Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Swine--Manure--Environmental aspects--Iowa; Water--Pollution--Iowa; Stream ecology--Iowa; Stream ecology; Swine--Manure--Environmental aspects; Water--Pollution; Iowa; Academic theses;
Abstract
In certain regions of the United States, some of the most frequently discussed environmental topics are hog confinements, confined animal feeding operations and hog manure spills. This study looked at the impacts that hog manure spills had on Iowa streams, using benthic communities as indicators. The null hypotheses tested were that aquatic insect abundances and taxa richness, and periphytic chlorophyll a and biomass would not be significantly different upstream and downstream from hog manure spills. In order to test these hypotheses, five different Iowa streams were selected for data collection. Each of these streams had been affected by at least one hog manure spill within the three years prior to this study. In two streams, where spills had occurred within one week of initial sampling, data were collected at a reference site or upstream site and at three consecutive downstream sites. In the other three streams, where hog manure spills had occurred within the 36 months previous to this study, data were collected at a site upstream from the spill and at one site downstream from the spill. Aquatic insects were collected using artificial substrates, while sanded plastic squares were allowed to colonize for analysis of periphytic chlorophyll a and biomass. Aquatic insect communities were analyzed statistically, as well as by using the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Rapid Bioassessment Protocol II and the Bray-Curtis community comparison index. Periphytic chlorophyll a and biomass were statistically analyzed, and habitat was assessed using the Ohio EPA' s Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index. In addition, water chemistry parameters were quantified using appropriate instruments and techniques. Results indicated that benthic communities in the two streams sampled within four weeks of the hog manure spill had recovered to reference site conditions within that time. Also, the three streams sampled within 36 months after a spill had similar benthic communities upstream and downstream from the spill. Thus, it was concluded that hog manure spills did not have measurable effects on the benthic macroinvertebrate or periphyton communities in the streams studied.
Year of Submission
2003
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Department of Biology
First Advisor
Kurt W. Pontasch
Second Advisor
Laura L. Jackson
Third Advisor
Maureen E. Clayton
Date Original
2003
Object Description
1 PDF file (97 leaves)
Copyright
©2003 Dawn G. Keller
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Keller, Dawn G., "Stream Benthos Responses to Manure Spills" (2003). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 3153.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/3153
Comments
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