.150132 1.116171 0.999 4.091462

Anchytarsus MWCM 6.825107 -5.91476 9.864701 15.77946 211.476 3.801443 0.037346 0.138359 0.092625 2.999634 1.494051 0.989778 6.670819

Hydropsyche MWCM 6.823364 -5.29725 8.366286 13.66353 180.8029 3.345358 0.037098 0.133233 0.071516 2.484172 1.369184 0.999 6.821257

Serratella MWCM 6.810008 -0.14211 6.246692 6.388797 141.7883 2.783601 0.052072 0.04616 0.033496 0.700066 1.031387 0.996058 5.937703

Culicoides MWCM 6.803707 3.6 6.000001 2.4 139.6411 1.745 0.07595 0.0735 0.07215 0.7445 1.0285 0.999 3.65

Epiphragma MWCM 6.788587 -0.8 5.800001 6.600001 140.4362 2.479 0.029 0.0199 0.00199 0.7995 1.4415 0.8505 7.325001

Diphetor MWCM 6.77741 -4.09985 6.644433 10.74429 156.9282 3.129845 0.035424 0.050914 0.02666 1.565227 1.141339 0.965784 6.507166

Pteronarcys MWCM 6.771407 -3.62766 6.324298 9.951957 138.9905 3.557731 0.030186 0.022734 0.005358 1.403033 1.069419 1.000116 7.342066

MWCM PCA

AMD

Chronic → Episodic

Neutral

Sialis

Nigronia

Epeorus

BaetisPteronarcys

Peltoperla

Leuctra

Rhithrogena

Acroneuria

Stenelmis

Acentrella

Cluster AnalysisNearest neighbour

Euclidean

S tenacroH abrophlMaccaffeN yctiophN eophy laTipula MS ty logomB ezz ia MR asvenaA trichopP s ilotreE phemereA croneurGomphusS phaeri iH exatomaH elichusIsogenoiMystacidC alopterH eptagenMolophi lOrconec tLitobranN ematodaB aetiscaTallaperIsoperlaLepidos tP rosimulC eratopoA meletusC eratopsP rostoiaMic rasemTurbel laS trophopD olophi lS w eltsaLanthusLype MW CP romoresA ttenel lA gapetusD iplectrD ic ranotP ycnopsyP seudoliE peorusH aploperA lloperlP araleptP aragnetC hironomC ambarusE urylophB oyeriaA pataniaD iploperC ordulegN eoplas tIronoquiTaenioptMolannaS imuliumP olycentOptioserGlossosoLeptophlA cerpennE ccopturH ydatophR hyacophLeuctraS yrphidaP edic iaP latycenOligochaA mphinemP sephenuP aranemoE ctopriaC heumatoH abrophlP tychoptR emenusP hylocenD iphetorE phemeraA therixS erratelA ntochaE piphragC inygmulLeucrocuB aetis MH ydracarOulimniuP teronarC ulicoidIsonychiD ubiraphOstracodP arapsycP eltoperP hantolaH ydroporS iphlonuH eteroplTabanusS oyedinaP aracapnP ti los toH ydroptiOl igostoA dicrophS tygonecOemopterS tegopteB rachyceW ormaldiTaenioneS tratiomOreogetoC ollemboA llocapnC heli ferH ansonopP erlestaH emerodrH yalellaMalirekuN igroniaP ilariaOs trocerC hrysopsD y tiscidLimoniaP lanorbiD olichopMusc idaeB ranchioA gnetinaD runellaP odura MA nthopotR hithrogA nchytarC himarraS tenelmiY ugus MWH ydropsyP robezz iS igara MP alaeagaC aec idotS ialis MOrmosiaH ygrotusA centrel

240 200 160 120 80 40 0

Taxa bATVDolichopodidae 10Dytiscidae 10Hygrotus 10Muscidae 10Ormosia 10Palaeagapetus 10Planorbidae 10Probezzia 10Sialis 10Sigara 10Adicrophleps 9Allocapnia 9Chrysops 9Collembola 9Hansonoperla 9Hyalella 9Nigronia 9Oemopteryx 9Oligostomis 9Oreogeton 9Ostrocerca 9Pilaria 9Stegopterna 9Stratiomyidae 9Stygonectes 9Taenionema 9Wormaldia 9Amphinemura 8Boyeria 8Brachycentrus 8Caecidotea 8Cambarus 8Chironomidae 8Hemerodromia 8Heteroplectron 8Hydroporus 8Hydroptila 8Leuctra 8Paracapnia 8Parapsyche 8Peltoperla 8Phantolabis 8Polycentropus 8Ptilostomis 8Rhyacophila 8Siphlonurus 8Soyedina 8Tabanus 8Taeniopteryx 8Acerpenna 7Agapetus 7Apatania 7Attenella 7Chelifera 7Cordulegaster 7Dicranota 7Diplectrona 7Diploperla 7Dolophilodes 7Eccoptura 7Eurylophella 7Glossosoma 7Hexatoma 7Hydatophylax 7Ironoquia 7Lepidostoma 7Leptophlebia 7Micrasema 7Molanna 7Neoplasta 7Oligochaeta 7Paranemoura 7Pedicia 7Platycentropus 7Prosimulium 7Pseudolimnophila 7Pycnopsyche 7Simulium 7Strophopteryx 7Sweltsa 7Syrphidae 7Tallaperla 7Turbellaria 7Acroneuria 6 6Ameletus 6Baetisca 6Branchiobdellida 6Ceratopogon 6Ceratopsyche 6Isoperla 6Lanthus 6Litobrancha 6Lype 6Malirekus 6Nematoda 6Optioservus 6Ostracoda 6Perlesta 6Promoresia 6Prostoia 6Atrichopogon 5Bezzia 5Calopteryx 5Gomphus 5Habrophlebia 5Helichus 5Heptagenia 5Isogenoides 5Limonia 5Maccaffertium 5Molophilus 5Mystacides 5Neophylax 5Nyctiophylax 5Orconectes 5Paragnetina 5Psilotreta 5Rasvena 5Sphaeriidae 5Stenacron 5Stylogomphus 5Tipula 5Acentrella 4Alloperla 4Antocha 4Culicoides 4Epeorus 4Ephemerella 4Epiphragma 4Haploperla 4Oulimnius 4Paraleptophlebia 4Psephenus 4Pteronarcys 4Serratella 4Atherix 3Baetis 3Cheumatopsyche 3Cinygmula 3Diphetor 3Dubiraphia 3Ectopria 3Ephemera 3Habrophlebiodes 3Hydracarina 3Hydropsyche 3Isonychia 3Leucrocuta 3Phylocentropus 3Ptychoptera 3Remenus 3Agnetina 2Anchytarsus 2Anthopotamus 2Chimarra 2Drunella 2Podura 2Rhithrogena 2Stenelmis 2Yugus 2

