HR: 11:15h
AN: NB22C-04    [Abstracts]
TI: Chironomid assemblages along environmental gradients in New York City's drinking water tributaries, New York, USA.
AU: * Kratzer, E B
EM: ekratzer@stroudcenter.org
AF: Stroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Rd , Avondale, PA 19311 United States
AU: Jackson, J K
EM: jkjackson@stroudcenter.org
AF: Stroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Rd , Avondale, PA 19311 United States
AU: Arscott, D B
EM: darscott@stroudcenter.org
AF: Stroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Rd , Avondale, PA 19311 United States
AU: Aufdenkampe, A K
EM: aufdenkampe@stroudcenter.org
AF: Stroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Rd , Avondale, PA 19311 United States
AU: Dow, C L
EM: cdow@stroudcenter.org
AF: Stroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Rd , Avondale, PA 19311 United States
AU: Kaplan, L A
EM: lakaplan@stroudcenter.org
AF: Stroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Rd , Avondale, PA 19311 United States
AU: Newbold, J D
EM: newbold@stroudcenter.org
AF: Stroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Rd , Avondale, PA 19311 United States
AU: Sweeney, B W
EM: sweeney@stroudcenter.org
AF: Stroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Rd , Avondale, PA 19311 United States
AB: Chironomidae are diverse and abundant in streams and rivers and are often included in water quality and pollution evaluations. We examined distribution patterns of chironomid genera from 60 sites in the 2 regions (East and West of the Hudson River) that are the source of New York City's drinking water. These watersheds range from forested to urbanized. Average midge density ranged from 3320-68813/m² across all sites, and a total of 75 genera were identified over 3 years. Orthocladius and Cricotopus were the most abundant genera in both regions. Tanytarsus and Sublettea were also abundant in the West whereas Micropsectra and Eukiefferiella were abundant in the East. Multivariate analyses suggest that midge assemblages differed along land cover gradients. Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling explained 73% of the spatial variation in chironomid assemblages from the western region, and 86% of the spatial variation from the eastern region. Western axes were correlated with population density and total roads in the watershed, percent cropland and farmsteads, and numerous other variables associated with agriculture and development. Eastern axes were correlated with wastewater treatment plant discharge, chlorophyll, total roads, and transportation land cover. Some genera-specific abundance responses were associated with certain land cover gradients.
DE: 9810 New fields (not classifiable under other headings)
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly