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Effects of urbanization on macroinvertebrates in tributaries of the St. Johns River, Florida, USA

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Abstract

The effects of urbanization on hydrology, water quality and macroinvertebrates were examined in 7 headwater tributaries of the St. Johns River in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of northeast Florida. All streams had sandy substrata and drained small catchments (24–231 ha) that ranged from 0 to 51% total impervious area (TIA). Streams unaffected by urbanization had intermittent stream flow and completely dry channels for several weeks in autumn and spring. Urbanized streams always possessed channel water, but 2 streams ceased flowing and became stagnant in autumn and spring. Principle components analysis of chemical and physical measures (i.e. conductivity, nutrients, pH, metals, and stream flow) produced one axis (PCA1) that explained 54% of the total variation among the streams. The variables that loaded negatively on this axis were associated with low flows, while the variables that loaded positively were associated with urban land-use. PCA1 was also positively associated with %TIA. Macroinvertebrate richness ranged from 27 to 45 taxa and was positively associated with %TIA. Macroinvertebrate biomass ranged from 3 to 45 g AFDM/m2 and showed a significant, exponential relationship with PCA1 (r 2 = 0.93) with greatest biomass occurring at intermediate %TIA. Invertebrate community structure in the urbanized streams appeared to be mainly influenced by hydrologic factors (perennial vs. intermittent flow regimes). The effects of urbanization on both hydrological and biological variables among the study streams were apparent, but also influenced by site-specific conditions.

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Acknowledgements

We thank David Girardin, Lori McCloud, and their field staff for logistical support and help in the field. Clint Martin, Beverly Martin, Jenna Cook, Jennifer Clark, and Patrick Pritchard provided laboratory assistance. Dr. Jon Benstead provided valuable assistance with PRIMER. Funds were provided by the St. Johns River Water Management District. Rob Francis and two anonymous reviewers provided useful comments that have greatly improved this work.

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  1. Michael A. Chadwick

    Present address: Department of Geography, King’s College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Box 870206, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Michael A. Chadwick, John E. Thiele, Alexander D. Huryn & Arthur C. Benke

  2. Division of Environmental Sciences, St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049 Reid St., Palatka, FL, 32177, USA

    Dean R. Dobberfuhl

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  1. Michael A. Chadwick
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Correspondence to Michael A. Chadwick.

Appendix

Appendix

Table 6 Biomass (mg AFDM m−2) of taxa used in NMS analysis
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Chadwick, M.A., Thiele, J.E., Huryn, A.D. et al. Effects of urbanization on macroinvertebrates in tributaries of the St. Johns River, Florida, USA. Urban Ecosyst 15, 347–365 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-011-0217-0

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