Land-use impacts water quality and aquatic invertebrate communities in the Genesee River

Session: Poster Session

Daniel Beers, The College at Brockport, State University of New York, [email protected]
Courtney McDaniel, The College at Brockport, State University of New York, [email protected]
Michael Chislock, The College at Brockport, State University of New York, [email protected]

Abstract

Past studies have shown that human land usage can have profound impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Whether it be food-web alterations, nutrient loading, or habitat destruction, human land use is a large problem facing freshwater ecology and conservation. This project explored how land use in the Genesee River watershed impacts water quality and aquatic invertebrate communities. Two study sites were chosen close to the Genesee River headwaters. One was agriculturally-influenced, and one was forested (based on land use in the immediate proximity). Each site was sampled monthly for aquatic invertebrates and water quality. Field measurements included temperature, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and pH. Water samples were analyzed in lab for suspended solids, turbidity, and nutrients. Aquatic invertebrates were preserved for family level identification and community analysis. We predicted that the forested site would have lower nutrient concentrations than our agricultural site. In contrast, results have shown that nutrient concentrations have been higher at our forested site than our agricultural site, likely due to the heavily agricultural tributary, Cryder Creek, upstream from our forested site. In general, more research needs to be completed on smaller tributaries to assess their contribution to nutrient loading in the Genesee River and Lake Ontario.