Keywords

Benthic Macroinvertebrate, Bioassessments, TMDL

Abstract

The objective of this study was to obtain a bioassessment using benthic macroinvertebrates to meet TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) criteria for an oligotrophic (Lake Seminary) and an eutrophic (Lake Jesup) freshwater system in Seminole County, Florida. Monthly sampling of the benthic macroinverterbrate communities provided important biological data necessary to construct TMDL protocol and trophic state. Since macroinvertebrates are near the base of the food chain, they not only provide a critical role in the natural flow of energy and cycling of nutrients through the food web, but also provide a good indication of water quality by their presence and abundance. This study suggests that TMDL protocol and reversal trends in eutrophication can be successfully monitored using benthic macroinvertebrate data. Comparative methodology between the LCI and conventional methods indicate that the LCI is a valid, cost-effective and rapid bioassessment method when compared to the conventional method and that the conventional method is an effective tool when more in depth benthic studies are needed as it shows distinct seasonal patterns and accounts for more of the sensitive, intolerant taxa. Furthermore, this type of biological monitoring and trend analysis aids in the implementation of anthropogenic controls that targets waters for TMDLs in suspect systems. When integrated within a watershed management plan, multi-metric indexing functions as an effective overall indicator of the biological condition within a waterbody responding to its watershed.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2008

Advisor

Weishampel, John

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Biology

Degree Program

Biology

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0002126

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0002126

Language

English

Release Date

April 2009

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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Included in

Biology Commons

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