Poster Details
USING MACROINVERTEBRATES AS BIOINDICATORS: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF MUSKEGON LAKE, MICHIGAN
Three littoral sites in Muskegon Lake, a drowned rivermouth lake in west Michigan connecting the Muskegon River and Lake Michigan, were surveyed for aquatic macroinvertebrates using Hester-Dendy plates, a passive artificial sampling technique. Single, nine-plate Hester-Dendy samplers were placed in three different locations at each site from September 2018 to March 2019, with each location characterized by percent macrophyte cover. After each four-week colonization period, the Hester-Dendy plates were removed from their respective locations and a new set of plates were installed. Samples were taken from three distinct habitats: submergent (25%-49% submerged aquatic vegetation); emergent (1%-24% total surrounding vegetation); and open (0% surrounding vegetation). A similar study conducted in the summer of 2018 found the two sites most dominated by macrophytes had lower species richness and evenness than the open site, and were associated with low DO, cooler water temperatures, and high turbidity. In contrast, the open site had a higher overall diversity and richness and was associated with high DO, warmer water, and an even distribution of macrophytes. These unexpected results led to the current study, comparing the influence of different habitats on invertebrate richness and diversity.
Alan Steinman (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Annis Water Resources Institute-Grand Valley State University, steinmaa@gvsu.edu;
Rachel Orzechowski (Primary Presenter/Author), Annis Water Resources Institute- Grand Valley State University, orzechra@mail.gvsu.edu;