HR: 14:00h
AN: NB13E-03 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Development of Effects-Based Nutrient Criteria using Biological Endpoints
AU: * Miltner, R
EM: bob.miltner@epa.state.oh.us
AF: Ohio EPA, 4675 Homer-Ohio Lane, Groveport, OH 43125 United States
AB: Ohio employs biological endpoints to judge the status of aquatic life in rivers and streams. Specifically, numeric criteria derived from biological indices have been incorporated into Ohio's water quality standards for fish and macroinvertebrate communities. When appropriate, chemical-specific water quality standards derived from dose-response curves are used in concert with the biological indices to ascribe the causes and sources of impairment to polluted streams. However, water quality criteria have not been established for all polluting agents, especially those, like nutrients, that do not elicit a simple dose-response curve. In such cases, where biological impairment is observed, the linkage between the impairment and causal agent is made inferentially. Ohio EPA is currently studying the relationship between nutrient concentrations, periphytic chlorophyll a concentrations, and biological indices to ascertain whether a direct relationship exists between nutrient concentration and the biological health of fish and macroinvertebrate communities, with the eventual goal of adopting effects-based nutrient criteria in Ohio's water quality standards. Results from the first field season show a strong relationship between chlorophyll a concentrations, and physical and land use variables. Additionally, 48 h dissolved oxygen flux correlated with periphytic chlorophyll a concentrations and the degree of canopy cover.
DE: 4239 Limnology
DE: 4845 Nutrients and nutrient cycling
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly