Michael Railling

Biology 3920

10/8/03

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RFA Research Proposal

 

Comparison of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in Pool and Riffle Habitats of Blackburn Fork

 

Michael Railling

Department of Biology

Undergraduate Student

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, TN 38505 USA

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

Standard Form

Key Contacts

Abstract

Research Plan

Resume

Current and Pending Support

Budget

Budget Justification

Quality Assurance

 

 

Abstract

 

Aquatic communities were quantitatively taken with artificial substrate samplers in pool and riffle habitats of the Blackburn fork.  However one of the artificial samplers was lost during the five week collection period.  The remaining samples were qualitatively used to show the richness, percent of EPT’s (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera), and percent Chironomidae present in the two habitats. Findings of both habitats were compared to show different macroinvertebrate compositions.

 

Research Plan

 

            The Blackburn Fork is a productive 4th order stream in Jackson and Putnam counties(Baker 1994).  Macro invertebrates are good indicators of Stream Quality because They are closely associated with the conditions of the environment, They are easy to collect, they are relatively stationary, and they have a wide distribution(Plotnikoff and Ethinger 1997, Newell et al. 2002).  Macroinvertebrate assemblages not only vary regionally they can also vary greatly at local levels(Heino et al. 2003).  Abundance of the macroinvertebrates can be affected by many factors but habitat is the prima factor(Waters and Giovanni 2003). Organisms have adaptations to certain substrates especially invertebrates.  Some may prefer the larger cobble and faster currents of a riffle and other may prefer the slower and bedrock substrate found in a pool(Cushing and Allan 2001).  Pools generally have higher dissolved oxygen levels and a more neutral pH.

Water Qualities In pH and dissolved oxygen can have a significant effect on the biota(Boto and Bunt 1981).  Are the macroinvertebrate in pool and riffle composed of the same taxa or densities?  In my research I plan to show that pool and riffle habitats have comparably different taxa and proportions of these taxa.

            Six different sites were selected in the Blackburn fork in a 300 foot area.  Three of these sites were in pool and three were in riffles.  Hester-Dendy artificial substrate samplers were placed in each of the six sites(TDEC 2002). Each of the samplers was composed of nine 3in by 3in plates.  The samplers were left for five weeks.  At the end of the five weeks the samples were collected using a D-frame net.  Only five were collected, one of the riffle samples was lost.  The samples were preserved in 10% Formalin and five separate gallon sized plastic bags.  Each was labeled and placed in a cooler. 

            Four of the samples were scrubbed, the two remaining riffle samples and two randomly selected from the pools.  Invertebrates were separated from the substrate and identified to Genus. Chironoidae were left at family because they are difficult to identify(Wymer and Cook 2003). Data was recorded using the following data form(table1).

 

Table 1.  Data From Used in Analysis

Data Form

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Location:

Blackburn Fork

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

9/14/2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Observer:

Michael Railling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pool

 

 

 

 

Riffle

 

 

 

Genus

 

Score

 

 

Genus

 

Score

1

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Taxa

 

Score Taxa

 

 

Total Taxa

 

Score Taxa

 

Total EPT's

 

Score EPT's

 

 

Total EPT's

 

Score EPT's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxa Richness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% EPT's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resume

 

Michael A. Railling

347 West 12th Street

Cookeville, TN 38501

MARailling21@tntech.edu

931-252-4339

 

 

OBJECTIVE: Seeking a challenging position which will utilize my interests and talents in the areas of fisheries and environmental biology.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

 Dedicated individual possessing both lab and field experience in the environmental biology.

 

EDUCATION

1991-1995      Marshall County High School

1998-2003   Bachelor of Science, Wildlife/Fisheries Science Concentration: Fisheries

                    Minor: Biology

                    Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN

 

RELATED COURSE WORK

Fish Management, Limnology, Biostatistics, Ecology, Botany, Genetics, Invertebrate Zoology, Aquaculture, Systematic Botany, Ichthyology, Phycology, and National Wildlife Policy

 

ORGANIZATIONS

Tennessee Technological University Student Fisheries Association

Tennessee Technological University Wildlife Society

Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity

Tennessee Technological University Interfraternity Council, Vice President Risk Management

Structured Athletics for Challenged Children Volunteer

Special Olympics Volunteer

 

 

WORK EXPERIENCE

 

2003     Lab Technician, Pennington & Associates Inc., Responsibilities include

             separating invertebrates from stream samples; constructing substrates used to                               

             collect invertebrate animals and algae; invertebrate collection using D-frame kick

             nets, kick screens, and Hester-Dendy artificial substrates; experience in fisheries

             including, electrofishing and fish identification.            

 

 

 

 

Budget

 

Research Budget

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and Wages

Year 1

 

Year 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professional

 

 $   150.00

 

 $ 150.00

Technician

 

 $     65.00

 

 $   65.00

Secretarial

 

 $     90.00

 

 $   90.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

 $   305.00

 

 $ 305.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits

 

 

 $          -  

 

 $        -  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travel

 

 

 $     25.00

 

 $   25.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Expendables

 

 $   100.00

 

 $ 100.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expendables

 

 

 

 

Computer

 

 

 $   700.00

 

 $        -  

Supplies and Expenses

 $   278.13

 

 $     6.94

Copying and Telephone

 $     20.00

 

 $   20.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

 

 $   998.13

 

 $   26.94

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indirect Costs

 

 $   125.00

 

 $ 125.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct Costs

 

 $1,303.13

 

 $ 331.94

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Cost

 

 $1,428.13

 

 $ 456.94

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Research Cost

 $1,885.07