2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

5/25/2021 | 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM | INSECT EMERGENT BIOMASS DOES NOT DIFFER IN SALINIZED STREAMS | Virtual Platform

INSECT EMERGENT BIOMASS DOES NOT DIFFER IN SALINIZED STREAMS

Aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity has declined in headwater streams of central Appalachia following mining activity, which accelerates weathering and results in elevated bicarbonate and sulfate ion concentrations. Effects of conductivity on emergence of aquatic macroinvertebrates are unclear. We predicted salt-sensitive insect density, richness, and biomass would be lower in streams with elevated conductivity. Emergent insects were collected from six streams with natural and elevated conductivities using quantitative emergence traps over 1-3 weeks in summer, fall, and spring of 2019-2020. Insects were identified to order except for Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera were identified to family level. Richness and densities were compared for streams with high and low conductivities. There was no difference in the number of emerged taxa at higher levels of conductivity (700-1400 µS/cm). We found a range of 0-93 individuals per taxon, with Diptera showing the highest density across all samples. Emergent insect density was 45% lower in salinized streams relative to reference streams, but only in the fall 2019. Findings on biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates will be presented that further our knowledge of salinization effects on whole-lifecycle biotic responses.

Conductivity
Stream
Stressor

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Presenters/Authors

Sarah Turner (), Virginia Tech, saraht4@vt.edu;