MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 3 0864 001 5 4546 9 BIOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF EAST ROSEBUD CREEK BASED ON THE COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF THE BENTHIC ALGAE COMMUNITY Prepared for: State of Montana Department of Environmental Quality P.O. Box 200901 Helena, Montana 59620-0901 Project Officer: Patrick Newby Monitoring and Data Management Bureau DEQ Contract No. 200012-2 Prepared by: Loren L. Bahls, Ph.D. Hannaea 1032 Twelfth Avenue Helena, Montana 59601 January 8, 2001 TATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION lAY 2 8 200Z MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 1515 E. 6th AVE. HELENA, MONTANA 59520 Printed on 100\ Recycled Pomt-Conauaer Paper SUMMARY In August 2000, composite periphyton samples were collected from East Rosebud Creek near Roscoe, Montana for the purpose of assessing whether this stream is water-quality limited and in need of TMDLs . The samples were collected following DEQ standard operating procedures, processed and analyzed using standard methods for periphyton, and evaluated following modified USEPA rapid bioassessment protocols for wadeable streams. The very small biovolume of algae at Station 1 indicates very cold and nutrient -poor water entering the study reach. An increase in biovolume and an occasional pollution tolerant alga at Station 2 indicate that a slight increase in nutrients and water temperature occurred between Station 1 and Station 2. Dominance of the diatom assemblage by Achnanthes minutissima indicates moderate stress at Station 1 and minor stress at Station 2. This stress is likely natural in origin and caused by the swift, cold, and nutrient-poor waters entering the study reach from the mountains upstream. The decline in abundance of Achnanthes minutissima from Station 1 to Station 2 was accompanied by an increase in diatom diversity and diatom species richness, and by a small decrease in the pollution index. Such changes also reflect a slight increase in nutrients and water temperature between the two sites. The siltation index also increased between the two sites, but values at both stations were within acceptable limits for a mountain stream. A few abnormal diatom valves were observed at Station 1, but numbers of deformed valves were within acceptable limits. The two sites had almost two-thirds of their diatom associations in common, indicating that only a small change in water quality occurred between Station 1 and Station 2. INTRODUCTION This report evaluates the biological integrity, support of aquatic life uses, and probable causes of impairment to those uses in East Rosebud Creek, a tributary of the Stillwater River in the Yellowstone River Basin of southcentral Montana. The purpose of this report is to provide information that will help the State of Montana determine whether East Rosebud Creek is water-quality limited and in need of TMDLs . The federal Clean Water Act directs states to develop water pollution control plans (Total Maximum Daily Loads or TMDLs) that set limits on pollution loading to water-quality limited waters. Water-quality limited waters are lakes and stream segments that do not meet water-quality standards, that is, that do not fully support their beneficial uses. The Clean Water Act and USEPA regulations require each state to (1) identify waters that are water-quality limited, (2) prioritize and target waters for TMDLs, and (3) develop TMDL plans to attain and maintain water- quality standards for all water-quality limited waters. Evaluation of use support in this report is based on the species composition and structure of the periphyton (benthic algae, phytobenthos) community at two sites that were sampled on August 18, 2000. The periphyton community is a basic biological component of all aquatic ecosystems. Periphyton accounts for much of the primary production and biological diversity in Montana streams (Bahls et al . 1992). Plafkin et al . (1989) and Stevenson and Bahls (1999) list several advantages of using periphyton in biological assessments: • Algae are universally present in large numbers in all streams and unimpaired periphyton assemblages typically support a large number (>30) of species; • Algae have rapid reproduction rates and short life cycles. making them useful indicators of short-term impacts; As primary producers, algae are most directly affected by physical and chemical factors, such as temperature, nutrients, dissolved salts, and toxins; Sampling is quick, easy and inexpensive, and causes minimal damage to resident biota and their habitat; Standard methods and criteria exist for evaluating the composition, structure, and biomass of algal associations; Identification to species is straightforward for the diatoms, for which there is a large body of taxonomic and ecological literature; Excessive algae growth in streams is often correctly perceived as a pcoblem by the public. Periphyton and other biological communities reflect the biological integrity^ of waterbodies; restoring and maintaining the biological integrity of waterbodies is a goal of the federal Clean Water Act; Periphyton and other biological communities integrate the effects of different stressors and provide a measure of their aggregate impact; and Periphyton and other biological communities may be the only practical means of evaluating impacts from non-point sources of pollution where specific ambient criteria do not exist (e.g., impacts that degrade habitat or increase nutrients). Periphyton is a diverse assortment of simple photosynthetic organisms called algae, and other microorganisms that live attached to or in close proximity of the stream bottom. Most algae, such as the diatoms, are microscopic. Diatoms are distinguished by having a cell wall composed of opaline glass- - hydrated amorphous silica. Diatoms often carpet a stream bottom with a slippery brown film. ^ Biological integrity is defined as "the ability of an aquatic ecosystem to support and maintain a balanced, integrated, adaptive community of organisms having a species composition, diversity, and functional organization comparable to that of natural habitats within a region" (Karr and Dudley 1981) . Some algae, such as the filamentous greens, are conspicuous and their excessive growth may be aesthetically displeasing, deplete dissolved oxygen, interfere with fishing and fish spawning, clog water filters and irrigation intakes, create tastes and odors in drinking water, and cause other problems. PROJECT AREA AND SAMPLING SITES The project area is in Carbon County in southcentral Montana. East Rosebud Creek heads on the Beartooth Plateau in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and its watershed includes Granite Peak (el. 12,799 feet), Montana's highest peak. East Rosebud Creek is a third-order tributary of Rosebud Creek, which is a tributary of the Stillwater River. East Rosebud Creek begins in the Middle Rockies Ecoregion and enters the Montana Valley and Foothill Prairies Ecoregion at the upper end of the study reach (Woods et al . 1999) . The surface geology of the upper watershed consists of Precambrian metamorphic rocks (Renfro and Feray 1972) . Vegetation is alpine tundra at the highest elevations, conifer forest at middle elevations, and grassland along the study reach (USDA 1976) . Periphyton samples were collected at two sites on East Rosebud Creek on August 18, 2000 (Map 1, Table 1) . The upper site at the National Forest boundary is located at an elevation of about 5,400 feet. Elevation of the lower site above Roscoe is about 5,200 feet. East Rosebud Creek is classified B-1 in the Montana Surface Water Quality Standards. METHODS Periphyton samples were collected by Patrick Newby of the 4 MDEQ Monitoring and Data Management Bureau following standard operating procedures of the MDEQ Planning, Prevention, and Assistance Division. Using appropriate tools, microalgae were scraped, brushed, or sucked