HR: 1330h
AN: NB33K-04    [Abstracts]
TI: Developing Reference Conditions and Biological Indicators for Urban Streams
AU: * Bressler, D W
EM: Dave.Bressler@tetratech.com
AF: Tetra Tech, Inc., 400 Red Brook Boulevard, Suite 200, Owings Mills, MD 21117 United States
AU: Paul, M J
EM: mjpaul@howard.edu
AF: Howard University, Department of Biology, 415 College Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20059 United States
AU: Stribling, J B
EM: James.Stribling@tetratech.com
AF: Tetra Tech, Inc., 400 Red Brook Boulevard, Suite 200, Owings Mills, MD 21117 United States
AU: Gerritsen, J
EM: Jeroen.Gerritsen@tetratech.com
AF: Tetra Tech, Inc., 400 Red Brook Boulevard, Suite 200, Owings Mills, MD 21117 United States
AU: Barbour, M T
EM: Michael.Barbour@tetratech.com
AF: Tetra Tech, Inc., 400 Red Brook Boulevard, Suite 200, Owings Mills, MD 21117 United States
AU: Dai, T
EM: Ting.Dai@tetratech-ffx.com
AF: Tetra Tech, Inc., 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 300, Fairfax, VA 22030 United States
AU: Purcell, A
EM: alison@nature.berkeley.edu
AF: UC Berkeley, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, 137 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114 United States
AU: Resh, V
EM: vresh@nature.berkeley.edu
AF: UC Berkeley, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, 137 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114 United States
AU: Rankin, E
EM: QHEI@aol.com
AF: Center for Applied Biological Assessment and Criteria, PO Box 21541, Columbus, OH 43221-0541 United States
AB: There are two objectives of this project: 1) developing biological indicators that characterize urban stressors, and 2) establishing reference conditions for urban systems. Our dataset was assembled from multiple, routine biological monitoring programs in Baltimore, MD/Washington, DC, Cleveland, OH, and San Jose, CA, representing data from approximately 2500 stream sites. We propose that increased sensitivity of biological indicators in urban systems can be attained only with detailed description of stressor conditions. A stressor gradient composed of multiple abiotic parameters representing landscape and instream physical, chemical, and hydrologic conditions was assembled. An ArcView and Excel-driven hydrologic model was developed that produced site-specific daily flow data which were reduced to hydrologic indicator values. These indicators showed significant correlations with urban land use (e.g., flood frequency [R²=0.36], flashiness [R²=0.37]) and were a substantial component of the gradient. Biological indicators were selected based on their responsiveness to the stressor gradient. In urban systems, restoration to pristine conditions is impossible; therefore, we developed reference conditions that represented "best attainable" conditions, given the extent of urbanization. This approach should provide an understanding of the capacity for ecological restoration in urban systems, and a basis for adaptation of urban streams to a tiered aquatic life use framework.
DE: 9810 New fields (not classifiable under other headings)
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly