S-EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 5
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
tPA-905/9-91 /025 *C.-
November 1991
Development of Index of
Biotic Integrity Expectations for the
Ecoregions of Indiana
I. CENTRAL CORN BELT PLAIN
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vf DEVELOPMENT OF INDEX OF BIOTIC INTEGRITY EXPECTATIONS
i*
^•> FOR THE ECOREGIONS OF INDIANA. I. CENTRAL CORN BEEJT PLAIN
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Thoanas P. Simon
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Sciences Division
Monitoring and Quality Assurance Branch: Ambient Monitoring Section
77 West Jackson, SQ-14J
Chicago, IL 60604
November 5, 1991
W.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5, Library (PH2J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard, 1211* fkw
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
-;
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NOTICE
Use of this document is intended for the objective facilitation of information
exchange between the States and Federal Water pollution control biologists for
which it was intended. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not
constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
When citing this document:
T.P. Simon. 1991. Development of Index of Biotic Integrity expectations for
the ecoregions of Indiana. I. Central Corn Belt Plain. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Region V, Environmental Sciences Division, Monitoring and
Quality Assurance Branch: Ambient Monitoring Section, Chicago, IL. EPA 905/9-
91/025.
If requesting copies of this document:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Distribution Center, DDD
11027 Kenwood Road, Bldg. 5 - Dock 63
Cincinnati, OH 45242
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section _ _^__^_ Page
i. List of Figures iii
ii. List of Tables vii
iii. Executive Summary ix
iv. Acknowledgements xi
1.0
Definition of Reference Conditions 3
Criteria for Selecting Reference Sites 4
2.0 STUDY AREA 5
Physiographic Provinces 5
Ecoregions 7
Natural Areas 9
3.0 MATERIALS AND MEIHQOS 12
Sampling 12
Site specific 12
Habitat 14
Community Analysis 14
Metrics 17
Scoring Modifications 76
4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 77
4.1 Kankakee River Basin 77
4.2 Iroquois River Basin 82
4.3 Lake Michigan Basins 83
East Branch Little Calumet Division 83
Lake Michigan Division 84
6.0 REFERENCES 88
7.0 APPENDIX
A. Adjacent State comparisons of tolerance classifications for computing the
Index of Biotic Integrity for Indiana taxa.
B. Adjacent State comparisons of feeding guilds for computing the Index of
Biotic Integrity for Indiana taxa.
C. Adjacent State comparisons of reproductive guilds for computing the Index
of Biotic Integrity for Indiana taxa.
D. Site Specific Index of Biotic Integrity scores for each of the stations
sampled in the Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoregion.
E. Fish nomenclature changes for the species of fish occurring within the
political boundaries of Indiana.
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure
Number Page
1 Map of Indiana and adjacent states shewing the major and minor
drainage basins (from USGS drainage maps). 6
2 Map of Indiana and adjacent states showing the ecoregions
designation of Omernik and Gallant (1988) 8
3 Map of northern Indiana indicating the natural areas designation
of Hbmoya et al. (1985). 10
4 Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion indicating the location of
197 headwater and wading sampled during 1990. 13
5 Species diversity trends with drainage area for determining the
separation of headwater and wading categories using polynomial
curve fit graphing techniques. 27
6 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in total
number of species with increasing drainage area for the Kankakee
River drainage. 28
7 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in total
number of species with increasing drainage area for the Iroguois
River drainage. 29
8 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in total
number of species with increasing drainage area for the Lake
Michigan drainage. 30
9 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number
of darter species with increasing drainage area for the Kankakee
River drainage. 33
10 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number
of darter species with increasing drainage area for the Iroguois
River drainage. 34
11 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number
of darter species with increasing drainage area for the Lake
Michigan drainage. 35
12 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the
proportion of headwater species with increasing drainage area
for the Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion. 38
iii
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; LIST OF FIGURES (CONTINUED)
Figure
Number _ Page
13 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number
of sunf ish species with increasing drainage area for the Kankakee
River drainage. 39
14 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number
of sunf ish species with increasing drainage area for the Ircquois
River drainage. 40
15 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number
of sunf ish species with increasing drainage area for the Lake
Michigan drainage. 41
16 MayiTmnn species richness lines for determining trends in number
of minnow species with increasing drainage area for the Kankakee
River drainage. 44
17 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number
of minnow species with increasing drainage area for the Ircquois
River drainage. 45
18 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number
of minnow species with increasing drainage area for the Lake
Michigan drainage. 46
19 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number
of sucker species with increasing drainage area for the Kankakee
