WATER QUALITY AT SELECTED STATIONS IN THE CONECUH-ESCAMBIA RIVER DURING · PDF file · 2013-01-24WATER QUALITY AT SELECTED STATIONS IN THE CONECUH-ESCAMBIA RIVER DURING 1988

WATER QUALITY

AT SELECTED STATIONS

IN THE CONECUH-ESCAMBIA RIVER

DURING 1988

Table 1

\.,later quality parameters and their respective methodsmeasured on water samples from the

Conecuh-Escambia Rivers 19 October 1988

Parameter Method

Dissolved oxygen

Temperature °c

Biochemical Oxygen Demand(BODS)

Sludge oxygen consumption rate(SOD) (mg/g)/h

Nitrite (N02)

Nitrate (N03)

Ammonia (NH3)

Orthophosphate (P04-)

YSI oxygen meter

YSI oxygen meter

Standard Methods, APHA, 1985 1

Standard Methods, APHA, 1985 1

Colorimetric, Boyd, 1979 2

Cadmium Reduction-StandardMethods-APHA, 1985 1

Phenate Method-StandardMethods-APHA, 19851

Ascorbic Acid-StandardMethods-APHA, 19851

1. American Public Health Associations. American \.Jater Works Associations,and \-Iater Pollution Control Federation. 1985. Standard methods forthe examination of water and wastewater, 16th. ed. APHA.Washington, DC. 134 pp.

2. Boyd, C.E., 1979. Water Quality in Warmwater Fishponds.Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University,

1

AlabamaAL, 359 pp.

Table 2

Water quality paralneters measured at selected stations in theConecuh-Escambia River, 19 October 1988

D.O.Station Rep ppm

°cTemp.

BODeJ

(mg/l)SOD

(mg/g)/hN02

(mg/l)N03

(mg/l )NH3 F04-

(mg/1) (mg/1)

1 A 8.2 19.4 2.6 20. 51 0.0022 0. 219 0.169 0.0072B 2.6 19 .20 0.0022 0 .214 0.089 0.0072

3 A 8.3 19.2 2.6 0 0.0025 0.218 0.105 0.0085B 2.6 00.31 0.0024 0.218 0.109 0.0078

4 A 8.1 19.4 2.6 3.12 0 .0022 0.215 0.139 0.0084B 2.8 3.41 0 0023 0.202 0.182 0.0079

5 A 8.0 19.9 4 .8 5.09 0 .0034 O. 22" 0.409 0.0116B 5 .8 4.45 0 0041 O. 167 0.292 0.0121

6 A 8.1 20.8 4.0 24.39 0 .0036 0 169 0 192 0.0109B 4.0 25.55 0 0037 O. 176 O. 232 0.0225

9 A 7.9 21.1 3.4 12.93 0.0030 0.245 0.157 0.0100B 3.6 14.15 0.0033 0.271 0.207 0.0103

2

A BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE CONECUH-ESCAMBIA RIVER

IN THE VICINITY OF BREWTON, ALABA}~, 1988

Submitted by

E. Cliff WebberD. R. Bayne

Wendy Seesock

Department of Fisheries and Allied AquaculturesAgricultural Experiment Station

Auburn University, Alabama 36849

Narch, 1989

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.

II.

III .

PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES. CONECUH-ESCAMBIARIVER. . . . . . . . . . . . .

MACROINVERTEBRATE CO~ruNITIES, CONECUH-ESCA}lBIA RIVER.

FISH COMMUNITY STUDIES, CONECUH-ESCAMBIA RIVER ....

5

9

16

LITERATURE CITED

APPENDIX TABLES

ii

.23

.24

INTRODUCTION

The 1988 study is the 18th yearly survey of biological productivity in

the Conecuh-Escambia River System conducted by the Rivers and Reservoirs

Laboratory of the Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures of Auburn

University. Prior to this study, the Institute of Paper Chemistry of

Appleton, Wisconsin had conducted 15 surveys on the stretch of these rivers

between Brewton, Alabama and Escambia Bay in Florida.

The primary objective of these studies is to deterlnine if major

changes in water quality due to paper mill effluents can be detected from

studies of the biota. During the period of low river flow in September and

October, phytoplankton, chlorophyll, macroinvertebrates, and fish

populations were sampled at stations above and below the discharge from the

Container Corporation of America paper mill. The results of the 1988 study

are summarized in this report.

All sample stations were located in the same general vicinity as those

utilized in previous surveys. The location of all stations is shown in

Figures 1 and 2, which are maps of the Conecuh and Escambia Rivers. Table

1 provides a description of each station including physical and

hydrological features of each location. The mileage index was calculated

using the Brewton Lake outfall as mile 0.0. Sta tions ups tream of the

outfall were assigned negative distances.

1

Figure 1. Sample Stations (e) in the Conecuh River.

\v./ <.

--~

N

'29 &. 31D. s.

Brewton Lake(Point of Discharge)

,/,'~Pollard / .,' "" ' ,

EscambiU\ 6Creek

- - - ~ ?.... ~Ia ..Fla.

2

I I1 mile

j

Figure 2. Sample Starions (e) in the Escambia River.

....Ala,Fla.

Pine Barre

Cottage Hill

I

. ,

Pensacola

12

,

Little EscambiaCreek

I I

3 miles

, .

3

Table 1

Description of sampling stations on the Conecuh-Escambia Rivers

MileageIndex* Station

- 9.9 1

- 6.9 2

Location Current

Vicinity of Edward's RapidBridge

ln Murder Creek, Rapidupstream from mouth

Location of Sample

Right bank (downstream), 500 ydsbelow Edward's Bridge

Right bank of creek(dO\ms tream)

-1. 0

-0.3

0.1

1.0

3.1

5.2

8.6

20.1

38.6

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

One mile upstreamContainer CorporationOutfall

Just below Gay Lake

One hundred fifty ydsdownstream ContainerCorporation Outfall

1 mile downstreamContainer CorporationOutfall near Pollard

Above mouth LittleEscambia Creek

Vicinity of pipelinecrossing

Century Bridge,Florida

Pine Barren, Florida

Molino, Florida

Cottage Hill Landing

Rapid

Rapid

Rapid

Rapid

Rapid

Rapid

Rapid

Rapid

Rapid

Moderate

Right bank of river(downstream)



Right bank of river(dO\ms tream)


Upstream pipeline 1/4mile, left bank(downstream)

Upstream of bridge400 yds, right bank(downstream)

Right bank of river(upstream), 1/2 mileup river

East side of river

Both sides of river

*Mileage based on Brewton Lake outfall as 0.0. Upstream distances expressedas negative.

