LINKING AQUATIC HABITAT, FRESHWATER FISHES, AND BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0233442
• Project Start Date: Apr 1, 2013
• Project End Date: Mar 31, 2018
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
208 MUELLER LABORATORY
UNIVERSITY PARK,PA 16802

Performing Department
Ecosystem Science & Management

Non Technical Summary
The high quality and wide availability of recreational fishing opportunities contribute to Pennsylvania's economy and reflect the high quality of life enjoyed by residents of the Commonwealth. Many land-use and water management activities can have a negative effect on the quality of fish habitat available in Pennsylvania's lakes and streams. It is generally accepted that good habitat is necessary to support productive fish populations. The overall goal of this study is to continue work to understand the relationship between habitat and freshwater fish production and how the relationship is affected by human activity. Results from this research will contribute to the growing knowledge base about the relationship between freshwater fish and benthic macroinvertebrates and the habitat quality where they are found and will help to shape guidelines for the protection and restoration of aquatic habitats for state and federal agencies charged with overseeing the restoration of fish habitat.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
135	0810	1070	33%
135	0812	1070	34%
135	0819	1070	33%

Knowledge Area
135 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife;

Subject Of Investigation
0810 - Finfish; 0819 - Natural fisheries, other; 0812 - Fish habitats;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;

Keywords

fish habitat

freshwater fish

benthic macroinvertebrate

Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of this study is to continue work to understand the relationship between habitat and freshwater fish production and how the relationship is affected by human activity. Objectives include: 1. Establish baseline information about fish and benthic macroinvertebrate communities in streams in Pennsylvania State Parks that have high potential for Marcellus gas development. 2. Evaluate the effectiveness of indices based on the fish and benthic macroinvertebrate community to indicate the current condition of the stream. 3. Determine how physical, chemical, and biological aspects of habitat affect the distribution and productivity of fish populations. Expected outputs include presentations at scientific conferences, publication in scientific journals, graduate student mentoring, and integration of research findings into resident education programs.

Project Methods
1. At three state parks, five to seven headwater streams (stream order 1-3) will be selected in consultation with DCNR and park personnel. Within each selected stream, we will sample one representative reach, covering riffles, runs, and pools, so as to sample across habitat types. Sampling benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages will follow the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) methods for wadeable freestone riffle-run streams or for limestone streams depending on the stream type. Using a D-frame dip net with 500 micron mesh, we will collect one sample at each study section. In limestone streams, the sample will consist of two kicks, one in a riffle and one in a run. To complete a kick, the net will be placed firmly against the stream bottom, and the substrate 1m upstream of the net will be disturbed using their foot for 1 minute. The collections from the two kicks will be combined in the field into one composite sample. In freestone streams, the composite sample will consist of six kicks (as described above) from riffle areas distributed over a 100 meter stream reach. Samples will be preserved and returned to the lab for processing. Each sample will be subsampled in a gridded pan to randomly select organisms to be identified to the appropriate taxonomic levels using keys. Fish. Fish communities will be sampled in the same stream sections as sampled for benthic macroinvertebrates. Fishes will be sampled from a 250 to 300-m section of stream during the summer (June-August). Using a backpack eletrofishing unit, we will make a single, zig-zag pass (from bank to bank) to cover all areas of the channel starting from the downstream end of the reach and working upstream. All fish collected will be identified to species and measured. Data will be used to generate lists of species present in each stream and their size structure. 2. Data about fish and benthic macroinvertebrate communities collected at State Parks related to the potential impact of Marcellus gas drilling as described above (1) will be used to evaluate different ways to evaluate stream condition using IBI-type indices. Literature reviews will be conducted to determine which approaches may be most applicable to this region and indices will be calculated. Indices will be compared to other measures of habitat quality, such as the Rapid Bioassessment for Wadeable Streams and water quality measures (dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and alkalinity). 3. To evaluate the relative importance of abiotic (pH) and biotic (density) components of habitat on the distribution and abundance of brook trout and brown trout populations, we will continue to analyze data collected during laboratory and field experiments. In the laboratory, we evaluated the pH preference of both species. In the field, we evaluated the effect of low pH on the movement and interaction using treatments of brown trout alone, brook trout alone, and mixed brook trout and brown trout held in stream enclosures. Analysis of data collected in both phases of the project will continue.

Progress 04/01/13 to 03/31/18

Outputs
Target Audience:I worked with undergraduate students at Penn State providing classroom instruction and laboratory instruction. I provided independent study opportunities for students in the Wildlife and Fisheries Science major and minor related to the goals of this project. I have worked with National Park Service personnel to develop a strategic plan for fisheries management in the Delaware River park units, colleagues in PSU Engineering to initate a project regarding fish passage, and personnel in the PA Fish and Boat Commission. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In addition to our work with the National Park Service, several undergraduate students at Penn State have engaged in independent studies to evaluate the effectiveness of using benthic macroinvertebate and fish communities to assess the health or status of local streams. These studies have been designed to be hands-on, experiential learning exercises that have enabled students to review relevant literature and apply the methods on local streams as a way to learn how to frame questions related to the quality of habitat available and the fish and benthic macroinvertebrate communities that these habitats support. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been communicated via peer-reviewed publications, scientific presentations, informal reports, webniars, and direct communication with students. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Work on Objective 1 was dependent on extramural funding that did not materialize during the time frame of this project. Thus, no work was completed on this objective. During this project, we worked as part of a team to develop Natural Resource Condition Assessments (NRCA) for units of the National Park Service. This effort allowed us to investigate the effectiveness of using indices based on the fish and benthic macroinvertebrate communities to evaluate the status of streams and water quality (Objective 2 of this project). Fort Necessity National Battlefield is primarily a cultural park, but it includes a variety of natural resources. We used existing information on the fish and benthic macroinvertebrate communities and an IBI approach to evaluate resource condition. Based on the macroinvertebrate indices and IBI, we found the aquatic species to warrant moderate concern. However, we found that the IBI may not reflect the quality of aquatic habitats present effectively. Based on the fish species present, we found the fish community to be in good condition. Efforts to complete an NRCA for Friendship Hill continue. During this project, one PhD student completed his study on the influence of pH and species interactions on the distribution of Brook Trout and Brown Trout in Pennsylvania streams. This study directly addresses Objective 3 of this project and was comprised of three parts. The first part examined shifts in Brook Trout and Brown Trout pH preference/avoidance after exposure to different pH conditions. Hatchery-reared Brook Trout and Brown Trout were exposed to different holding pH treatments in the lab for seven days prior to determining their behavioral response to pH. Preference was determined in a long trough where a gradient of pH (4.0-7.0) was presented to fish. Steep gradient choice tanks were used to determine avoidance. Hatchery-reared Brook Trout and Brown Trout pH preference or avoidance did not change due to changing holding pH suggesting that individuals of these species can be held in the laboratory at a pH different from the source waterbody for a short period of time without altering preference or avoidance behavior. The second part investigated the pH preference and avoidance of wild, adult Brook Trout and Brown Trout using the same methodology applied in the first study. The behavioral response of Brook Trout and Brown Trout to low pH is one of factor that may lead to the observed segregation pattern of the two species in Pennsylvania streams. Wild, adult Brown Trout showed a preference for pH 4.0 while wild, adult Brook Trout did not prefer any pH within the range tested (pH 4.0 - 7.0). Adult Brown Trout displayed a lack of avoidance at pH below 5.0, which is like that reported for juvenile Brown Trout. The avoidance pH of wild, adult Brook Trout (between pH 5.5 and 6.0) and Brown Trout (between pH 6.5 and 7.0) did not differ appreciably from earlier study results for the avoidance pH of juvenile Brook Trout and Brown Trout. The preference and avoidance pH results from this study were used to design the third portion of this study, the field experiments involving species interactions and pH. The behavior of wild, adult Brook Trout and Brown Trout (alone and in combination) was observed in study reaches that were manipulated to vary the level of acidity and CO2. In the artificial stream channel, most of indwelling fish (fish that spent some time on the treatment side during the control observation period) responded to acidification by moving to more neutral conditions (62% of Brook Trout and 68% of Brown Trout). Indwelling Brook Trout spent less time in acidic conditions during the acid treatment (41 ± 5%) than during the control period (94 ± 2%). However, elevated levels of CO2 may have caused their avoidance at a higher pH. Indwelling Brown Trout spent less time in the acid conditions during the acid treatment (44 ± 4%) than during a control period (98 ± 1%). The proportion of time spent in the acid water by indwelling trout decreased as negative interactions with other fish (such as chasing) increased. Presence of the opposite species did not influence the proportion of time spent in the acidic conditions. The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that acidification mediates the segregation of Brook Trout and Brown Trout in Pennsylvania streams. Confounding factors, relating to changes in CO2 associated with the acid manipulation, and issues relating to stocking density need further investigation to identify what role these may have played.