from natural substrates in proportion to the rank of those substrates at the study site. Macroalgae were picked by- hand in proportion to their abundance at the site. All collections of microalgae and macroalgae were pooled into a common container and preserved with Lugol ' s solution. The samples were examined to estimate the relative abundance and rank by biovolume of diatoms and genera of soft (non-diatom) algae according to the method described in Bahls (1993) . Soft algae were identified using Dillard (1999) , Prescott (1978) , Smith (1950) , and Whitford and Schumacher (1984) . These books also served as references on the ecology of the soft algae, along with Palmer (1977) . After the identification of soft algae, the raw periphyton samples were cleaned of organic matter using sulfuric acid, and permanent diatom slides were prepared using Naphrax, a high refractive index mounting medium, following Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (APHA 1998) . Between 43 6 and 440 diatom cells (872 to 880 valves) were counted at random and identified to species. The following were used as the main taxonomic and autecological references for the diatoms: Krammer and Lange-Bertalot 1986, 1988, 1991a, 1991b; Patrick and Reimer 1966, 1975. Lowe (1974) was also used as an ecological reference for the diatoms. The diatom proportional counts were used to generate an array of diatom association metrics (Table 2) . A metric is a characteristic of the biota that changes in some predictable way with increased human influence (Barbour et al . 1999). Metric values from East Rosebud Creek were compared to numeric biocriteria or threshold values developed for streams in the Rocky Mountain Ecoregions of Montana (Table 3) . These criteria are based on metric values measured in least-impaired reference streams (Bahls et al . 1992) and on metric values measured in streams that are known to be impaired by various sources and causes of pollution (Bahls 1993). The criteria in Table 3 distinguish among four levels of impairment and three levels of aquatic life use support: no impairment or only minor impairment (full support) ; moderate impairment (partial support) ; and severe impairment (nonsupport) . These impairment levels correspond to excellent, good, fair, and poor biological integrity, respectively. Quality Assurance. Several steps were taken to assure that the study results are accurate and reproducible. Upon receipt of the samples, station and sample information were recorded in a laboratory notebook and the samples were assigned a unique number compatible with the Montana Diatom Database, e.g., 2000-01. The first part of this number (2000) designates the sampling site (East Rosebud Creek Station 1) ; the second part of this number (01) designates the number of periphyton samples that have been collected at this site to date for which data have been entered into the Diatom Database. Sample observations and analyses of soft (non-diatom) algae were recorded in a lab notebook along with station and sample information provided by MDEQ. A portion of the raw sample was used to make duplicate diatom slides. After completing the diatom proportional count, the slide used for the count will be deposited in the University of Montana Herbarium in Missoula. The other slide will be retained by Hannaea in Helena. On completion of the project, station information, sample information, and diatom proportional count data will be entered into the Montana Diatom Database. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Results are presented in Tables 4 and 5, which are located near the end of this report following the Literature Cited section. Spreadsheets containing completed diatom proportional counts, with species' pollution tolerance classes (PTC) and percent abundances, are attached as Appendix A. SAMPLE NOTES East Rosebud Creek Station 1. This sample consisted of two small rocks, which I brushed with a toothbrush into the sample container. Algae in this sample were very sparse. East Rosebud Creek Station 2. This sample contained macrophytes. The diatom assemblage at this site included Didymosphenia geminata, a large, stalked, gomphonemoid diatom with striking ornamentation. NON- DIATOM ALGAE Both sites on East Rosebud Creek supported green algae, diatoms, and cyanobacteria (Table 4) . Green algae accounted for most of the biomass at both sites, while diatoms ranked second and cyanobacteria ranked third. Euglena, an indicator of organic pollution, was rare at Station 2. Algae, including diatoms, were very sparse at Station 1, probably reflecting the cold, nutrient-poor water at this site. Nevertheless, 8 genera of non-diatom algae were found in the sample collected at Station 1 (Table 4) . The number of non- diatom genera increased to 10 at Station 2, perhaps in response to a small increase in nutrients and water temperature at this site. Unimpaired mountain streams in Montana typically support 1 to 10 genera of common non-diatom algae (Bahls 1993) . DIATOMS All but 2 of the 7 major diatom species in East Rosebud Creek- -including the dominant species--were sensitive to pollution (Table 5) . The dominant species at both sites was Achnanthes minutissima. This opportunistic pioneer species is a good indicator of disturbance or stress, which may be caused by physical factors (e.g., channel scour), biological factors (e.g., invertebrate grazing), or chemical factors (e.g., heavy metal toxicity) . Such stress may be natural or cultural (anthropogenic) in origin. In the case of East Rosebud Creek, this stress is likely derived from the naturally swift, cold, and nutrient-poor waters entering the study reach. Hence, the moderate impairment recorded at Station 1 and the minor impairment recorded at Station 2 can most likely be attributed to natural causes. The number of diatom species observed and counted, as well as diatom species diversity, increased significantly from Station 1 to Station 2 (Table 5) . This was probably in response to small increases in nutrients and water temperature as the stream left the mountains and entered the foothills. Warmer, lower gradient foothill and prairie streams in Montana typically support a more diverse diatom flora than their colder and steeper counterparts in the mountains (Bahls 1993; Bahls et al . 1992). As expected, the pollution index fell slightly from Station 1 to Station 2, indicating a small increase in nutrients between the two sites (Table 5) . The siltation index also increased, but both values were within acceptable limits for mountain streams. Station 1 supported a few deformed valves of Achnanthes winutissiwa and Synedra rumpens, but the number of abnormal valves was within acceptable limits. The two sites had almost two-thirds of their diatom floras in common, indicating only a minor change in water quality between the sites. LITERATURE CITED APHA. 1998. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 20th Edition. American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C. Bahls, L.L. 1979. Benthic diatom diversity as a measure of water quality. Proc . Mont. Acad. Sci . 38:1-6. Bahls, L.L. 1993. Periphyton Bioassessment Methods for Montana Streams (Revised) . Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Helena. Bahls, L.L., Bob Bukantis, and Steve Tralles. 1992. Benchmark Biology of Montana Reference Streams. Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Helena. Barbour, M.T., J. Gerritsen, B.D. Snyder, and J.B. Stribling. 1999. Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Wadeable Rivers: Periphyton, Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish. Second Edition. EPA/841-B-99-002 . U.S. EPA, Office of Water, Washington, D.C. Dillard, G.E. 1999. Common Freshwater Algae of the United States. J. Cramer, Berlin. Johansen, J.R. 1999. Diatoms of Aerial Habitats. Chapter 12 in Stoermer, E.F., and J. P. Smol (eds.). The Diatoms, Cambridge University Press, New York. Karr, J.R., and D.R. Dudley. 1981. Ecological perspectives on water quality goals. Environmental Management 5:55-69. Krammer, K., and H. Lange-Bertalot . 1986. Bacillariophyceae, Part 2, Volume 1: Naviculaceae . In Ettl, H., J. Gerloff, H. Heynig, and D. Mollenhauer (eds.), Freshwater Flora of Middle Europe. Gustav Fischer Publisher, New York. Krammer, K., and H. Lange-Bertalot. 1988. Bacillariophyceae, Part 2, Volume 2: Bacillariaceae, Epithemiaceae, Surirellaceae . In Ettl, H., J. Gerloff, H. Heynig, and D. Mollenhauer (eds.). Freshwater Flora of Middle Europe. Gustav Fischer Publisher, New York. Krammer, K., and H. Lange-Bertalot. 1991a. Bacillariophyceae, Part 2, Volume 3 : Centrales, Fragilariaceae, Eunotiaceae. In Ettl, H., J. Gerloff, H. Heynig, and D. Mollenhauer (eds.}. Freshwater Flora of Middle Europe. Gustav Fischer Publisher, Stuttgart. Krammer, K., and H. Lange-Bertalot. 1991b. Bacillariophyceae, Part 2, Volume 4: Achnanthaceae, Critical Supplement to Navicula (Lineolatae) and Gomphonema, Complete List of Literature for Volumes 1-4. In Ettl, H., G. Gartner, J. Gerloff, H. Heynig, and D. Mollenhauer (eds.). Freshwater Flora of Middle Europe. Gustav Fischer Publisher, Stuttgart. Lange-Bertalot, Horst . 1979. Pollution tolerance of diatoms as a criterion for water quality estimation. Nova Hedwigia 64:285-304 . Lowe, R.L. 1974. Environmental Requirements and Pollution Tolerance of Freshwater Diatoms. EPA-670/4-74-005 . McFarland, B.H., B.H. Hill, and W.T. Willingham. 1997. Abnormal Fragilaria spp . (Bacillariophyceae) in streams impacted by mine drainage. Jour, of Freshwater Ecology 12 (1) : 141-149 . Palmer, CM. 1977. Algae and Water Pollution: An Illustrated Manual on the Identification, Significance, and Control of Algae in Water Supplies and in Polluted Water. EPA-600/9-77-036. Patrick, Ruth, and C.W. Reimer. 1966. The Diatoms of The United States Exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii. Volume 1: Fragilariaceae, Eunotiaceae, Achnanthaceae, Naviculaceae. Monograph Number 13, The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia . Patrick, Ruth, and C.W. Reimer. 1975. The Diatoms of The United States Exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii. Volume 2, Part 1: Entomoneidaceae, Cymbellaceae, Gomphonemaceae, Epithemiaceae. Nonograph Number 13, The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. 10 Plafkin, J.L., M.T. Barbour, K.D. Porter, S.K. Gross, and R.M. Hughes. 1989. Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Rivers and Streams: Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish. EPA 440-4-89-001 . Prescott, G.W. 1978. How to Know the Freshwater Algae. Third Edition. Wm. C. Brown Company Publishers, Dubuque, Iowa. Renfro, H.B., and D.E. Feray. 1972. Geological Highway Map of the Northern Rocky Mountain Region. American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Smith, G.M. 1950. the Fresh-Water Algae of The United States. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. Stevenson, R.J., and L.L. Bahls. 1999. Periphyton Protocols. Chapter 6 in Barbour, M.T., J. Gerritsen, B.D. Snyder, and J.B. Stribling. Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Wadeable Rivers: Periphyton, Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Fish. Second Edition. EPA/841-B-99- 002. U.S. EPA, Office of Water, Washington, D.C. USDA. 1976. Climax Vegetation of Montana (map) . U. S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Cartographic Unit, Portland. Whitford, L.A., and G.J. Schumacher. 1984. A Manual of Fresh- Water Algae (Revised) . Sparks Press, Raleigh, North Carolina . Whittaker, R.H. 1952. A study of summer foliage insect communities in the Great Smoky Mountains. Ecological Monographs 22:1-44. Woods, A.J., Omernik, J.M., Nesser, J. A., Shelden, J., and Azevedo, S.H. 1999. Ecoregions of Montana (color poster with map), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia. 11 en o in ■a- CO in CO in C3) o o o 01 D) o DC '.alDle 1. Location of periphyton stations on East Rosebud Creek: Station codes, sample numbers in the Montana Diatom Database, latitudes and longitudes, and sample dates. Stations are listed in order from upstream to downstream. «' Location Station Sample Latitude/ Sample Code Number Longitude- Date East Rosebud Creek Station 1 2000-01 45 16 16/ 08/18/00 at forest boundary- 109 33 49 near canyon moath last Rosebud Creek StaEion. 