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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbus, Ohio » Soil Drainage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #332565
Title: Effects of exposure to agricultural drainage ditch water on survivorship, distribution, and abundnance of riffle beetles (Coleoptera: Elmidae) in headwater streams of the Cedar Creek watershed, Indiana

Author
item CONRAD, ALICIA - Indiana University-Purdue University
item GILLESPIE, ROBERT - Indiana University-Purdue University
item Smiley, Peter - Rocky
item NACHAPPA, PUNYA - Indiana University-Purdue University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/13/2016
Publication Date: 3/26/2016
Citation: Conrad, A., Gillespie, R.B., Smiley, P.C., Nachappa, P. 2016. Effects of exposure to agricultural drainage ditch water on survivorship, distribution, and abundnance of riffle beetles (Coleoptera: Elmidae) in headwater streams of the Cedar Creek watershed, Indiana. Meeting Abstract. 2016 Indiana Academy of Sciences Meeting, March 25 to March 26, 2016, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Riffle Beetles (Coleoptera: Elmidae) require very good water quality, mature streams with riffle habitat, and high dissolved oxygen content. As such, they prove to be good indicators of ecological health in agricultural headwater streams. We conducted static renewal aquatic bioassays using water from three agricultural ditch sites, and beetles and water from one reference stream. Water was renewed twice per week during April 24th through June 26th. We also sampled riffle beetles at several drainage ditches of the CEAP study area and the reference site via a Surber sampler in the spring, summer and fall. Substrate and water samples were collected for particle size and contaminant analyses, respectively. Additionally, instream habitat measurements, and physiochemical measurements were recorded. The Mayfield survival rate of beetles in reference water ranged from 70% to 94%, while that of beetles exposed to ditch water ranged from 28% to 60%. Mortality appeared to increase in ditch water exposures at the beginning of June which corresponded with increased precipitation. Survival rate did not differ significantly among beetles exposed to water from the three ditch sites. However, survival was significantly greater in beetles from the reference treatment than from any ditch site. Field surveys found riffle beetles at four of seven sites during 2006 with densities ranging from 3.5 to 484/ m2. However, riffle beetles were found at a density of 12.9/ m2 at only one site in 2015. Results from bioassays suggest that exposure to agricultural ditch water caused significant mortality of riffle beetles. Results from surveys suggest a dramatic decline in riffle beetles at agricultural ditch sites between 2006-2015. To propose possible causes for these declines, we will compare instream habitat, water quality and physiochemical data collected in 2006 and 2015.