4

I. PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES, CONECUH-ESCAMBIA RIVER

Phytoplankton samples were collected at three stations on 17 August

1988 and six stations on 19 October 1988. A sample consisted of 500 ml of

river water preserved with merthiolate (Weber 1973). Two samples were

collected at each site, identified, counted and mean numbers of algae were

reported for each station. Chlorophyll analyses were also conducted on

separate water samples. Results from the phytoplankton and chlorophyll

analyses are presented in Tables 2,3 and 4.

Phytoplankton densities were low relative to plankton numbers typical

of standing waters. However phytoplankton numbers are usually low in

riverine habitats since rapid flows and fluctuations in water level are not

conducive to dense plankton communities. While diatoms are often dominant

in these running waters, plankton introduced from riverside lakes, ponds

and swamps is also significant. These slack water forms include green

(Chlorophyta) and blue green (Cyanophyta) algae which were prevalent in

these Conecuh-Escambia water samples (Tables 2 and 3). Phytoplankton

densities decreased on both dates past the outfall (stations 5 and 6) but

increased at subsequent downstream stations (stations 6, 9 and 12).

Chlorophyll values were variable among stations on both dates but

exhibited little differences between stations above and below the outfall

(Table 4). Chlorophyll £ values were higher on 19 October 1988, reflecting

the higher numbers of diatoms present at all stations on the river.

5

Table 2

Mean number of phytoplankters by group at selected stationsin the Conecuh-Escambia River, 17 August 1988

Station

Algal Taxa 1 6 12

organisms/mlDiatoms (Chrysophyta)

Pennate 165 36 47Centric 11 6 9Other 0 0 0

Green Algae (Chlorophyta)

Filamentous 4 3 0Coccoid 105 75 176Flagellates 163 161 241

Bluegreen Algae (Cyanophyta)

Filamentous 0 3 6Coccoid 116 174 139

Other Pigmented Flagellates 79 70 120

Total 643 528 738

6

Table 3

Mean number of phytoplankers by group at selectedstations in the Conecuh-Escambia River, 19 October 1988

Station

Algal Taxa 1 3 4 5 6 9

organisms/mlDiatoms (Chrysophyta)

Pennate 63 29 23 79 64 66Centric 299 126 121 139 209 303Other 0 0 0 0 0 3

Green Algae (Chlorophyta)

FilamentousCoccoid 6/, 70 110 28 92 66Flagellates 45 58 75 29 58 49

Bluegreen Algae (Cyanophyta)

Filamentous 16 2 4 14 3 14Coccoid 76 81 172 62 116 93

Other Pigmented Flage11a tes 49 37 40 38 65 38

Total 612 403 545 389 607 632

7

Table 4

Chlorophyll concentrations (~g/l) at selected stations on theConecuh-Escambia River, 17 August 1988 and 19 October 1988

Sta tion

1

6

12

Station

1

3

4

5

6

9

17 August 1988Chlorophyll(~g/l)

Rep i! 11. .£

A 1.386 0 0B 1. 384 0 0

A 4.696 0 0B 3.318 0 0

A 2.227 0 0B 4.463 0 0

19 October 1988Chlorophyll(~g/l)

Rep i! 11. .£

A 0.291 0.000 0 .000B 6.708 11.125 40. 333

A 2. 743 2.628 10.058B 2. 936 3.212 14.601

A 0.487 0.394 5.761B 3.894 4.549 17.989

A 4.141 2.752 7.641B 4.919 3.047 13 . 263

A 2.508 2.111 11 .922B 3.896 4.458 19. 344

A 4.759 4.528 13.508B 2.696 2.878 13.75i,

j

8

II. MACRO INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES, CONECUH-ESCAMBIA RIVER

Hacroinvertebrate communities were again sampled to evaluate extended

term water quality above and below the discharge from the Brel>Jton Mill of

Container Corporation of America (CCA). This was the 33nd biological

survey of this river system documenting long-term effects on the benthos by

paper-making effluents from CCA.

PROCEDURES

Artificial substrates (plate samplers) were used to sample the

macroinvertebrate community. This is a standardized technique allowing

quantitative comparisons between locations in a river system like the

Conecuh-Escambia (Weber 1973). Each sampler consisted of a set of nine 3 x

3 x 1/8 inch plexiglass plates placed on an eye bolt and separated by 1/8

inch-thick spacers. The upper and lower surfaces of each plate were sanded

providing a textured surface for organism attachment. The total surface

area (exclusive of edges) for each sampler was approximately one square

foot. The plate samplers were suspended using nylon string, one to two

feet below the surface of the water. Four samplers were placed at each

station usually on one side of the river.

During 1988 plate samplers were placed in the river on 17 August for a

four week incubation. Retrieval consisted of lifting the suspending line

until the sampler was just under the surface; then a wide-mouthed container

was placed under the sampler as it was lifted from the water. The plate

samplers were held in river water and stored in an ice chest for transport

9

to the laboratory. In the laboratory macroinvertebrates were scraped from

the plates, sieved through a U.S. Standard No. 30 screen (0.5 mm mesh) and

preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol until they could be counted and identified.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Rain, followed by high water in the river, forced a delay in picking up

samplers until 19 October 1988. Samplers were lost from several stations

so a second set of samplers were placed at four stations. Two stations

above the CCA outfall (station 1 and 4) and two stations below the outfall

(station 6 and 9) were chosen for the second set of salnplers. These

samplers were picked up 16 November, after approximately four weeks in the

river. Samplers from station 4 were again lost. Data presented in Tables

5, 6, and 7 include the number of taxa, mean abundance of major insect

orders, and the number of intolerant (I), partially tolerant (PT) and

tolerant (T) macro invertebrates indentified at each station. A cOlnplete

taxa listing of all samples collected on both 19 October and 16 November

appears in Appendix Tables 1-12 along with their tolerance classification

and mean density.

