Monday, May 26, 2008 - 4:00 PM
108

Patterns of macroinvertebrate assemblages in a long-term, watershed-scale study to address the effects of pulp and paper mill discharges in four USA receiving streams

Camille A. Flinders, Timothy J. Hall, William J. Arthurs, Joan Ikoma, and Renee L. Ragsdale. National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, PO Box 1259, Anacortes, WA 98221

Changes in macroinvertebrate communities exposed to pulp and paper mill effluent (PPME) have been seen in mesocosm and short-term field studies.  However, long-term patterns of macroinvertebrates in PPME receiving streams have not been examined.  We conducted a study of four PPME receiving streams (Codorus Creek (PA), the Leaf River (MS), and the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers (OR)) over 9 years to assess temporal patterns in macroinvertebrate community structure and metrics related to PPME discharge.  Study streams represented different ecoregions, warm/coldwater systems, gradients of [PPME] (<1 to 33%), and mill process types.  Bray-Curtis similarity and MDS showed significant community differences across sites in Codorus Creek, but differences were related to stream temperature and not PPME.  In the other streams, seasonal community differences across years were greater than differences across sites.  PPME-related metric response was seen in Family Biotic Index scores in one season in the McKenzie River, but significant site differences in Codorus Creek metrics were unrelated to PPME discharge.  Water quality (pH, conductivity, TN) and habitat (velocity, depth, %boulder) variables explained community structure patterns in the Leaf and McKenzie Rivers, but macroinvertebrate-environment relationships were weak in the other two streams.  Results indicate that macroinvertebrate community structure is temporally variable, and reiterate the importance of long-term studies.


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