Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Hatchery Creek is a restored stream in Jamestown, KY that drains Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery. The previous degraded channel of Hatchery Creek caused large sediment plumes in the Lower Cumberland River and was restored to decrease sediment loss and provide the opportunity for a self-sustaining trout population. I predicted that the increased amount of habitat would increase taxa richness, abundance and biomass of macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrates were monitored in three periods; the degraded period, a one-year recovery period, and a restored period using surber and kicknet samples in order to determine biomass, abundance, diversity, taxa richness, and macroinvertebrate biotic index. Temperature and nutrients were also monitored during the restored period. In the degraded channel, the macroinvertebrate community included 8-13 taxa, dominated by low scoring and very-tolerant taxa. Macroinvertebrate density and biomass reached values over 100,000 ind/m2 and 10 g/m2 respectively in the old channel. The one year “recovery” period was dominated by tolerant taxa with high turnover such as Simulidae and Chironomidae. In the restored reach, macroinvertebrate taxa richness increased to 17 taxa, with appearance of new EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Tricoptera) taxa. Macroinvertebrate density and biomass in the restored channel have decreased to roughly 1/3 and 1/5 pre-restoration levels respectively, and are within ranges of expected values. Collector-gatherers remain the dominant functional feeding group in the restored channel, but collector-filterers now make up 33% of overall functional feeding group (FFG) composition compared to 18% in the old channel. The patterns of macroinvertebrate community recovery suggest new habitat from stream reconstruction allowed full recovery following the first year, and increased taxa richness after the first year, and that monitoring recovery may take longer monitoring periods.

Year manuscript completed

2021

Year degree awarded

2021

Author's Keywords

Stream Restoration, Macroinvertebrate, Fish, Rainbow Trout, Aquatic Ecology

Thesis Advisor

Michael Flinn

Committee Chair

Michael Flinn

Committee Member

Tim Spier

Committee Member

Howard Whiteman

Committee Member

Gary Stinchcomb

Document Type

Thesis

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