Current aquatic studies relating biological productivity and water

quality still rely on benthic macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity as

an indicator of stream conditions. Additionally, Inacroinvertebrates are

often categorized on the basis of their tolerance to a range of

environmental stresses, particularly organic enrichment. Organisms that

survive only a narrow range of environmental stress are called intolerant

forms. Organisms that can withstand wide fluctuations in habitat

disturbances are called tolerant. Organisms that can tolerate occasional

periods of stressed conditions are called partiallY tolerant. This system

10

of classification has been based mainly on the response of the organisms to

organic enrichment and was applied to macro invertebrates collected in this

study.

The river bottom within the study area was composed mostly of shifting

sands. During periods of high water the current is swift and the capacity

for transporting sand is great. This results in scouring of the various

substrates colonized by macroinvertebrates and usually reduces benthic

abundance. The multiple plate samplers allowed a reasonable comparison

between sample stations even though these substrates were subjected to the

scouring action of suspended sediment.

The macroinvertebrate fauna at each station consisted mostly of

immature aquatic insects in three orders: ephelneropterans (mayflies),

trichopterans (caddisflies) and dipterans (midges and blackflies) (Tables 5

and 6 and Appendix Tables 1-12). Standing crops (abundance) varied widely

between stations. Station 3 above the CCA outfall and station 5 just below

the outfall had the highest macroinvertebrate densities (Table 6). Station

1 located near Edward's Bridge had the lowest macroinvertebrate density but

density at all three locations in Novelnber was low (Appendix Tables

10,11,12). Few differences were found between stations 6 through 12. The

higher density just below the CCA outfall may indicate nutrient enrichment

in the river. Species richness, as measured by the number of different

taxa, was highest at station 3 just above Gay Lake (Table 5).

Macroinvertebrate community structure consisted mostly of taxa adapted

to erosional habitats typical in a river like the Conecuh. Examples of

these taxa include mayflies (Stenonema spp., Heptagenia spp., Caenis spp.

and Tricorythodes spp.), caddisflies (Hydropsyche spp., Cheumatopsyche spp.

11

and Oecetis spp.), beetles (Elmidae), stoneflies (Perlidae) and dipterans,

most of which were chironomids (Appendix Tables 1-12). The morphological

adaptations of these insects are related primarily to problems of feeding

and growth rather than concealment from predators and competition (Cummins

1972).

The classification of macroinvertebrates as intolerant, partially

tolerant and tolerant was modified from previous reports based on

additional information regarding certain genera (Georgia Water Quality

Control Board 1972; Weber 1973; Hilsenhoff 1977). Little difference

existed among stations with respect to the numbers of these three groups

found at each station (Table 7). The high macro invertebrate density at

station 5 consisted predominantly of filter-feeding caddisflies (e.g.

Hydropsyche). Greater quantities of silt and organic matter were observed

on the samplers from this site which probably explains the greater

abundance of these caddisflies since food appeared to be abundant. In

summary, the plate samples revealed no deleterious effects of Container

Corporation of America effluents on benthic macroinvertebrates in the

Conecuh-Escambia River.

12

Table 5

Number of taxa collected at each station in theConecuh-Escambia River, 19 October and 16 November 1988 1

Stations

Taxon 1 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

AOUATIC INSECTSEphemeroptera 3 3 2 2 3 2 4 3 2 3Odonata 0 0 0 3 0 2 1 1 0 0Plecoptera 0 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 0Megaloptera 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0Trichoptera 4 6 3 2 4 2 2 5 4 5Coleoptera 0 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1Diptera 7 13 8 11 11 10 12 10 8 12

OTHER AOUATIC INVERTEBRATESHydroida 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Turbe11aria 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Nematoda 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Oligochaeta 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Hydracarina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Copepoda 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0Cladocera 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Ostracoda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Isopoda 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Gastropoda 2 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 2 0Pelecypoda 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

Total 18 28 20 23 2/, 20 25 25 18 22

No. Samplers 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 2

Taxa/Sampler 5 7 7 8 8 10 12 9 10 11

1 Station 1 data was collected on 16 November 1988 as part of a second set ofplate samplers placed in the river in October.

* Plate samplers lost from these stations.

13

Table 6

Insect orders and mean abundance of organisms/ft2

collected at stations in the Conecuh-Escambia River,19 October and 16 November 19881

Stations

Order 1 2* 3 4* 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Ephemeroptera 9 56 24 2 33 3 10 11 4 11Odonata 0 0 0 1 0 5 3 + 0 0P1ecoptera 0 + 6 + + 4 + 1 + 0Nega10ptera 0 20 + 1 + 0 2 + 0 0Hemiptera 0 0 + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Trichoptera 1 251 691 22 177 4 4 45 3 9Coleoptera 0 1 3 + + + 0 + 0 1Diptera 6 229 216 25 51 40 62 155 52 40

Total 16 557 940 51 261 56 81 212 59 61


* Plate samplers los t from these 5 ta t ions.

14

Table 7

Number of taxa classed as intolerant, partially tolerant andtolerant at stations in the Conecuh-Escambia River on

19 October and 16 November 1988 1

Stations

Tolerance

Intolerant

Partially Tolerant

Tolerant

1

o

9

1

3

3

16

2

5

1

12

o

6

2

10

1

7

2

14

1

8

1

10

1

9

1

12

1

10

2

14

1

11

1

12

1

12

1

11

2


-.k Plate samplers lost from these stations.

