Benthic Ecological Assessment
for the Great Lakes (BEAGL)
Andrew R. Hannes1, Isabel Porto-Hannes2
1 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo, NY, USA2State University of New York at Buffalo, NY, USA
What are Benthic Habitats?
Schindler & Scheuerell 2002
What is BEAGL?
• Rapid, in situ, quantitative habitat assessment methodology for freshwater benthic areas
• Adapted from the Benthic Ecological Assessment for Marginal Reefs (BEAMR) (Lybolt et al. 2009)
• Visually based, non-consumptive assessment technique
• Structured and consistent approach
Why BEAGL?
• Benthic habitat information is needed to make responsible management decisions▫ Great Lakes restoration projects
▫ Wind farm development in the Great Lakes
• In general, there is a lack of in situ data characterizing the benthic habitats of the Great Lakes
BEAGL vs Other Benthic Methods
• BEAGL is a in situ data collection methodology utilizing SCUBA technology
• Rapid assessment
• Photographic and video documentation
• BEAGL is limited to visibility conditions > 2ft
BEAGL Methodology
0 M 3 M 6 M 9 M 12 M 15 M
1 M
1 M
30 M18 M 21 M 24 M 27 M
• Quadrat/transect based methodology
Makowski et al 2009
BEAGL Datasheet
Macrophyte spp. (%)
Burrowing mussel sp. (ct)
Fish sp. (ct) % Cover
Max Relief (cm)
Max Sed Depth (cm)
Benthic Abiotic/Biotic %Cover
Bedrock
Boulder
Cobble
Gravel
Shell
Sand
Silt/Mud
Detritus
Woody debris
Total = 100%
Macrophytes
Periphyton
Dreissenids
Burrowing mussels (ct)
other-…
Quad Label: Sample Name or #
13
20
10
15
10
20
25
10
25
10
Lyn 10
Clado 10
Valli 5
Unionid 2
Rd Gobies, drum, Shiners???
9M
20
100
Macrophyte: Ceratophyllum, Cladophora, Elodea, Lyngbia, Myriophyllum, Potamogeton, Stuckenia,Vallisnaria, Zosterella…
Mussel: Zebra, Quagga, Unionid, Sphaeriid, Corbicula...
Others: Annelid, Bryozoan, Hydroid, Insects, Leeches, Snails, Sponge…
1hydroid
1%
10%
BEAGL Quadrat
Makowski et al 2009
Data Analysis
• Parametric stats
▫ t-tests, ANOVA’s, regression…
• Nonparametric stats▫ PRIMER version 6.0 - MDS, SIMPER, ANOSIM…
Preliminary Data
LAKE ERIE
CanadaBuffalo
Windmill Pt
Adam’s Pt West
Adam’s Pt East
Squaw Island
NFTA Slip
Nia
ga
ra R
ive
r
NFTA Slip
- Fine silt with some woody debris. Sparse macrophyte cover along the periphery of the slip (Eleoda canadensis, Potamogeton diversifolius, Vallisneria americana)
Squaw Island
- Fine silts and sands with some woody debris. Sparse macrophyte cover along the shoreline of the pond (Ceratophyllum demersum)
Adam’s Point West
- Mix of bed rock, boulder, cobble and gravel. Macrophytespecies:Vallisneria americana, Potamogeton crispus, P. diversifolius, P. zosteriformus, Myriophyllum sibiricum, Ruppia maritima, Callitriche sp.
- Live and spent Dreissenid shells present
Adam’s Point East
- Sand substrate with abundant macrophyte cover (Cladophoraglomerata, Myriophyllum sibiricum, Potamagetondiversifolius, P. pectinatus, P. richardsonii, Vallisneriaamericana)
- Dresseinids spent shells
Windmill Point
- Bedrock, boulder and cobble substrate covered with Cladophora glomerata
- Live Dreissenids present
Resemblance: S17 Bray Curtis similarity
Adam's Pt East
Location
Adam's Pt West
Windmill Pt
Squaw IslandNFTA Slip
2D Stress: 0.12
Preliminary results
Abiotic/Biotic
Global R = 0.778
Resemblance: S17 Bray Curtis similarity
2D Stress: 0.1
Adam's Pt East
Location
Adam's Pt West
Windmill Pt
Squaw IslandNFTA Slip
Preliminary results
Hannes & Floyd 2009
Conclusion
• BEAGL has the sensitivity to detect differences between littoral benthic habitat types
• BEAGL can be a useful tool for assessing existing benthic habitat conditions and for monitoring benthic habitat changes over time
AcknowledgementsUSACE - Buffalo District Dive Team
USACE - Buffalo District Environmental Analysis Team
USACE - Leadership Development Program
Dr. Matt Lybolt for development of Benthic Ecological Assessment for Marginal Reefs (BEAMR)
Captain Lance Hannes for support in the field
Similarity (%)
Resemblance: S17 Bray Curtis similarity
NFTA Slip_3
NFTA Slip_6NFTA Slip_0Squaw Island_6Squaw Island_0
Squaw Island_3NFTA Slip_9NFTA Slip_12NFTA Slip_15NFTA Slip_18NFTA Slip_21NFTA Slip_24NFTA Slip_27Squaw Island_9Squaw Island_12Squaw Island_15Squaw Island_27Adam's Pt West_2.5Adam's Pt West_12.5Adam's Pt West_17.5Adam's Pt West_5Adam's Pt West_27.5Adam's Pt West_7.5Adam's Pt West_22.5Adam's Pt West_20
Adam's Pt West_0Adam's Pt West_10Adam's Pt West_15Adam's Pt West_25
Adam's Pt West_30Squaw Island_24Squaw Island_18Squaw Island_21
Adam's Pt East_15Adam's Pt East_0Adam's Pt East_6Adam's Pt East_18
Adam's Pt East_21Adam's Pt East_12Adam's Pt East_24Adam's Pt East_9
Adam's Pt East_27Windmill Pt_3Windmill Pt_24Windmill Pt_15
Windmill Pt_6Windmill Pt_18Adam's Pt East_3Windmill Pt_12Windmill Pt_27Windmill Pt_0Windmill Pt_9Windmill Pt_21
100806040200
Preliminary results