How to Use Stream Algae for Bioassessment Betty Fetscher, Biology Dept. 2012 Symposium 1 Goals of Session California is moving forward with incorporating algae into monitoring programs… What’s involved? • Walk through steps of stream bioassessment using algae • Introduce users to tools that are available, or under development, to support algae-based bioassessment • Foster an open forum for discussion about the process and tools 2 Session Outline • Field sampling of stream algae • Laboratory analyses • Data processing, analysis, & interpretation • User-support resources 3 Why add Algae to the State’s Bioassessment Toolkit? • Weight of evidence • Provides complementary information to bugs in terms of different • stressors • time frames • ranges of response Applications of Algae Data Taxonomic composition (“quality”) Biomass (“quantity”) – – – – algal cover chlorophyll a ash-free dry mass algal biovolume stream condition/water quality  ambient assessment  compliance monitoring  bio-objectives algal nuisance/eutrophication  ambient assessment  compliance monitoring  NNE framework How do we sample stream algae for community composition and biomass? 6 SWAMP Algae Sampling Protocol • Designed to fit well into existing field bioassessment practices (bugs, PHab) • Modular construction SWAMP Algae Field SOP June 2009 (updated May 2010) sccwrp.org Technical Report #602 7 We Look at two Algal Assemblages soft-bodied algae (& cyanobacteria) diatoms Reachwide Benthos Sampling • as with bugs… multiple habitat types, as opposed to targeted substrata (cobbles) • diatoms and soft algae are co-collected within a single sampling effort 9 Algae Sampling Co-occurs with Bug Sampling 10 Sampling Devices 11 11 Sampling Devices 12 12 Collection of Algae Samples …e.g., cobbles 1) diatom 2) soft taxonomic IDs, 3) biovolume 4) chlorophyll a 5) ash-free dry mass 13 Preparation of Biomass Samples for Storage • Filter measured amount on glassfiber filter • Same procedure for chlorophyll a & ash-free dry mass • Store frozen 14 Planning Algae Field Sampling • Get crews trained: State Board Training Academy has been offering several each summer (J. Harrington) • Full SWAMP bioassessment protocol can be carried out by crews of 3-5 • Construct sampling devices (syringe plus supplies that can be purchased at Home Depot; instructions in SOP) • Train crews for safe handling of fixatives 15 What happens to the algae samples?: Summary of laboratory processing 16 Diatom Sample Processing for Taxonomic ID 17 18 19 20 21 22 Soft-bodied Algae Come in a Variety of Shapes/Sizes… 10 µm 20 µm same scale! Soft-algae Sample Processing for Taxonomic ID • Separate analysis of microalgae and macroalgae • Determine absolute biovolumes of taxa present in both fractions 24 Quantitative Analysis of Algal Biomass ash-free dry mass chlorophyll a concentration results are interpreted in light of “composite volume” and area of stream 25 bottom sampled Planning Algae Lab Analyses • Holding times apply (next slide) • Set up contract laboratories (see handout for some possibilities) • Have contractors use California Master Taxa Lists for diatoms and soft-algae (see handout) • May want to have soft-algae taxonomy lab add the fixative (notify them in advance) 26 27 Cost-effective field method for assessing algal abundance in streams 28 Point-intercept Estimation of Algal Cover wetted width • record presence/absence of algae at each of 105 objectively determined points • piggybacks on existing PHab protocol for bugs stream flow 29 Examples of Percent Cover Results 15% 50% 30 Utility of Macroalgal % Cover Data chlorophyll a (mg/m2) tau = 0.9 macroalgal % cover Addressing the Need for Algae Taxonomic Resources for California 32 Taxonomy Websites • Taxonomic keys • 100s of taxa represented • Focus on So Cal flora 33 Multiple navigation routes 34 Species pages contain • photo(s) • detailed description • So Cal geog. distribution • selected environmental variables 35 Analogous format for softbodied algae http://dbmuseblade.colorado.edu/Di atomTwo/sbsac_site/index.php 36 37 Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) • Measures aspects of a biological community to yield an indication of water quality and/or ecological condition • Comprised of set of “metrics” combined to form index • Bugs, algae, amphibians, plants, fish… Component Metrics: Draft Algae IBI for So Cal 1. proportion sedimentation tolerant (incl. highly motile) 2. proportion low-nitrogen indicators (incl. N fixers) 3. proportion halobiontic 4. proportion nitrogen heterotrophs 5. proportion requiring > 50% saturation DO 6. proportion of organic-associated spp 7. proportion of copper-associated spp 8. proportion of low-phosphorus-associated spp Draft IBI – Validation Data (So Cal) IBI score R2 = 0.51 , p < 0.0001 SMC Demonstration Project: Integrating Bioassessment Results from Different Assemblages algae BMI Calculating Algae Metrics/IBIs • Raw data processed to generate raw metrics • Raw metrics standardized by rescaling from 0-10 • Scaled metrics summed into IBI • Statistical boundaries are available for comparison of test site score with distribution of IBI scores realized in reference sites 43 Algae Data Reporting Module under development will calculate algal biomass levels and species-based metrics and IBIs desired dataset is selected for reporting of results desired results exported to spreadsheet Summary of Resources for Analysis of Algae Data • Online taxonomic ID resources • Master taxa lists for diatoms and soft algae • Taxon-specific indicator values for calculating metrics • Metric & IBI calculation information – currently in the form of spreadsheets – will eventually be available via automated reporting modules Background Information on Algae in Bioassessment • Recommendations for application of various algaebased indicators • Includes literature California’s review/interview “Algae Plan” responses re: algae monitoring practices March 2008 all over world sccwrp.org Technical Report # 563 48 More information: Betty Fetscher [email protected] 714-755-3237 49