15

III. FISH CO~U1UNITY STUDIES, CONECUH-ESCAMBIA RIVER

The same sites sampled during previous studies, above Ed\oJard' 5 Bridge

and below Pollard Landing, were electrofished on 16 November and 21

November 1988. T\<10 dates \.,Tere necessary because of equipment trouble on 16

November. Catch data are presented for each station in Tables 8 and 9.

Both sampling sites were electrofished for fifty minutes. At Edward's

Bridge 491 fish were captured representing 22 species from 11 families. At

Pollard Landing a total of 266 fish representing 19 species from 9

families was captured. Six species of sport fishes (Centrarchidae) were

collected at Edward's Bridge and four species at Pollard Landing. One

hundred six centrarchids weighing a total of 3.5 kg were captured at

Edward's Bridge and 29 centrarchids weighing a total of 2.5 kg were

collected at Pollard Landing. Numerous young-of-the-year centrarchids were

present at both locations.

Even though the nwnber of fish collected from each site differed,

diverse and apparently healthy fish communities existed at both sampling

sites during the 1988 study. Based on these data, there is no evidence of

adverse impact on fish communities below the eCA outfall.

16

Table 8

Electrofishing data collected during fifty minutes of shocking inthe Conecuh-Escambia River near Edward's Bridge, 16 November 1988

SpeciesNumberof Fish

Sizegroup(cm)

Total weight(grams)

Petromyzonidae (lamprey family)Ichthyomyzon~ (Southern brook

lamprey)

Lepisosteidae (gar family)Lepisosteus oculatus (spotted gar)

Cyprinidae (minnow family)Notropis venustus (blacktail shiner)

Notropis texanus (weed shiner)

Notropos sp. cf longirostris

Hybopsis sp. cf winchelli

Catostomidae (sucker family)Carpiodes cyprinus (quillback)

17

1 10 2

1 33 100

1 12 163 11 373 10 27

15 9 9523 8 101(,L, 7 13260 6 10747 5 4817 4 8

3 3 1

19 8 7635 7 105

8 6 1413 5 13

3 4 2

1 6 21 5 17 L, 4

10 5 105 6 104 7 10

1 39 6901 38 5461 36 5622 27 4401 26 192

Table 8 (continued)

Number Size Total ..eightSpecies of Fish Group (grams)

(cm)

Carpiodes velifer (highfin carpsucker) 1 29 3483 28 9384 27 11092 26 4972 25 4683 24 5553 23 5111 22 1262 21 2581 19 91

Minytrema melanops (spotted sucker) 1 36 494

Hoxostoma poecilurum (blacktailredhorse) 1 36 454

1 33 3692 32 6341 31 2971 30 2502 27 3702 26 2923 25 4252 24 2511 23 1171 20 711 9 6

Ictaluridae (fresh..ater catfish family)Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish) 1 25 117

Cyprinodontidae (killifish family)Fundulus olivaceous (blackspotted

topminnow) 1 7 31 6 21 5 1

Atherinidae (silvers ide family)Labidesthes sicculus (brook silvers ide) 1 7 2

1 5 11 4 1

18

Table 8 (continued)

NumberSpecies of Fish

Centrarchidae (sunfish family)Micropterus sa1moides (largemouth bass) 1

1111

Micropterus punctulatus (spotted bass) 11

Lepomis macrochirus (bluegill) 11121

Lepomis microlophus (redear sunfish) 1

Ambloplites ariommus (rock bass) 11

Lepomis megalotis (longear sunfish) 131528

1211181312

L,

SizeGroup(em)

4031252220

1710

2019161514

25

1815

171514121110

987654

Total weight(grams)

738326184126

83

5010

140135

69113

53

296

12060

93193

58147

40123139

88924222

4Percidae (perch family)

Perc ina nigrofasciata (blackbandeddarter)

Mugi1idae (mullet family)Hugil cephalus (striped mullet)

Soleidae (sole family)Trinectes macu1atus (hogchoker)

19

22

11

1

54

4742

6

21

943766

3

Table 9

Electrofishing data collected during fifty minutes of shocking inthe Conecuh-Escambia River near Pollard Landing, 21 November 1988

NumberSpecies of Fish

Lepisosteidae (gar family)Lepisosteus osseus (longnose gar) 1

Lepisosteus oculatus (spotted gar) 11

Amiidae (bowfin family)Amia calva (bowfin) 1

Anguillidae (eel family)Anguilla rostrata (American eel) 1

Clupeidae (herring family)Alosa alabamae (Alabama shad) 1

Cyprinidae (minnow family)Hybopsis sp. cf winchelli 3

8

Notropis venustus (blacktail shiner) 156

32514720

7

Notropis sp. cf longirostris 1

Notropis texanus (weed shiner) 194

Catostomidae (sucker family)Carpiodes velifer (highfin carpsucker) 1

22111

20

SizeGroup(em)

78

4845

57

40

14

65

109876543

6

765

292827232120

Total weight(grams)

1078

380274

1930

129

24

59

93328

105915012

2

2

315

5

331610525159122108

Table 9 (continued)

Number Size Total weightSpecies of Fish Group (grams)

(em)

Minytrema melanops (spotted sucker) 2 42 17171 40 7461 39 698

Moxostoma poecilurlm (blacktailredhorse) 1 41 730

1 40 7161 39 6541 38 6181 37 4821 36 4701 33 3521 32 3151 29 2622 28 4403 27 5991 25 1602 11 272 10 211 6 3

Ictaluridae (freshwater catfish family)Noturus leptacanthus (speckled madtom) 1 9 6

Centrarchidae (sunfish family)Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass) 1 35 538

1 32 4262 23 2981 21 971 12 201 11 17

Micropterus punctulatus (spotted bass) 1 13 21

Lepomis macrochirus (bluegill) 1 20 1581 18 1001 17 1104 15 2411 13 43 11 12 351 11 221 10 181 9 111 5 2

21

Species

Table 9 (continued)

Numberof Fish

SizeGroup(em)

Total weight(grams)

Lepomis megalotis (longear sunfish)

Percidae (perch family)Ammocrypta bifascia (Florida sand

darter)

Perc ina nigrofasciata (blackbandeddarter)

22

121211

1

11

1514131211

9

6

75

54109

42642114

2

41

LITERATURE CITED

Cummins, K. W. 1972. What is a River?--Zoological Description. In:Oglesby, R. T., Carlson, C. A., and McCann, J. A. (Eds.), River Ecologyand Man. 465 pp., pp. 33-52. Academic Press, London and New York.