and Ircquois River drainages. 47
20 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number
of salmonid species with increasing drainage area for the Lake
Michigan drainage. 49
21 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number
of sensitive species with increasing drainage area for the
Kankakee River drainage. 53
22 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number
of sensitive species with increasing drainage area for the
Ircquois River drainage. 54
23 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number
of sensitive species with increasing drainage area for the Lake
Michigan drainage. 55
iv
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LIST OF FIGURES (CONTINUED)
Figure
Number Page
24 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the
proportion of tolerant species with increasing drainage area for
the Kankakee and Iroguois River drainages. 58
25 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the
proportion of tolerant species with increasing drainage area for
the Lake Michigan. 59
26 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the
proportion of omnivores with increasing drainage area for the
Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion. 62
27 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the
proportion of insectivores with increasing drainage area for the
Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion. 64
28 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the
rtion of pioneer species with increasing drainage area for
the Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion. 67
29 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the
proportion of carnivores with increasing drainage area for the
Kankakee and Iroquois River drainages. 68
30 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the
proportion of carnivores with increasing drainage area for the
Lake Michigan drainage. 69
31 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the
catch per unit effort with increasing drainage area for the
Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion. 71
32 Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the
proportion of simple lithophil species with increasing drainage
area for the Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion. 74
33 Trends in water resource based on the Indiana Index of Biotic
Integrity with increasing drainage area for the Central Corn
Belt Plain ecoregion. 81
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: LIST OF TABLES
Table
Number _ Page
1 Attributes of fishes which make them desirable components
of biological assessment and monitoring programs. 2
2 Attributes of Index of Biotic Integrity (3BI) classification,
total H3I scores, and integrity classes from Karr et al. (1986) . 18
3 Index of Biotic Integrity metrics used to evaluate headwater
sites in the Kankakee and Iroquois Basins. 19
4 Index of Biotic Integrity metrics used to evaluate wadable sites
in the Kankakee and Iroquois basins. 20
5 Index of Biotic Integrity metrics used to evaluate headwater
sites in the Lake Michigan basin (East Branch Little Calumet
River Division. 21
6 Index of Biotic Integrity metrics used to evaluate headwater
sites in the Lake Michigan basin (lake Michigan Division) . 22
7 Index of Biotic Integrity metrics used to evaluate wadable sites
in the lake Michigan basins (East Branch Little Calumet River and
Lake Michigan Divisions) . 23
8 The distributional characteristics of Indiana darter species
(tribe: Etheostomatini) . 32
9 List of Indiana fishes considered to be headwater species for
evaluating permanent habitat in headwater streams (Smith 1971) . 37
10 Distributional characteristics of Indiana sucker species (family
. 43
11 List of Indiana fish species considered to be sensitive to a a wide
variety of environmental disturbances including water quality and
habitat degradation. 52
12 List of Indiana fish species considered to be highly tolerant to
a wide variety of environmental disturbances including water
quality and habitat degradation. 57
13 List of Indiana fish species considered to be carnivores. 61
14 List of Indiana fish species considered to be indicators of
temporally unavailable or stressed habitats (Larimore and Smith
1963; Smith 1971). 66
vii
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: LIST OF TABLES (CONTINUED)
Table
Number Page
US List of Indiana species considered to be sinple lithophilous
spawners. 73
16 Species list of taxa collected in the Karikakee, Iroguois, and
Lake Michigan drainages, Indiana during ecoregion sampling 1990. 78
17 Reference sites determined by fish ccramunity composition in the
Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion. 86
viii
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Clean Water Act Amendments of 1987 mandate the development of biological
criteria for evaluating the nation's surface waters. The requirements of
Section 304 (a) was implemented in Indiana to determine water resource
degradation. A total of 197 headwater and wading stream sites were sampled in
the Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion in order to develop and calibrate an
Index of Biotic Integrity for use in Indiana. Based on inherent variance
within the ecoregion, sub-basins were established based on the concept of
natural areas as recognized by Homoya et al. (1985).
Three sub-basins include the major drainage units of northwest Indiana;
Kankakee River, Iroguois River, and lake Michigan drainages. Graphical
analysis of the data enabled the construction of raxJTmrm species richness
lines for calibrating the Index of Biotic Integrity for 17 metrics as modified
for application to the region of Indiana. Metrics were primarily based on the
previous works of Karr (1981), Karr et al. (1986), and Ohio EPA (1987). A few
additional metrics are original to this study and were evaluated to quantify
water quality degradation characteristics.
