Exercise Stream Ecosystem

EXERCISE
STREAM ECOSYSTEM
(The Use of Multiple Habitat Sampling Protocol for Macroinvertebrates)
Continuously moving water is the outstanding feature of streams and
rivers. Current cuts the channel and molds the character of the stream and
influences the life and ways of organisms inhabiting flowing waters.
The stream exhibit changes in its character from its source to its
mouth. The headwater streams up in the hills are shallow and usually swift
and cold. Most organisms found here are supported by the photosynthesis of
algae attached to rocks or organic material, such as leaves. Production is high
but the nutrients are carried downstream by the water flow. The most
abundant benthic animals are usually insects that feed on algae, leaves or
one another.
Downstream, augmented by tributaries, the volume of flow increases,
the channel becomes wider and deeper and the current is not so swift. The
water is usually warmer and may be murkier due to the suspended sediments
and plankton. Burrowing organisms like worms and some insects are
common.
Flowing water systems play a big role in sustaining human populations.
However, many have been affected by pollution due to anthropogenic
activities. While some pollutants are carried downstream, much of it settles to
the substrate, affecting thriving organisms such as invertebrates and fishes.
The multiple habitat sampling protocol (MHSP) is a timed, qualitative
sampling procedure employing macro invertebrates to assess stream water
quality. Samplings involve sampling habitats at a site using multiple-collecting
equipment for total 5-persons-hour.
Objectives:
1. To determine the physico-chemical characteristics of the stream
environment
2. To identify as many macro invertebrate taxa as possible.
3. To gain experience using each type of equipment and method used in
sampling macroinvertebrates.
4. To determine taxon richness of macronvertebrates in the stream
ecosystem.
5. To assess water quality of the stream.
Materials:
Transect line
Plastic bags/ sample bottles
Fine mesh bags (300u)
Forceps or Pasteur pipette
85% isopropyl alcohol
19L bucket
White pan
Dip net
Kick net
Thermometer
Refractometer
pH meter
DO meter
Stopwatch
Procedure:
A. Physico chemical parameter
1. Site location. A stream reach about 100meters long should be selected for
sampling. Note the physical features of the stream and the vegetation
cover along the banks or sides and the shading portion of the stream. Do
not disturb the water as much as possible. Note also the plants attached to
debris or periphyton.
2. Measure dissolved oxygen, air and water temperature, specific
conductivity, depth of water, type of substrate, water pH, current velocity,
volume of flow of water and total suspended solids. Take 3 replicates for
each parameter.
a. Current velocity
Measure the width of the stream. Divide the width into 3 equal
segments by pushing pegs into the bottom or simply make some
markers on a string or rope. Record the depth in each peg/ marker.
Measure the velocity by recording with a stopwatch the time it takes for
a floating paper boat to travel a known straight line distance (at least 1
m) along the current flow in each of the marked segments. Compute for
the average.
b. Volume of water flow
The following formula will be used:
R = WDAV
Where W = width, D = depth, A = bottom factor constant (0.8 for rocks,
coarse gravel; 0.9 for mud sand and bedrock), and V= current velocity.
Total flow rate (m3/ second) is determined y adding the flow of the 3
segments.
c. To determine the total suspended solids (TSS), obtain 1L water sample
and use the gravitational filtration set-up. Dry the Whatman filter paper
(wrap with aluminum foil) in an oven at 100C for 24 hours. After which,
weigh the oven-dried filter paper individually using the Metler analytical
balance. Never forget to record the reading. Use the dried filter paper
for the set-up. Pour the collected water sample into the set-up. Remove
the filter paper and let it dry in the oven (wrap with aluminum foil and
dried at 100C for 24 hours). Weigh again the filter paper individually.
Compute for the weight difference.
d. For sediment analysis, collect soil samples (at least 250 ml) on the
sides and on the middle of the stream halfway to the bottom for each
sampling site. Collect 3 replicates for each area. Place the samples
separately in plastic bags and label properly. Sediment analysis is
determined by simplified hydrometer technique. This technique relies

on the fact that particles in suspension settle in order of decreasing
size. Place 250 ml of sediment to a bottle and add water to fill the bottle
to the shoulder. Put the cap on and shake the bottle. Let the soil settle.
The heavier particles will settle first (sand, silt, clay). These
components will build up several layers. Hold up a piece of white paper
against the side of the bottle and draw a diagram showing the different
layers. Label each layer.
B. Biological Sampling
This is a qualitative sampling and it is not necessary to collect every
macro invertebrate encountered, but representatives of every taxon present
should be kept and preserved. Specimen should be saved roughly in
proportion to their abundance in the collection.
Handle the specimens with forceps carefully without damaging for easy
identification.
Separate bigger specimen from delicate ones in separate collecting jars.
Habitats:
Movable rocks, small enough to be lifted
Gravel and cobble riffles. These are gravel and cobble-bottom
areas of swift water in mountains.
Bedrock.
Soft sediments, sand, silt and mud support many burrowing in
faunal macro invertebrates.
Root banks. These are masses of roots extending out of stream
bank into the water.
Vegetation growing below the water surface
Leaf packs. These are masses of leaves caught on rocks of sticks
or snags in the stream. Mature leaf packs have been in the water
several months and have undergone biological breakdown of fungi
and macro invertebrates.
Woody debris, sticks, snags and logs.
The larvae of Chironomidae usually contribute importantly to freshwater
communities and may sometimes account for 50% of the species in the
habitat.
1. Fill a 19-li bucket half full of water from the stream.
2. Collect 5 samples of all habitats. Rinse these substrates in the bucket
using a small paintbrush to dislodge invertebrates from hard surface such
as rocks and wood.
3. Select a patch of sandy bottom using fine mesh bags (300u). Situate the
sampler so its open end faces upstream. Disturb about 1.0m 2 of the sand
in the area immediately upstream of the sampler so any dislodged macro
invertebrates are carried into the bag by the currents.
4. Empty the contents of the bag into the same bucket that contains the
habitat washes. Use squirt bottles to aid in washing the bag.
5. Rinse and remove the debris by hands and discard. Be sure that to rinse
the debris in the bucket before discarding it. Pour the water into 300u net.
6. Remove small amount of debris from sieve and place it in white pan about
of water and spread thinly to locate organisms.
7. Use forceps or Pasteur pipette to remove macro invertebrates and transfer
it to a jar of 85% isopropyl alcohol.
8. Repeat until all detritus in the sieve has been examined.
Dip net collection is most useful in sampling root banks, which are usually
present in all aquatic vegetation.
1. Root wads. Poke the dip net vigorously into root wads along a stretch of the bank
until the net is full of debris. Root wads should be washed into dip nets by hand or
paintbrush to remove firmly attached macro invertebrates.
2. Sweep an empty dip net through aquatic vegetation 2-3 times.
3. Rinse the bottom of the dip net in the stream to remove sand and silt. The more you
do this the more silt you get rid of.
Kick net collection is used to sample riffles and leaf packs and snags and exposed
bedrock. The kick net is 1 x 1 meter sieve supported by 2 poles.
1. Place the kick net slightly downstream of the habitat to be sampled. Disturb about
1m2 of habitat so that any dislodged invertebrates are carried by the current in the
net.
2. Place the net flat on a more or less level dry area of the shore or a sand bar and
examine it carefully for macro invertebrates. Use forceps to transfer specimens.
Visual Collection
Search all habitats for macro invertebrates. Capture them with forceps.
Preservation
When you are through sampling carefully decant the alcohol from the sample jar. Do
this over one of the white pans so that any invertebrates that are lost from the jar can be
recovered and returned. Gently pour fresh 80% isopropyl alcohol into the sample jar so
that is about full.
Labeling and Data Collection
1. Prepare label or waterproof paper using pencil or waterproof ink with the location,
date and your name. If you are using a sample number, it should be included in the
label.
2. Enter all physicochemical data and the site description onto the data sheet while at
site.
Identification. Always be alert to the possibility that your specimen may have lost critical
appendages. Look for stumps or scars where structures may once have attached. Look
at both sides of the organism. If possible look at more than one specimen.
The Field Biotic Index (Hilsenhoff, 1988) is based on family level identification of stream
arthropods including insects, amphipods and isopods. It is not as sensitive as speciesbased indices but it has advantage for rapid stream assessment. The FBI is a
quantitative measure that requires counting of individuals in each family. It is based on
scale of 10 and high values indicate high pollution intolerance and lower values indicate
pollution intolerance

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EXERCISE

determined by simplified hydrometer technique. This technique relies

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