2 1 IOQ'Lt^X- 45-*i8 31/ 08/18/JoO j'.ove Roscoe 109 31 29 c o ■H OJ ttf U 01 C 0) V^ m v-i 4J C 73 O M CO •H 0) ^ -U 3 -H 0) 0) c 4-) 03 S-i o ■H U (U o - 4J o w 0) o m ■H c 4J 0) 4J :3 u ■H 0) fO -H > CD W QJ O 3 4J O tjl 2 O O U 4-) c 0) > c fO OJ W 0) i-i U U) u c a m -H i-i o - u 0) U (U -H IK m U 0) 0) O i-i h w w rO 3 O ■H S-I U (U e o -H O u 4-) O (fl 0) 0) Q W O CM Q) m 0) CO c o CO 0) q; T3 OJ 4-1 u (U a X w C/] 0) rH > 4-1 O 0) CD c fO u c (U )-l Q) g-l (D U ■H 4-) 0 2 (U CO in 0) i-i u 0) Q + o o in I o o £1 to m ■U -H n U 0) > -H Q CQ 0) ■H U 0) 0, en a o 0) 0) 0 CO tfl CO tT5 fO m 0) (U 0 S-^ i-i >-i U u u (U c c Q M M + o O o o ■ o o o rO a\ H O o o O o o Cfl iH fO CQ § ^ X m CTl C/] Xi m m o X 0) •o a H a o •H 4J n) ■u H -H W Ch CTl fC -U QJ o X! ^^ PQ X 0) •d 0) u Pi (d u n -H Q 0) 0 0 0 0 0 CO CO C/D C/} CO CO m fC m fO 1X3 res Q) 0 0 0 0 0 u 5-1 u ^1 i-i U u U u u u U 0 a G 0 0 C Q M M Q Q M + o o rH I O CTl CTl CTl X! •d (U :3 o u CQ 0) -H o o o o en en fC3 4J QJ 1-1 O XI u n3 PQ (Q (U ■H O 0) 4J Ci n) a ■H 6 o Q JJ ti Q> O 0) 04 + o o CM I o CTl fO ■u QJ fO rH S-t m u 2 ca 0) o a 0) o 0) + o o CX3 I o CM in U 0 fC3 4J 4J •H X 0) -d Pi H >i ■U •rl n] •H 6 •H + o o 00 en fO ft o w a 0 > 0 4J C/J 0) (0 0) o •rl xi 4J -H Q< H 4J Pi 0) O M 0) o o o o en CTl C 0 CO (t! x; o to 0) rH ■H XJ 0< o M < a 0) u u 0) ?^0 0 T) u w 4J , >i 03 U 4-) m c c ■H 4J m Xi 0 e o CO 0 CO o CO 4-) a 0 -H >-l 4J c CO 0 CO 0 u 0 •H O Cfl 4J 0 ? u CO ^ 4J CO 0 0 CO 0 o ■H 6 CO 5-1 0 > ■rH T) a o c 03 CO 0 u 4J c/: C •H 03 4-) a O 6 4J O fH 03 4J u 0 PQ I 0 Cn 03 >, XI 0 c cn •H CO CO 03 CO 0 u m i-l 0 rH o 4J 03 03 ■H CO N 4-1 0) o 03 U 0 a 0 cn 0 x; 4J >, ^ VI 4J 1 1 0 fO 1 o ■H -, i-l X (Ti 0 CTi 0 (Ti 0 S M 4J H Q) JJ QJ Cn G -H g • JJ l*-l (D (U CTi 0 a\ 0 CTl 0 0 •'^ G G g 0 OJ C O 4J <-{ n in ^ in fM n (N MwQJu-H^OHcncn 0) m •H G A V ■"■Hx:a)G^HgM G g CO 0) g I-l T^^4ja QJ 0> -^ • U JJ 4-1 -H > ■ U a vi 4J (D £ 4-1 0) !5 ^ 1 1 mgMoJGOJJ one -H W 4:; ■ 0) i-l w 0 0 0 0 CTl en 0 (0 G OJ -H (0 11 ro -I-l "^ QJ 0 o\o rH 1 (0 H , 4J Qjum4JW^in fC g :J 0 T) 4J c m fMSOQJ-HfOJJ A --i-l C 0 -H 3 a m 0) 1 1 fpjfOCQGSO) 0)0 0 6 OJ 4J 0) C -H 0 0 g4Jmm(D > M U 0) 0) 0 a fN OJ ^ in r- r- (,x:g (DrDGOJXl^H a XI 0 jc ft Q CO V A niJ-iOQJQJ Cn4JUiD a) IT3 w 4J ^ JJ 0 1-1 QJ -H r-l 75G(DGJJ>OCQ5-i-rj I^G-HmWfOJJ Og 0) w -Ti fO ^ i-l W Tl >. m 0 (U QJ QJ M 73 TJ Xi >i G -H J-l S g M-l X5 4-1 •H 4J 1 1 .H Q) G QJ T3 -O •H W •rH 0 g 0 u G a\ 0 CTl 0 (T> 0 _3j-'GGg>ia)GgW ^•HQJX|(DHWJJ -H S-WQJfdWHGW ■-'0 vh a 4J CD 3 0) d (N CM CM H H H tD-H 05 C s a 0 A V 0) -H -H CO u S rt! 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G s_ Q) JJ QJ G i-l cn ^'>,cox: •HOGi^ Qj i-l fO a 0) G fO (N CM CM H H H J-) d -U •H > M .G A V .'L'OajjJGi-j fOns •H JJ C 4-1 •H CO 0) rjGl-i OOcOiJji^rH J^JJGCOg fDGU^H X^COCO-HgCOl-lQJ g ^ fO 0 m Q — 4J iJ CJ C 2 ^H V4 (fl Q) H --^ 4J H (1) U 0 M i-l 4J .H fC 0 Q) 0 g 0 -H (^ >,G fO M 4J H 0 a QJ QJ i^ SmQJTiu^HHSGtn 5 g G 1-1 4-1 -H cn • U 4J (U i-l D G rH G a T) > 0 n ■H •H g 3 \ 4J QJ 3 4J ■H G 0 M 4J 0) a r n Q) (D W fD (D -•H •"i-lU •HjJgacO'd tnu U 4J W >-l r-i U4 U 2 CO 2 m i-l CO a 0) 0 tn^H fO w 0 H \ 0 ■H 0 \ G g, (D •H CO G 0 g ID ^ ai-l 0JJX14J-H ^4J r:^g4Jjjm-Hfo on3 ■^ 0 QJ^Hj:^ i-I^H4-IHJd H H OJ rO Is OJ D 0) (U O4 T3 H i-l 4J Ol i-l w XI 0 4J Ol i-l 0 u c a 0 H •H u a 0 G (D •H G g i-l 4J 3 X 0 Id 0 G m (D G 0 0 H CQ H M 0 CO CO W S CO 0 tN Pm ft CO ft S ^ Ugt04J4JXi04-lS «t Table 4. Relative abundance of cells and rank by biovolume of diatoms and genera of non-diatom algae in periphyton samples collected from