Georgia Water Quality Control Board. 1972. Chattahoochee River BasinStudy. Ga. Wtr. Qual. Cont. Bd., Atlanta, GA. 206 pp.

Hilsenhoff, W. L. 1977.streams. TechnicalMadison, WI.

Use of arthropods to evaluate water quality ofBulletin No. 100, Department of Natural Resources,

Weber, C. I. (Ed.).measuring theEnvironmental

1973. Biological field and laboratory methods forquality of surface waters and effluents. U.S.Protection Agency, Washington, DC.

23

APPENDIX TABLES

24

Table 1

Benthic macro invertebrates collected from plate samplers in theConecuh-Escambia River one mile upstream of Container

Corporation Outfall (Station 3), 19 October 1988

Plate SamplerReplicate

MeanTaxon Tolerance A B C D Total No/ft 2

AOUATIC INSECTSColeoptera

ElmidaeElmidae Adults 1 0 0 0 1 +Unidentified 2 0 1 1 I, 1

DipteraCeratopogonidae

Unidentified 0 1 0 1 2 +Chironomidae

Cladotanytarsus spp. PT 0 4 0 2 6 2Corynoneura spp. PT 6 0 0 2 8 2Eukiefferiella spp. PT 6 2 0 0 8 2Labrundinia neopilosella 0 0 1 0 1 +Nanocladius spp. PT 0 2 0 0 2 +Polvpedilum spp. PT 106 32 5 12 155 39Rheotanytarsus spp. PT 0 0 0 4 4 1Tanytarsus spp. PT 6 0 1 21 28 7Thienimanniella spp. PT 11 6 0 10 27 7Orthocladiinae 6 2 0 0 8 2Pupae 3 0 0 1 4 1Unidentified 0 0 1 0 1 +

SimuliidaePupae 13 396 0 11 420 105Uniden ti fied PT 70 69 3 98 240 60

EphemeropteraBaetidae

Baetis spp. PT 23 28 1 5 57 14Caenidae

Caenis spp. PT 4 6 1 5 16 4Heptageniidae

Stenonema spp. PT 93 41 3 16 153 38Hegaloptera

CorydalidaeCorvdalus cornutus PT 0 0 2 79 78 20

PlecopteraPerlidae

Acroneuria spp. I 1 0 0 0 1 +Paragnetina spp. I 0 1 0 0 1 +

25

Table 1 (continued)


MeanTaxon Tolerance A B C D Total No/ft2

TrichopteraPupae 1 0 0 0 1 +

BrachycentridaeUnidentified 1 0 0 0 1 +Brachycentrus spp. PT 1 0 2 0 3 +

HydropsychidaeHydropsyche spp. PT 90 55 10 0 155 39Macronema spp. I 0 2 0 0 2 +Unidentified 627 145 24 53 849 212Type A 0 2 0 0 2 +

PhilopotamidaeChimarra spp. I 1 1 1 0 3 +

OTHER AQUATIC INVERTEBRATESGastropoda

Unidentified 0 0 1 2 3 +Ancylidae

Unidentified B 2B 7 38 81 20Hydracarina

Unidentified PT 0 1 0 0 1 +Qligochaeta

Unidentified T 0 1 2 0 3 +

TOTALS 1080 825 66 361 2332 583

26

Table 2

Benthic macroinvertebrates collected from plate samplers in theConecuh-Escambia River just below the eCA outfall (Station 5),

19 October 1988


MeanTaxon Tolerance A B C Total No/ft2


ElmidaeUnidentified 2 4 2 8 3

DipteraChironomidae

Corynoneura spp. PT 3 3 0 6 2Eukiefferiella spp. PT 0 3 0 3 1Polvpedilum spp. PT 26 40 36 102 34Rheotanytarsus spp. PT 2 3 4 9 3Thienimanniella spp. PT 8 13 5 26 9Orthocladiinae 0 3 0 3 1Pupae 0 8 4 12 4

SimuliidaePupae 0 56 26 82 27Unidentified PT 0 240 164 40L, 135


Baetis spp. PT 0 12 14 26 9Heptageniidae

Stenonema spp. PT 0 32 12 44 15Hemiptera

Unidentified 0 0 2 2 +~legaloptera

CorydalidaeCorydalus cornutus PT 2 0 0 2 +

PlecopteraPerlidae

Paragnetina spp_ I 6 12 0 18 6Unidentified 0 0 2 2 +

TrichopteraPupae 6 24 0 30 10

HydropsychidaeHydropsyche spp. PT 410 520 346 1276 425Unidentified 126 452 180 758 253

LeptoceridaeOecetis spp. PT 6 0 2 8 3

27

Table 2 (continued)



OTHER AOUATIC INVERTEBRATESGastropoda

AncylidaeUnidentified 0 4 0 4 1

NematodaUnidentified PT 0 4 0 4 1

TurbellariaUnidentified PT 0 0 2 2 +

TOTALS 597 1433 801 2831 944

28

Table 3

Benthic macro invertebrates collected from plate samplers in theConecuh-Escambia River one mile downstream from the eGA outfall

near Pollard Landing (Station 6), 10 October 1988


Taxon Tolerance 6A 6B 6C TotalMeanNo/ft2


UnidentifiedDiptera

CeratopogonidaeUnidentified

ChironomidaeAblabesmyia spp.Cryotochironomus spp.Labrundinia neopilosellaNanocladius spp.Polypedilum spp.Rheotanytarsus spp.Tanytarsus spp.Thienimanniella spp.PupaeUnidentified

SimuliidaeUnidentified


UnidentifiedHeptageniidae

Stenonema spp.Odonata

CoenagrionidaeArgia spp.Unidentified

CorduliidaeNeurocordulia molesta

PlecopteraPerlidae

Acroneuria spp.Neoperla spp.

