Our Frequently Asked Questions

Local, state, and federal agencies conduct surveys as large as watershed scale down to a few sites around a point source. Surveys can be annual, or occur every few decades. Collected assemblages are input into databases and indices are calculated and compared to previous surveys. The field collection of this data is generally done by electrofishing (with boats, tote-barges, long-lines, or backpack units), but some jurisdictions have protocols that incorporate other methods like trap nets or seines

It’s generally not the presence or absence of a single species that is indicative of good or bad water quality conditions. You really have to look at the whole assemblage to best determine if there are any water quality issues. There are species we love to see at a site though. In headwaters Southern Redbelly Dace are great. At wading sites Banded Darter usually indicates at least WWH attainment, and at boat sites sensitive species like Gravel and Bigeye Chubs, Redhorse species, and sensitive darters like Tippecanoe, Bluebreast, and Variegate.

Generally negatively. Some species like Creek Chub and Green Sunfish are tolerant of pollution and their populations are robust, and can even thrive on habitat loss and pollution because competition will be lessened through the loss of more sensitive species.

Loss or declines in sensitive species, lower biodiversity and biological integrity of streams and rivers, decreased quality of drinking water, agriculture issues, potential increased illnesses from bacteria or other pathogens, cumulative effects on overall ecosystem condition.

Yes. Marine species are likely the most vulnerable due to the changes that will occur in the ocean currents, and warming of Arctic and Antarctic waters. Freshwater species will be vulnerable as well. Coldwater species are already under threat with land use changes, including urbanization and tiling of farm fields. These land use alterations decrease the amount of precipitation that can become groundwater and be a source of cold water to surface streams. Climate change and land use alterations that reduce groundwater are detrimental to coldwater organisms. A warmer climate also means more rain and less snow. Snow melt in western states is imperative to maintain stream levels and temperature, which imperils native Salmonids.

Macro implies it can be seen without the use of a microscope while micros are generally of microscopic size (typically smaller than 2-3 mm)

• Minimize pollution, runoff, illegal dumping
• Create riparian buffers, plant native species of plants, reduce application of road salts and maximize uses of best practices to control runoff which should include habitat and floodplain restoration and protection
• Participate in public events, stay informed on environmental policies, provide feedback,

Various kinds of industrial pollutants such as from factories, mining, oil and gas, pesticides, watercraft discharge even if it is unintentional, treated wastewater if discharged at levels above water quality criteria

Each fish species requires different environmental conditions to survive and thrive. When these conditions change significantly, species can be forced into refuge or move into the area, potentially changing the whole assemblage, for better or worse. We collect fish assemblages and compare that data to historic collections and our previous collections to determine what potential stressors are causing a limited assemblage or what stressors have the potential to limit the diversity of an Fish can be an early indicator of novel stressors that may not be included in a typical screening panel of water chemistry, and as fish are present year-round in a system they respond to stressors whose seasonality might affect the recognition of their effect during normal sampling periods.

Fish assemblages are already being used to determine use attainment statuses of rivers and streams in Ohio, which helps determine if any company with a point source or WWTP requires updates to its water treatment systems. Watershed groups we work with in Illinois are using the assemblage to determine if stream restoration efforts have been effective. The results of these surveys can be used to create regulations on riparian protections, land protections, and limitations on pollution from point sources.

Some species like Paddlefish and Blue Suckers are highly migratory in the spring, and during the winter fish tend to move into deep pools. Sampling outside the index period could yield lower IBI scores, which are not indicative of the actual quality of the assemblage.

Fish can be very near the bottom of the food chain or at the very top. There are species that consume decaying organic matter (Gizzard Shad), others macroinvertebrates (Suckers, minnows, etc.), some prey on other fish species (Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass, Flathead Catfish, etc.), and some eat mussels (Lake Sturgeon and Round Goby). Fish fill nearly every niche available in a waterbody.

Some macroinvertebrates have defense mechanisms by using their claws or mandibles to physically defend themselves, but other ways include camouflage, hiding under rocks, or living in cases.

Yes - we ask that course participants provide their own transportation to and from field sites. However, we encourage car pooling and will make every attempt to minimize the number of vehicles traveling to the field sites.

Ecological health is “the goal for the condition at a site that is cultivated for crops, managed for tree harvest, stocked for fish, urbanized, or otherwise intensively used” (Karr 1996). So, it depends on your goal. If you want to create a fishery for a particular species, then you look at size classes and prey availability for that species. If your goal is clean water, then you look at the overall assemblage quality.

Yes, we take the security of your personal and financial information seriously. Our website uses secure encryption technology to protect your data during the donation process. We do not store your credit/debit card information on our servers. Your information is used only for processing the donation and maintaining accurate records.

Crayfish, mayflies, stoneflies, dragonflies, helgermites(spelling), caddisflies, beetles, mosquitos

A lot of “pollutants” occur naturally at low concentrations (e.g., metals, nutrients, ions such as chloride) and many are important as micronutrients for plants (e.g., iron). Other compounds (e.g., some organic chemicals) may be entirely man-made. Common pollutants that can harm aquatic life when they increase above natural levels include nutrients (e.g., phosphorus from fertilizer, sewage), ionic parameters (e.g., chloride from road salt), metals and organic chemicals from road, industrial sites, factories, sewage). US and State EPAs set safe levels (“criteria”) for some (but not all) of these chemicals.

In tropical climates, mosquitos carry diseases that can be transmitted to people

Yes, this information is available here