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Macroinvertebrates at the source: flow duration and seasonality drive biodiversity and trait composition in rheocrene springs of the Western Allegheny Plateau, USA

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Abstract

Documenting flow regimes and the ecology of source headwater streams has gained considerable attention for scientific and regulatory purposes. These streams do not appear on standard maps, and local physiographic and climatologic conditions can control their origins. We investigated macroinvertebrate assemblages seasonally and in relation to flow duration, catchment and habitat variables within 14 source headwaters (< 1 ha) in the Western Allegheny Plateau over a 19-month period. We classified 6 perennial (P) and 8 intermittent (I) streams directly with continuous flow data loggers. Several biological and trait-based metrics could distinguish flow class, but few instream physical measures could. Macroinvertebrate metrics and assemblage dispersion varied seasonally and responded significantly along a gradient of total flow duration. Separate indicator species analyses generated 22 genera and 15 families with significant affinities to P streams. Richness of P-indicator taxa was also strongly correlated with flow duration gradients, and we estimated a total flow duration changepoint at 77% (3 indicator families) followed by a sharp increase in richness. Two rapid field-based flow duration methods (NC Stream Identification index and OH Headwater Habitat Evaluation index) could distinguish upstream ephemeral reaches from P and I reaches, but misclassified P as I more frequently. Our findings highlight that diverse coldwater macroinvertebrate assemblages inhabited extremely small, low-discharge springs in the region, and responded with flow duration. These source headwater habitats are susceptible to human disturbance and should be monitored as is routinely done in larger lotic systems.

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Acknowledgements

This study was inspired by our former EPA colleague, Margaret Passmore (retired). We thank our colleagues Kristopher DeNardi (EPA) and Michael Treese (ASCR Federal) for GIS support, Amy Bergdale, Frank Borsuk, David Light, Todd Lutte, and Lou Reynolds (EPA) for field and analytical support and David Campbell and Jennifer Fulton for managerial support. The draft manuscript was reviewed and improved by Ken Fritz, Mike McManus and Stefania Shamet (EPA), Sally Entrekin (Virginia Tech), and 2 anonymous reviewers. Although this research was supported by EPA, the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the EPA or the US government. We dedicate this paper to Benjamin Mortimer Stout, III (1957–2018).

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  1. U.S. EPA Region 3, Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division, Field Services Branch 1060 Chapline St., Wheeling, WV, 26003, USA

    Gregory J. Pond, Kelly J. G. Krock & Leah F. Ettema

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All authors contributed to the study conception, design, sampling, and analysis. The first draft of the manuscript was written by GJP, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Pond, G.J., Krock, K.J.G. & Ettema, L.F. Macroinvertebrates at the source: flow duration and seasonality drive biodiversity and trait composition in rheocrene springs of the Western Allegheny Plateau, USA. Aquat Ecol 56, 99–121 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-021-09900-2

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