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The influence of suburban land use on habitat and biotic integrity of coastal Rhode Island streams

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Abstract

Watershed land use in suburban areas can affect stream biota through degradation of instream habitat, water quality, and riparian vegetation. By monitoring stream biotic communities in various geographic regions, we can better understand and conserve our watershed ecosystems. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between watershed land use and the integrity of benthic invertebrate communities in eight streams that were assessed over a 3-year period (2001–2003). Sites were selected from coastal Rhode Island watersheds along a residential land-use gradient (4–59%). Using the rapid bioassessment protocol, we collected biological, physicochemical, habitat, and nutrient data from wadeable stream reaches and compared metrics of structure and integrity. Principal component analyses showed significant negative correlation of indicators for stream physicochemical, habitat, and instream biodiversity with increasing residential land use (RLU) in the watershed. The physicochemical variables that were most responsive to percent RLU were conductivity, instream habitat, nitrate, and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN). The positive correlation of DIN with percent RLU indicated an anthropogenic source of pollution affecting the streams. The biotic composition of the streams shifted from sensitive to insensitive taxa as percent RLU increased; the most responsive biological variables were percent Ephemeroptera, percent Scrapers, percent Insects, and the Hilsenhoff biotic index. These data show the importance of land management and conservation at the watershed scale to sustaining the biotic integrity of coastal stream ecosystems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory (NHEERL), Atlantic Ecology Division (AED), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA

    Suzanne M. Lussier, Marnita Chintala & Saro Jayaraman

  2. Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, LLC, Melville, NY, USA

    Sara N. da Silva

  3. Computer Sciences Corporation, U.S.E.P.A., NHEERL, AED, Narragansett, RI, USA

    Michael Charpentier

  4. University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA

    James F. Heltshe

  5. National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S.E.P.A., Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Susan M. Cormier

  6. National Exposure Research Laboratory, U.S.E.P.A., Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Donald J. Klemm

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  1. Suzanne M. Lussier
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  2. Sara N. da Silva
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  3. Michael Charpentier
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  4. James F. Heltshe
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  5. Susan M. Cormier
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  6. Donald J. Klemm
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  7. Marnita Chintala
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  8. Saro Jayaraman
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Correspondence to Suzanne M. Lussier.

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Although this manuscript was reviewed in accordance with official procedures of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), its content does not necessarily reflect EPA policy. Mentioning commercial products or facilities does not necessarily mean that EPA or the U.S. federal government endorses them.

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Lussier, S.M., da Silva, S.N., Charpentier, M. et al. The influence of suburban land use on habitat and biotic integrity of coastal Rhode Island streams. Environ Monit Assess 139, 119–136 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9820-1

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