TrichopteraHydropsychidae

Hydropsyche spp.Polycentropodidae

Cyrnellus spp.

PTPT

PTPTPTPTPT

PT

PT

II

PT

29

o

o

51o12o21o1

o

1

o

oo

o

oo

2

23

o

2

oo1oo14ooo

2

o

o

22

o

1o

1

2

1

o

52oooo

48221

4

o

5

oo

1

o2

o

38

1

2

1031121

54322

6

1

5

22

1

12

3

63

+

+

31++++

181++

2

+

2

++

+

++

1

21

Table 3 (continued)


Taxon Tolerance A B CMean

Total No/ft2


Unidentified 0 3 0 3 1Oligochaeta

Unidentified T 0 2 0 2 +

TOTALS 39 23 111 173 58

30

Table 4

Benthic macroinvertebrates collected from plate samplers in theConecuh-Escambia River above the mouth of Little Escambia Creek

(Station 7), 19 October 1988


Taxon Tolerance 7A

AQUATIC INSECTSColeoptera

Unidentified 0Diptera

CeratopogonidaeUnidentified 0

ChironomidaeCryptochironomus spp. PI' 0Eukiefferie11a spp. PI' 2Nilotanvpus spp. PI' 2Polypedilum spp. PI' 31Rheotanvtarsus spp. PI' 5Tanytarsus spp. PI' 2Thienemannimyia complex PT 2Thienimanniella spp. PI' 2P~ae 4Unidentified 0

SimuliidaePupae 0Unidentified PI' 6


Baetis spp. PI' 12Caenidae

Caenis spp. PI' 28Heptageniidae

Stenonema spp. PI' 0Megaloptera

CorydalidaeCorydalus cornutus 0

PlecopteraPerlidae

Acroneuria spp. I 1Neoperla spp. I 0

TrichopteraPupae 0

BrachycentridaeBrachycentrus spp. PI' 3

HydropsychidaeHydropsyche spp. PI' 149

31

7B

1

o

oo2

2732o5o1

o2

3

5

8

2

oo

1

o

44

7C

o

1

222

3066o44o

26

2

34

8

o

o1

o

o

133

MeanTotal No/ft2

1 +

1 +

2 +4 +6 2

88 2914 510 3

2 +11 4

8 31 +

2 +14 5

17 6

67 22

16 5

2 +

1 +1 +

1 +

3 1

326 109

Table 4 (continued)


MeanTaxon Tolerance A B C Total No/ft 2

Hydropsychidae (continued)Unidentified 125 33 43 201 67

PolycentropodidaeCyrne11us s pp . 0 0 2 1 +


AncylidaeUnidentified 16 0 3 19 6

OligochaetaUnidentified T 0 0 3 3 1

TOTALS 390 139 29L, 823 27L,

32

Table 5

Benthic macroinvertebrates collected from plate samplers in theConecuh-Escambia River one-fourth mile upstream of the

Pipeline Crossing (Station 8), 19 October 1988


Taxon Tolerance


ElmidaeUnidentified

DipteraChironomidae

Ablabesmyia spp. PTCladotanytarsus spp.Corynoneura spp. PTNanocladius spp. PTNilotanvpus spp. PTPolypedilum spp. PTTanvtarsus spp. PTThienemannimyia complexThienimannie lla spp. PTPupaeUnidentified

EphemeropteraCaenidae

Caenis spp. PTHeptageniidae

Stenonema spp. PTOdonata

CoenagrionidaeUnidentified

LibellulidaeUnidentified

PlecopteraPerlidae

Acroneuria spp. ITrichoptera

HydropsychidaeHvdropsyche spp. PT

PolycentropodidaeCyrnellus spp.

33

A

1

141413

173o3o

2

3

5

o

1

3

3

B

o

65o5o3

17o2o2

o

o

o

4

7

o

o

MeanTotal No/ft 2

1 +

7 49 51 +9 51 +6 3

3/, 173 22 13 22 1

2 1

3 2

5 3

4 2

8 4

3 2

3 2

Table 5 (continued)


Taxon

OTHER AOUATIC INVERTEBRATESCopepoda

UnidentifiedOligochaeta

Unidentified

Tolerance

T

A

1

2

B

o

a

MeanTotal No/ft2

1 +

2 1

TOTALS

34

58 51 109 55

Table 6

Benthic macroinvertebrates collec ted from plate samplers in theConecuh-Escambia River at Century Bridge, Century, Florida

(Station 9), 19 October 1988


MeanTaxon Tolerance A B Total No/ft 2

AOUATIC INSECTSDiptera

CeratopogonidaeUnidentified 1 2 3 2

ChironomidaeAblabesmyia spp. PT 1 4 5 3Cryptochironomus spp. PT 3 8 11 6Nanocladius spp. PT 2 19 21 11Nilotanypus spp. PT 0 4 4 2Orthocladius spp. 1 0 1 +Polypedilum spp. PT 1 4 5 3Tanytarsus spp. PT 4 35 39 20Thienemannimyia complex PT 0 8 8 4Thienimanniella spp. PT 2 12 14 7Pupae 1 3 4 2Tanypodinae 0 4 4 2

SimuliidaeUnidentified PT 1 0 1 +


Baetis spp. PT 0 1 1 +Unidentified 3 0 3 2

CaenidaeCaenis spp. PT 3 8 11 6

HeptageniidaeStenonema spp. PT 1 2 3 2

MegalopteraCorydalidae

Corydalus cornutus PT 1 2 3 2Odonata

LibellulidaeUnidentified 5 0 5 3

PlecopteraPerlidae

Acroneuria spp. I 0 1 1 +Trichoptera

HydropsychidaeHydropsyche spp. PT 3 2 5 3

PolycentropodidaeCvrnellus spp. 2 0 2 1

35

Table 6 (continued)