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Cole, C. A., A. Bera, S. Rothman, and C. P. Ferreri. 2018. Natural resource condition assessment: Fort Necessity National Battlefield. Natural Resource Report NPS/FONE/NRR2018/1780. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:I worked with undergraduate students in the Wildlife and Fisheries Science major and minor at Penn State providing classroom instruction, laboratory instruction, and independent study opportunities. I also supervised internships for our students to work with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. I have worked with the National Park Service to develop a strategic plan for fisheries management in the Delaware River park units. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided for the completion of a PhD dissertation by a graduate student, and several undergraduate students have participated in independent studies related to fisheries science and management. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated through journal publications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I will continue to work with the National Park Service on resource condition assessments. I will work to develop additional independent study opportunities for undergraduate students based on their interests.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? One PhD student successfully completed a dissertation and published two additional journal articles (pH tolerance work). Another publication was completed from a former student was published (dwarf wedgemussel). Work continues with the National Park Service.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Fost, B.A., C.P. Ferreri, and V.A. Braithwaite. 2016. Behavioral response of brook trout and brown trout to acidification and species interactions. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 99:983-998.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Fost, B.A. 2017. pH preference of adult brook trout and brown trout: influence on movements and interactions. PhD dissertation. The Pennsylvania State University.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Fost, B.A. and C.P. Ferreri. 2015. Preference and avoidance pH of Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis and Brown Trout exposed to different holding pH. Journal of Fish Biology, 87:494-501.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: St. John White B., Ferreri CP, Lellis WA, Wicklow BJ, Cole JC. 2017. Geographic variation in host fish use and larval metamorphosis for the endangered dwarf wedgemussel. Aquatic Conserv: Mar Fshw Ecosys, 2017:1-10.

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:National Park Service, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, fishery managers in general, fisheries students in general. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided training for a continuing PhD student to near completion of his research project. Several undergraduate students have participated in independent studies related to fisheries science and management How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated through publication and meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, the dissertation focusing on pH effects on Brook Trout and Brown Trout distribution should be completed and the final publication from that work should be submitted. I will continue to work with the National Park Service on resource condition assessments. Additional independent studies will be conducted on other topics of interest to specific students.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? One publication was completed regarding the effect of pH on the distribution of Brown Trout and Brook Trout in Pennsylvania (PhD project related to third goal) and another publication has been submitted for review. That dissertation project is nearly completed. Another publication related to the interactions of the Dwarf Wedgemussel and its fish hosts has been submitted for publication. Research findings have been incorporated into teaching materials for courses at Penn State.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Fost, B.A., and C.P. Ferreri. 2015. pH preference and avoidance responses of adult brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and brown trout Salmo trutta. Journal of Fish Biology 86(3):952-966.

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:National Park Service, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, fishery managers in general, fisheries students in general. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided training for a continuing PhD student. Several undergraduate students have participated in independent studies related to fisheries management. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated through publication and meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we plan to complete the pH effects on trout movement part of the PhD project. Additional independent studies will be conducted to help complete that project and on other topics of interest to specific students.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? One publication was completed regarding the effect of pH on the distribution of Brown Trout and Brook Trout in Pennsylvania (PhD project related to third goal). Work continues to complete that dissertation project. Research findings have been incorporated into teaching materials for courses at Penn State.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Fost, B.A., and C.P. Ferreri. 2015. Preference and avoidance pH of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and brown trout Salmo trutta exposed to different holding pH. doi:10.1111/jfb.12723

Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Resource managers in Pennsylvania DCNR - Bureau of State Parks and in the National Park Service (specific parks). Fishery management staff in the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Fishery managers and fisheries scientists in general. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? One graduate student continues to work on his Ph.D. based on the evaluation of pH on trout distributions. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Results from out work on resource assessment in National Parks have been disseminated through final reports to the agency. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will sample fish and benthic macroinvertebrates at the sample sites selected in PA State Parks during 2015. Undergraduate students will be included in both the sampling and the data analysis to provide additional training opportunities. Publication of results from our pH studies are expected in 2015.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A study to evaluate water quality based on fish and macroinvertebrate communities was initiated in three Pennsylvania State Parks. Identification of sample sites was completed. Our work with the National Park Service to develop resource assessments for several parks was completed, and efforts were initiated at two additional park units. Data analysis and preparation of publications based on our experiments to evaluate the effect of pH on Brook Trout and Brown trout distribution in streams continues.

Publications

• Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Wagner, R., C. A. Cole, M. Brittingham, C. P. Ferreri, L. Gorenflo, M. W. Kaye, B. Orland and K. Tamminga. 2014. Morristown National Historical Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment. Natural Resource Report NPS/NERO/NRR2014/869. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. 219pp.

Progress 04/01/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Pennsylvania State Parks, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and fishery managers and researchers in general. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will begin sampling fish and benthic macroinvertebrates at agreed upon sites during spring 2014.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? During summer 2013, we visited two state parks where we will initiate sampling for fish and benthic macroinvertebrates to identify potential sites. We are engaged in discussions with park personnel about which sites would be most appropriate to capture the potential effects of Marcellus gas development on these stream communities.

Publications