scholarly journals Areal and temporal variability of selected water-quality characteristics in two hydrologic-benchmark basins in the northeastern United States

1986 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Temporal Variability ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Northeastern United States

scholarly journals Developing DNA-Based Ecological Classifications for Shallow Streams in Northeastern United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Watts ◽  
Devin Thomas
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Northeastern United States ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Algal Communities ◽  
Wadeable Streams ◽  
Community Assemblages

Several regions in the Unites States have developed algal bioassessment methods for wadeable streams (e.g. Maine, Connecticut). Algal communities and indicator species are correlated with land use, water chemistry, and other watershed metrics to identify ecosystem indicators relevant to local conditions. Taxonomic analysis has historically been performed by microscopic examination and identification of species within a sample. A pilot survey was conducted to assess the use of DNA-based taxonomic methods in algal bioassesments of stream condition in New Hampshire and Maine in the northeastern United States. Algae samples were collected at 60 wadeable streams throughout the region in the summer of 2019. Samples were collected at sites included in long term water quality monitoring networks, to allow comparison with longer term water quality and bioassesment data. Samples were extracted and sequenced with primers targeting 18S for eukaryote species, rbcl for diatoms, and 12S for fish. Algal features were correlated with stream parameters including nutrient concentration, historic Benthic IBI indices, and other water quality metrics. Our results support previous studies indicating that molecular-based methods are a viable approach to water quality assessment. We found that: DNA-derived algal communities can be correlated to nutrient categories, and indices developed from multiyear data are reflected in the community. DNA-derived algal communities can be correlated to Benthic IBI ratios, and to traditional algal bioassesment categories. 18S and rbcl primers were both effective at amplifying target species to identify distinguishable community assemblages. Fish were detected in water samples at all sites, and the species identified represent those that are likely to be present based on previous electro-fishing surveys. DNA-derived algal communities can be correlated to nutrient categories, and indices developed from multiyear data are reflected in the community. DNA-derived algal communities can be correlated to Benthic IBI ratios, and to traditional algal bioassesment categories. 18S and rbcl primers were both effective at amplifying target species to identify distinguishable community assemblages. Fish were detected in water samples at all sites, and the species identified represent those that are likely to be present based on previous electro-fishing surveys.

Assessing water quality changes in the lakes of the northeastern United States using sediment diatoms

1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sushil S Dixit ◽  
John P Smol ◽  
Donald F Charles ◽  
Robert M Hughes ◽  
Steven G Paulsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Lake Water ◽  
Low Ph ◽  
Quality Changes ◽  
Northeastern United States ◽  
Diatom Assemblages ◽  
Lake Water Quality ◽  
Coastal Lowlands

Diatom assemblages were selected as indicators of lake condition and to assess historical lake water quality changes in 257 lakes in the northeastern United States. The "top" (surface sediments, present-day) and "bottom" (generally from >30 cm deep, representing historical conditions) samples from sediment cores collected from lakes and reservoirs were analyzed for diatom assemblages. The distribution of diatom species was closely related to several environmental variables, primarily lake water pH, total phosphorus, and chloride. Using weighted-averaging calibration and regression approaches, we constructed predictive models to infer these variables from the diatom assemblages. The diatom-based inference models were then used to assess the current status of lake water quality and to assess historical changes in lake water conditions in natural lakes over the past 150 years. Changes were also assessed in reservoirs. Population estimates of historical changes in limnological variables were made for all lakes of the northeast United States and also for lakes in the Adirondacks, New England Uplands, and Coastal Lowlands/Plateau ecoregions. The extent of cultural impact has been quite variable among the ecoregions, with marked water quality deterioration occurring in hundreds of lakes. Chloride and phosphorus levels have increased, especially in lakes that currently have high concentrations. Low-pH lakes have become more common in all three ecoregions. The maximum abundance of low-pH lakes was recorded in the Adirondacks, an area receiving the highest acidic precipitation in the northeast. In the Coastal Lowlands/Plateau, there has been a clear increase in eutrophic lakes, as inferred by total phosphorus. This was accompanied by a marked increase in the number of lakes with high chloride levels.

scholarly journals Analyzing long‐term water quality of lakes in Rhode Island and the northeastern United States with an anomaly approach

Ecosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Hollister ◽  
D. Q. Kellogg ◽  
B. J. Kreakie ◽  
S. D. Shivers ◽  
W. B. Milstead ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Rhode Island ◽  
Northeastern United States
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