Download Research Proposal - Summer 2012

Mikaela Campbell
It is well documented that introduced fish species drastically change the macroinvertebrate
community (Flecker and Townsend, 1994); yet there is little to no documentation on these affects in
developing countries. The Andean Paramo in southern Ecuador is one of the most unique systems
found on earth but it is also a delicate system that is under increasing anthropogenic pressure
(Sarmiento, 2002). The need to protect this ecosystem is evident and efforts are being made to have
parts of it internationally protected as a RAMSAR wetland. Baseline macroinvertebrate data is needed
in these high elevation streams to provide a foundation for conservation and restoration efforts. The
objective of this study is to examine stream ecosystems with and without trout to determine if
introduced salmonid species have an effect on the biodiversity, abundance and species richness of
native benthic macroinvertebrate species in the Paramo of Ecuador. I hypothesize that the fishless
streams will have a different aquatic macroinvertebrate community than the streams with fish. I
hypothesize that there will be no difference in macroinvertebrate biodiversity, abundance or species
richness between the streams.
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Importance of water to humans
o Finite resources - Water, the basis of all life on Earth, is a finite resource that is degraded
daily.
o Human physiological needs – 7L/day
o Pressure from expanding human population – rapid growth in Ecuador
Paramo ecosystems – source of fresh water for most of Ecuador
o The Andes Mountains provide clean drinking water for the country of Ecuador yet
increased development in high elevations is decreasing the water quality more rapidly
than restoration efforts can restore it.
o “The Andes Mountains are the primary headwater region of the continent of South
America” (Harden, 2006)
o Anthropogenic change has been occurring in the Andes for millennia yet modern
mining, agriculture, and deforestation have had increasingly negative effects on the
stability of the ecosystem. (harden, 2006)
RAMSAR – working landscape
o The benefit of designating high elevation wetlands as a RAMSAR site is that these
wetlands are protected from intense degradation but allow activities to meet the needs
of the endemic people who directly rely upon it and have internal desire to preserve it.
o Conversion of forest to pasture land has significant effects on macroinvertebrate
community composition yet even a small buffer zone that is left untouched dramatically
improves the condition of the stream. (Lorion, 2008)
Introduction of trout in Ecuador
o Trout have been introduced worldwide for recreation and to provide food for local
populations. When these introductions where taking place very few people where
concerned about the impacts that these species would have across the ecosystem.
Mikaela Campbell
o “Salmonids have been established in the aquatic ecosystems of Ecuador since
the 1950s” (Santiago et al. ,2003)
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Destruction due to non-native fish (trout) introductions world wide
o Non-native fish species have been repeatedly, purposefully introduced into aquatic
systems worldwide yet little research has been done studying the effects of these
introductions on macroinvertebrate communities. The introduction of Brown Trout into
New Zealand Streams is one of the most studied instances of non-native fish introduction
and the results of these studies do not bode well for macroinvertebrates (Flecker and
Townsend, 1994).
o Flecker & Townsend 1994
o “trout can be expected to consume and extremely large proportion of benthic
prey production, perhaps 80%” (Huryn, 1996)
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Reason for thesis
o I propose to sample high elevation streams with and without fish to determine if the
introduced fish have an impact on the benthic macroinvertebrate community. I also
propose to continue to develop bioindicators for monitoring disturbance gradients.
Methods:
To test my null hypothesis I will (I propose to) sample and analyze the benthic
macroinvertebrate communities in streams with and without fish in the Paramo of Ecuador in the OnaYacuambi Wetlands and in Laguna Grande along the continental divide. Both streams types run through
lakes and are found at high elevations in the Andes Mountains of southern Ecuador, meaning that they
are important headwater sources. I propose to sample 3 transects along each stream. The first transect
will be near (<3m) from the lake outflow, the second transect will be located in a fast moving segment
downstream and the final transect will be located approximately the same distance as between the first
and second transects. I also plan to use the USA’s EPA’s Rapid Bio-Assessment Protocol (Barbour et al,
1999) to asses each site. This impact assessment will continue past my sampling transects to give a
more continuous (complete?) idea of the habitat in the area along an elevational gradient.
In addition to the data I will be collecting Amy Thorp will be collecting plankton samples from
the adjacent lakes and Dan Davidson will be collecting chlorophyll a data and limiting nutrient data. In
addition to this information we will be using an YSI 556 to gather the pH, conductivity, temperature and
dissolved oxygen content of the lakes and streams.
I will collect macroinvertebrates using a Surber net and placing it in the deepest part of the
stream. The stream will be disturbed for a consistent amount of time. Once I have my sample I will
transfer it into a tub and remove the large debris and excess water. The specimens will placed in large
mouth plastic jars (500ml? or 1000ml?) and preserved in a 10% (too high?) formalin solution. In the
absence of formalin 95% ethanol will be used and diluted to 75% in the field.
Mikaela Campbell
Data to be collected:
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Macroinvertebrate samples – M
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Human impact survey –M
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YSI 556 –pH, conductivity, temperature, DO
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Chlorophyll a –Dan
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Nutrient concentrations – Dan
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Plankton sampling – A