Taxon Tolerance A B TotalMeanNo/ft2


Unidentified 0 1 1 +Ancy1idae

Unidentified 1 1 2 1Q1igochaeta

Unidentified T 6 0 6 3Pe1ecypoda

Unidentified 1 0 1 +

TOTALS 43 121 164 82

36

Table 7

Benthic macroinvertebrates collec ted from plate samplers in theConecuh-Escambia River at Pine Barren, Florida (Station 10) ,

19 Oc tober 1988




ElmidaeUnidentified 2 a 2 4 +

DipteraCeratopogonidae

Unidentified 2 a 1 3 1Chironomidae

Cryptochironomus spp. PT 3 a a 3 +Nanocladius spp. PT a a 3 3 1Nilotanypus spp. PT 2 a a 2 +Polypedilum spp. PT 56 35 32 123 41Rheotanytarsus spp. PT 13 12 26 51 17Tanvtarsus spp. PT 10 6 13 29 10Thienimanniella spp. PT a 20 6 26 9Pupae 1 5 1 7 2Unidentified a 1 1 2 +

SimuliidaePupae 0 4 5 9 3Unidentified PT 20 35 158 213 71


Baetis spp. PT 5 1 1 7 2Caenidae

Caenis spp. PT 6 5 8 19 6Heptageniidae

Stenonema spp. PT 2 6 a 8 3Megaloptera

CorydalidaeCorydalus cornutus PT a a 1 1 +

QdonataCoenagrionidae

Unidentified 2 a a 2 +Plecoptera

PerlidaeAcroneuria spp. I 2 1 a 3 1Unidentified 1 0 a 1 +

37

Table 7 (continued)

Plate SamplerReplica te


TrichopceraHydropsychidae

Cheumatopsyche spp. T 0 0 2 2 +Hydropsyche spp. PT 21 38 6 65 22Macronema spp. I 0 4 6 10 3Unidentified 7 34 18 59 20

Po1ycentropodidaeCyrnellus spp. 0 1 0 1 +


Ancy1idaeUnidentified 4 0 0 4 1

NematodaUnidentified PT 0 0 1 1 +

01igochaetaUnidentified T 0 2 0 2 +

TOTALS 159 210 291 660 220

38

Table 8

Benthic macro invertebrates collected from plate samplers in theConecuh-Escambia River at Molino, Florida (Station 11),

19 October 1988


Taxon Tolerance

AOUATIC INSECTSDiptera

ChironomidaeCryptochironomus spp. PTNanocladius spp. PTPolypedilum spp. PTRheotanytarsus spp. PTTanytarsus spp. PTThienimanniella spp. PTPupaeUnidentified

SimuliidaeUnidentified PT


Baetis spp. PTCaenidae

Caenis spp. PTPlecoptera

PerlidaeUnidentified I

TrichopteraPupae

BrachycentridaeBrachycentrus spp. PT

HydropsychidaeHvdropsvche spp. PTUnidentified

PolycentropodidaeCyrnellus spp.

A

o11

146

131o

8

4

o

1

o

1

24

o

B

226

1222

442

2

2

2

o

1

o

oo

1

MeanTotal No/ft2

2 13 27 4

26 1328 11,17 9

5 32 1

10 5

6 3

2 1

1 +

1 +

1 +

2 14 2

1 +


UnidentifiedAncylidae

Unidentified

39

o

3

1

1

1

4

+

2

Table 8 (continued)


Taxon

NematodaUnidentified

OligochaetaUnidentified

Tolerance

PT

T

A

1

3

B

o

o

HeanTotal No/ft2

1 +

3 2

TOTALS

40

63 64 127 64

Table 9

Benthic macroinvertebrates collected from plate samplers in theConecuh-Escambia River near Cottage Hill Landing

(Station 12) 19 October 1988


MeanTaxon Tolerance A B Total No/ft2

AQUATlC INSECTSColeoptera

Unidentified 0 2 2 1Diptera

ChironomidaeCorynoneura spp. PT 3 0 3 2Cricotopus spp. PT 0 4 4 2Dicrotendipes spp. T 0 1 1 +Endochironomus spp. 0 1 1 +Nanocladius spp. PT 1 0 1 +Polypedilum spp. PT 5 13 18 9Rheotanytarsus spp. PT 4 6 10 5Tanytarsus spp. PT 10 3 13 7Thienimanniella spp. PT 10 3 13 7Pupae 5 3 8 4Tanypodinae 1 1 2 1Unidentified 2 0 2 1

SimuliidaePupae PT 2 2 4 2


Baetis spp. PT 4 1 5 3Caenidae

Caenis spp. PT 2 5 7 4Heptageniidae

Stenonema spp. PT 3 5 8 4Trichoptera

Pupae 0 1 1 +Hydropsychidae

Hydropsyche spp. PT 2 2 4 2Macronema spp. I 1 3 L, 2Unidentified 2 0 2 1

HydroptilidaeOrthotrichia spp. 0 2 2 1

PolycentropodidaeCyrnellus spp. 3 3 6 3

41

Table 9 (continued)


Taxon

OTHER AOUATIC INVERTEBRATESOligochaeta

Unidentified

Tolerance

T

A

23

B

11

MeanTotal No/ft 2

34 17

TOTALS

42

83 72 155 78

Table 10

Benthic macroinvertebrates collected from plate samplers in theConecuh-Escambia River near Edward's Bridge (Station 1),

16 November 19B8


MeanTaxon Tolerance A B C D Total No/ft2

AQUATIC INSECTSDiptera

ChironomidaeCladotanytarsus spp. 0 0 0 1 1 +Corynoneura spp. PT 1 0 0 0 1 +Cricotopus spp. PT 0 1 3 1 5 1Nanocladius spp. PT 0 0 1 0 1 +Rheotanytarsus spp. PT 0 1 2 0 3 +Tanytarsus spp. PT 0 0 1 5 6 2Pupae 1 0 0 3 4 1Unidentified 2 0 1 3 6 2