E. Rosebud Cr . in August 2000, Taxa Relative Abundance^ and (Rank) Station 1 Station 2 Chlorophyta (green algae) Anki s trodesmus Closterium Coswari um Mougeotia Oedogonium Spirogyra Staurastrum Ulothrix Zygnema Euglenophyta Euglena rare (9) rare (6) occasional (2) occasional (1) occasional (5) occasional (4) occasional (11] occasional (7) occasional (8) abundant (3) dominant (1) frequent (4) occasional (9) rare (lO; Chrysophyta (golden algae) Diatoms occasional (3) abundant ( 2 ) Cyanophyta (cyanobacteria) ^ Amphithrix occasional (8) Mer i smopedi a Oscillatoria occasional (7) common ( 6 ) frequent (5) ^ d = dominant; a = abundant; f = frequent; c = common; o occasional ; r = rare Formerly known as blue-green algae « Table 5. Percent abundance of major diatom species^ and values of selected diatom association metrics for periphyton samples collected from East Rosebud Creek on August 18, 2000. Species /Metric [Pollution Tolerance Class)' Percent Abundance /Metric Values^ Station 1 Station 2 (3: Achnanthes winutissima Cymbella silesiaca (2) Fragilaria capucina (2) Fragilaria construens (3) Gomphonema subtile (3) Nitzschia perminuta (3) Reimeria sinuata (3) Cells Counted Total Species Species Counted Species Diversity Percent Dominant Species Disturbance Index Pollution Index Siltation Index Percent Abnormal Cells Percent Epithemiaceae Similarity Index 55. ,28 3. .21 0, .57 4, .36 4. .70 1. .83 5. .85 436 43 40 3, .00 55, .28 55, .28 2 .85 2 .98 0 .57 0.00 62 .72 43 2 6 11 0 3 0 64 50 93 48 34 41 34 440 63 51 3.55 43 .64 43.64 2.73 14.32 0.00 0.00 A major diatom species is here considered to be one that accounts for 3% or more of the cells in one or more samples of a sample set. Underlined values indicate good biological integrity, minor impairment, and full support of aquatic life uses; bold values indicate fair biological integrity, moderate impairment, and partial support of aquatic life uses; all other values indicate excellent biological integrity, no impairment, and full support of aquatic life uses when compared to criteria for mountain streams in Table 3 . 3 = sensitive to pollution; 2 = tolerant of pollution; 1 = most tolerant of pollution. « APPENDIX A: DIATOM PROPORTIONAL COUNTS • East Rosebud Creek Station 1 1/6/01 Sample Genusi^pecies)Varie1y ~ :>; P08ii^RTc*efance Class Count I Percem 200001 Achnanthes biasolettiana 3 2 0.23 200001 Achnanthes bioretii 3 12 1.38 200001 Achnanthes flexella 3 2 0.23 200001 Achnanthes laevis 3 8 0.92 200001 Achnanthes lanceolata 2 1 0.11 200001 JAchnanthes minutissima 3 482 55.28 200001 Amphora inariensis 3 2 0.23 200001 Asterionella formosa 3 1 0.11 200001 iCocconeis placentula 3 8 0.92 200001 Cyclotella stelligera 3 2 0.23 200001 Cymbella hustedtii 3 4 0.46 200001 Cymbella minuta 2 4 0.46 200001 Cymbella naviculiformis 3 2 0.23 200001 Cymbella reichardtii 3 2 0.23 200001 Cymbella silesiaca 2 28 3.21 200001 Diatoma mesodon 3 0 0.00 200001 Eunotia minor 2 2 0.23 200001 Fragilaria brevistriata 3 9 1.03 200001 Fragilaria capucina 2 5 0.57 200001 Fragilaria construens 3 38 4.36 200001 IFragilaria crotonensis 3 7 0.80 200001 Fragilaria leptostauron 3 10 1.15 200001 Fragilaria vaucheriae 2 8 0.92 200001 Gomphonema dichotomum 3 17 1.95 200001 |Gomphonema minutiforme 3 2 0.23 200001 Gomphonema minutum 3 14 1.61 200001 Gomphonema olivaceoides 3 4 0.46 200001 Gomphonema parvulum 1 21 2.41 200001 Gomphonema pumilum 3 21 2.41 200001 Gomphonema subtile 3 41 4.70 200001 Hannaea arcus 3 5 0.57 200001 Navicula carl 2 1 0.11 200001 Navicula novaesiberica 2 1 0.11 200001 Nitzschia gracilis 2 2 0.23 200001 Nitzschia linearis 2 4 0.46 200001 Nitzschia palea 3 2 0.23 200001 Nitzschia perminuta 3 16 1.83 200001 Pinnularia microstauron 2 3 0.34 200001 jReimeria sinuata 3 51 5.85 200001 'stauroneis anceps 3 0 0.00 200001 Synedra rumpens 2 23 2.64 200001 Synedra ulna 2 5 0.57 200001 Tabellaria flocculosa 3 0 0.00 Page 1 East Rosebud Creek Station 2 1/6/01 Sample t'"™™^SSi«oi?S^<^i^ . i& P&mrtionTotefaRceC^s '■*