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Response of Fish and Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment Indices to Water Chemistry in a Mined Appalachian Watershed

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Abstract

Multimetric indices based on fish and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages are commonly used to assess the biological integrity of aquatic ecosystems. However, their response to specific stressors is rarely known. We quantified the response of a fish-based index (Mid-Atlantic Highlands Index of Biotic Integrity, MAH-IBI) and a benthic invertebrate-based index (West Virginia Stream Condition Index, WV-SCI) to acid mine drainage (AMD)-related stressors in 46 stream sites within the Cheat River watershed, West Virginia. We also identified specific stressor concentrations at which biological impairment was always or never observed. Water chemistry was extremely variable among tributaries of the Cheat River, and the WV-SCI was highly responsive across a range of AMD stressor levels. Furthermore, impairment to macroinvertebrate communities was observed at relatively low stressor concentrations, especially when compared to state water quality standards. In contrast to the WV-SCI, we found that the MAH-IBI was significantly less responsive to local water quality conditions. Low fish diversity was observed in several streams that possessed relatively good water quality. This pattern was especially pronounced in highly degraded subwatersheds, suggesting that regional conditions may have a strong influence on fish assemblages in this system. Our results indicate that biomonitoring programs in mined watersheds should include both benthic invertebrates, which are consistent indicators of local conditions, and fishes, which may be indicators of regional conditions. In addition, remediation programs must address the full suite of chemical constituents in AMD and focus on improving linkages among streams within drainage networks to ensure recovery of invertebrate and fish assemblages. Future research should identify the precise chemical conditions necessary to maintain biological integrity in mined Appalachian watersheds.

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Acknowledgments

This research was completed in partial fulfillment of the corresponding author’s dissertation. Funding was provided through grants from the Electrical Power Research Institute, the WV Water Research Institute, and a USEPA STAR grant to J.T.P. The authors wish to thank Alan Herlihy (US EPA) for providing technical assistance and reference equations to calculate MAH-IBI scores from our data. John Wirts of the WVDEP provided WV-SCI scores and information pertaining to the development of the index. Jennifer Fulton oversaw the collection of water chemistry data, organized data and labor, and assisted with fish collections. Roy Martin assisted with site selection and supervised a second field crew. The following undergraduate technicians and graduate students assisted with fish collections: Patrick Amick, Patrick Blosser, Luke Bolyard, Ryan Braham, Seth Davis, Brandon Keplinger, Pete Lamothe, Zach Liller, Sarah McClurg, George Merovich, Aurora Moldovanyi, Chris Nelson, Cassie Nulph, Misty Phillips, Ira Poplar-Jeffers, Brock Reggi, John Safstrom, Dave Thomas, and David Thorne. Dan Cincotta and Stuart Welsh verified fish voucher specimens. Comments from Kyle Hartman, Pat Mazik, Mike Strager, and Stuart Welsh improved earlier versions of this manuscript.

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  1. Jason G. Freund

    Present address: Carroll College, Environmental Science Program, 100 N. East Ave., Waukesha, WI, 53186, USA

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  1. Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506-6125, USA

    Jason G. Freund & J. Todd Petty

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Correspondence to Jason G. Freund.

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Freund, J.G., Petty, J.T. Response of Fish and Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment Indices to Water Chemistry in a Mined Appalachian Watershed. Environmental Management 39, 707–720 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-005-0116-3

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