Baetis spp. PT 0 0 0 1 1 +Caenidae

Caenis spp. PT 2 0 3 2 7 2Heptageniidae

Stenonema spp. PT 4 10 7 5 26 7Trichoptera

HydropsychidaeHydropsyche spp. PT 0 1 0 2 3 +Unidentified 0 2 1 1 4 1

HydroptilidaeOrthotrichia spp. 0 0 0 2 2 +Unidentified 1 0 0 0 1 +


Unidentified 3 0 2 0 5 1Ancylidae

Unidentified 0 0 0 1 1 +Isopoda

Unidentified 0 1 0 0 1 +01igochaeta

Unidentified T 3 0 1 0 4 1

TOTALS 17 16 22 27 82 21

43

Table 11Benthic macro invertebrates collected from plate samplers in theConecuh-Escambia River one mile downstream from the eCA outfall

near Pollard Landing (Station 6), 16 November 1988


Taxon Tolerance

AQUATIC INSECTSDiptera

ChironomidaeAblabesmyia spp. PI'Corynoneura spp. PTCricotopus spp. PTCrvptochironomus spp. PTNanocladius spp. PTRheotanytarsus spp. PTThienemannimvia complex PTPupaeUnidentified

SimuliidaePupaeUnidentified PI'

EphemeropteraBaetiscidae

Baetisca spp.Heptageniidae

Stenonema spp. PTQdonata

CoenagrionidaeUnidentified

PlecopteraPerlidae

Neoperla spp. 1Trichoptera

BrachycentridaeBrachycentrus spp. PT

HydropsychidaeHydropsyche spp. PI'Unidentified

LeptoceridaeNectopsyche spp. PT

PolycentropodidaeCyrne11us spp.

A

1o2oo1111

o1

1

2

o

1

o

11

1

1

B

o1o141ooo

1o

o

o

7

o

1

oo

o

o

C

ooooooooo

oo

o

o

o

o

o

oo

o

o

MeanTotal No/ft2

1 +1 +2 +1 +4 12 +1 +1 +1 +

1 +1 +

1 +

2 +

7 2

1 +

1 +

1 +1 +

1 +

1 +

QTHER AQUATIC INVERTEBRATESCladoceraCopepoda

Unidentified

44

o

o

1

4

o

o

1

4

+

1

Table 11 (continued)



GastropodaUnidentified 2 8 0 10 3

HydroidaHydridae

Hydra spp. 0 2 0 2 +Oligochaeta

Unidentified T 0 6 0 6 2Ostracoda

Unidentified 0 1 0 1 +Turbellaria

Unidentified PT 0 2 0 2 +

TOTALS 18 40 0 58 19

45

Table 12

Benthic macro invertebrates collected from plate samplers in theConecuh-Escambia River at Century Bridge, Century, Florida

(Station 9), 16 November 1988




ElmidaeElmidae (Adults) 0 1 0 1 +Unidentified 1 1 0 2 +

DipteraUnidentified 1 0 0 1 +

ChironomidaeAblabesmyia spp. PT 1 0 1 2 +Chironomus spp. T 1 0 0 1 +Corynoneura spp. PT 1 0 1 2 +Endochironomus spp. 0 0 2 2 +Nanocladius spp. PT 3 0 2 5 2Nilotanypus spp. PT 1 0 0 1 +Polypedilum spp. PT 1 8 0 9 3Rheotanytarsus spp. PT 12 42 0 54 18Stictochironomus spp. 0 0 1 1 +Tanytarsus spp. PT 3 3 4 10 3Thienimanniella spp. PT 8 13 0 21 7Orthocladiinae 1 0 0 1 +Pupae 2 10 1 13 4Unidentified 1 5 0 6 2


Baetis spp. PT 5 2 1 8 3Caenidae

Caenis spp. PT 8 1 1 10 3Heptageniidae

Stenonema spp. PT 3 7 1 11 4Odonata

CoenagrionidaeUnidentified a a 6 6 2

Libe11ulidaePerithemis spp. a 0 2 2 +Unidentified 2 0 0 2 +

PlecopteraUnidentified 1 0 0 1 +

PerlidaeAcroneuria spp. I 2 0 0 2 +

46

Table 12 (continued)



TrichopteraBrachycentridae

Brachycentrus spp. PT 1 1 0 2 +Hydropsychidae

Hydropsyche spp. PT 0 19 0 19 6Unidentified 1 14 0 15 5


Unidentified 0 1 0 1 +Ancy1idae

Unidentified 0 0 1 1 +Nematoda

Unidentified PT 2 0 0 2 +Oligochaeta

Unidentified T 29 37 10 76 25

TQTALS 91 165 34 290 97

47

Auburn UniversityAuburn University. Alabama 36849-5419

College of Agriculture

Deportment 01 FishenesClod Allied f..auocultUles

InTernational CenterfOI Aquacul!ure

J~nuRry 17, 1990

Terephc.r..=.: (205) odJ-J7E::T<;:IS') 510">'XJ23.;'.·F:·.x 20S-e4.1--!S"...:

Unltec SiDles of f.. merle_

r'lI". \'lilliillll BCCtlllley, Pl40jecL EngineerCOfiLalnel: Corporation of AmericaP.O. Ilo" 709nrewton, Alnbama 36426

Uear Mr. Brantley:

Our 1989 Conecuh-Escambia River ecological study reporL is enclosed. Thisyear we llave incorpot-ated additional water quality data in the report, noLas a separate addendum. If there are any questions abouL the data please doflOl hesitate to call.

Si..ncet-ely,

Il/l/' /ifi{/{vtl r'-' \ v~

elM l'IebberSenior Research Fellow

/mj

Enclosure

A l'\ND GR/·NT UNIV RSI!Y

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