Macroinvertebrate Community Stream Survey of Campbell Creek, Van Buren Co., SW Michigan

• Main Author: Barber, Natalie P.
• Other Authors: Wollenberg, Amanda C., Girdler, Erin Binney, 1969-
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Kalamazoo College 2022
• Subjects: Van Buren; Beaver Creek
• Online Access: https://cache.kzoo.edu/handle/10920/43334

vi,47 p. Anthropogenic disturbances such as agricultural land use and bridge crossings negatively impact freshwater ecosystems. To determine the extent of the impact of these disturbances on freshwater systems, we collected data on freshwater macroinvertebrates, common bioindicators for freshwater streams. The goal of this study was to survey the macroinvertebrate community in Campbell Creek, a stream on private property owned by Pat and Dave Diget in Van Buren County, MI, and use this information to determine its water quality. To collect the macroinvertebrates, we performed the kick sampling method using a D-shaped net. All macroinvertebrates were identified down to either family or order, and we analyzed the data using five different indexes: total abundance, taxa richness, EPT index, Shannon-Wiener index, and biotic score. We found that footbridges did not have an impact on the macroinvertebrate community, but we did discover that the water quality of Campbell Creek decreased going upstream. We also found that ammonia levels increased, and depth decreased going upstream. We suspect that the increased levels of ammonia may be due to agricultural activity upstream of the property. In addition, Beaver Creek (a stream that flows into Campbell Creek) may be responsible for the improved water quality downstream because it is bringing in cleaner water from a wetland, diluting the ammonia. Future studies should survey both upstream of the property and Beaver Creek to get a better idea of the agricultural and wetland impacts on the two creeks. Information from this study can be used to guide future conservation and restoration initiatives.