Caecidotea 8Cambarus 8Chironomidae 8Hemerodromia 8Heteroplectron 8Hydroporus 8Hydroptila 8Leuctra 8Paracapnia 8Parapsyche 8Peltoperla 8

Phantolabis 8Polycentropus 8Ptilostomis 8Rhyacophila 8Siphlonurus 8Soyedina 8Tabanus 8Taeniopteryx 8Acerpenna 7Agapetus 7Apatania 7Attenella 7Chelifera 7Cordulegaster 7Dicranota 7Diplectrona 7Diploperla 7Dolophilodes 7Eccoptura 7Eurylophella 7

Acid ToleranceValues[0 to 10]

The results!

Can now calculate the ATI score, which is the weighted mean value of all ATV scores in sample.Example:

• 100 X Leuctra (ATV = 8) = 800• 50 X Baetis (ATV = 3) = 150• 25 X Epeorus (ATV = 4) = 100• 15 X Hydropsyche (ATV = 3) = 45• 10 X Isonychia (ATV = 3) = 30

1125/200 = 5.63 average ATV, or the sample’s Acid Tolerance Index (ATI).

On to the IBA!

With the ATV and ATI (both empirically indices to measured invertebrate responses to acidification), we can design better metrics and build a multi-metric Index of Biotic Acidification (IBA).

By the way, the ATI alone can be used as a measure of acidification, but is not sensitive enough to differentiate between AMD and natural, chronic acidification… and between borderline episodic (at risk) and more neutral streams.

Index of Biotic Acidification (IBA) [βeta v.1]

• 7 Metric Scores summed and averaged• 5 are unique, 4 of these require ATV or ATI derived information• Shannon Diversity and Taxa Richness use PA DEP IBI benchmark values• 0-35 ≈ non acidic, 36-70 ≈ episodic, 71-90 ≈ chronic & AMD influenced, <90 ≈ AMD

Metric Scores

βIBA-----> 45.21

1

2

ILS

ILS

ILS

Glade Run Headwaters: Index of Biotic Acidification 1998-2007

Site 03GR is an untreated, AMD-influenced control site above one of the three ILS dosing sites; an upstream ALD went online in 2001, which the IBA seems to have picked up.

Site 02FRR (Flat Rock Run) is an untreated chronically acidified control site upstream from 03GR.

1

1

2

ILS

ILS

ILS

2

14GR

16DC(400m down-stream from 17DC)

2

Y1998 Y1999 Y2000 Y2001 Y2002 Y2003 Y2004 Y2005 Y2006 Y2007 Y2008 Y2009 Y2010 Y2011 Y2012 Y20130

100200300400500600

Instream Limestone Sand (MT) 1998-2013

XX

3 year bug sampling & ILS dosing gap

3 year bug sampling & ILS dosing gap

3- and 2- year ILS dosing gap

X X

X X3X

3X<-X

<-XX = no ILS before bugs, = ILS before | red bar = chronic, orange bar = episodic range

Dunbar Creek: Index of Biotic Acidification 1998-2013

Glade Run: Index of Biotic Acidification 1998-20132

a

a

b

b

c

c

In 2008, I asked this:

Source: National Atmospheric Deposition Program (1978-2012)

Since 2008, acidic deposition has dropped dramatically across the Mid-Atlantic, from a mean pH of ~4.6 to ~4.9—a 50% decrease in H+ ion concentration in 5 years.

pH 4.6

pH 4.6

pH 4.5

pH 4.5

pH 5.2

pH 4.9

pH 4.9

pH 4.9

US Electricity Generated by Source by 2003-2012

Nat. Gas

Nuclear

Hydro

“Green”

Since 2008, coal-fired electricity generationhas decreased 468k KW, or 23.6%

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

Coal

Source: US Energy Information Administration, www.eia.govImage: Wikipedia Commons

MW

Questions?