Separate metrics were developed for headwater (< 20 miles2) and wading sites
(> 20 miles2) drainage area following the rationale of Ohio EPA (1987).
Separate scoring criteria and batteries of metrics were developed for the Lake
Michigan drainage while the Kankakee and Iroquois River drainages were
evaluated with similar metric categories. Within the Lake Michigan drainage,
two divisions are recognized based primarily on the presence of salmonid
species. Trout and salmon, as keystone species, determine the fish community
where they are residents. The East Branch of the Little Calumet River
division includes salmonid metrics and includes the area from Burns Ditch, the
East Branch of the Little Calumet River, and all tributaries (e.g. Salt Creek,
Reynold's Creek, and the unnamed tributary in LaPorte County). The Lake
Michigan Division includes the West Branch of the Little Calumet River, and
tributaries (e.g. Deep River, Hart Ditch, Turkey Creek), and the Grand Calumet
River basin. This division does not include a salmonid metric for headwater
sites.
The water resources of the three drainages were evaluated based on criteria
calibrated fear the Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion using the Indiana Index.
A water resource distribution approximating a normal curve was observed for
the Kankakee and Iroquois River drainages, with respect to site water
classification. A trend towards improved water quality with increasing
drainage area was evident. The Lake Michigan drainage showed a highly skewed
site distribution towards the lower extremes of water resource quality. The
trend was towards a declining water resource with increasing drainage area in
both divisions, although the East Branch Little Calumet River division
possessed a considerably better resource at the headwaters. Site specific
data; locality information; species specific scoring criteria for tolerance
classification, trophic guilds, and reproductive guild is included in the
appendix.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wishes to express their appreciation
to those individuals which enabled this study to be completed. Wayne Davis,
Valerie Jones, and Boniface Thayil, USEPA-Region V, Ambient Monitoring
Section, and John Winters, Jim Ray, Dennis Clark, Lee Bridges, and Steve
Boswell, Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), managed and
spent large amounts of time meeting to discuss logistics and sampling needs.
Special thanks to Richard Whitman, Chief Scientist, National Park Service,
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore for arranging use of reference sites on the
Lakeshore properties and John Dustman, Department of Biology, Indiana
Uhiversity-Northwest, for their professionalism while in the Calumet region.
Field assistance was provided by Jim Ray, Andrew Ellis, Doug Campbell, Bill
Klages, and Gregory Nottingham, IDEM biologists; Lewis Richards and Thomas
Sobat, National Park Service, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore; Ronald Abrant,
ESAT-Weston; Janeen Winders-Jones, Indiana Uhiversity-Northwest, Kenneth
Simon, and Edward Price. We express our appreciation to all the Indiana
landowners which allowed access across their property to facilitate River
launching of gear. We are indebted to Barry Chernoff and Marianne Rogers,
Field Museum of Natural History, Division of Fishes, for use of the collection
and work space to enable rapid processing of the large number of samples.
Shelby Gerking, Arizona State University, provided notes and copies of
valuable information from his previous collection efforts in Indiana.
Numerous professional courtesies were provided by colleagues which facilitated
the start up of this project: special thanks to Marc Smith, Chris Yoder, and
Ed Rankin, Ohio EPA, for their help in numerous aspects of this study: e.g.
construction of our collection gear, providing Ohio documentation; Thomas
Lauer, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, provided copies of past stream
survey reports; James Gammon and John Whitaker Jr., provided reprints of
papers. Much information was gained from conversations with colleagues
cxsncerning techniques and logistical aspects: William Matthews, Brooks Burr,
Melvin Warren, Jr., Lawrence Page, Douglas Carney, James Gammon, Ann Spacie,
John Whitaker, Jr., John Lyons, Phillip Cochran, Bob Hughes, Phil Larsen, Jim
Cmernik, Scott Mettee, Malcom Pierson, and Peter Howe. Historic records were
provided by Susan Jewett, National Museum of Natural History; Douglas Nelson
and Gerald Smith, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology; William Eschmeyer,
California Academy of Science; and Ted Cavender, Ohio State University.
Special thanks to John Lyons; Chris Yoder; Wayne Davis; John Miller; Lee
Bridges; and Dennis Clark for constructive review comments on a previous draft
of the manuscript. The project manager, chief scientist, and author of this
report was Thomas P. Simon, Aquatic Biologist. All questions or
correspondence concerning this study should be directed to his attention: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Ambient Monitoring Section, 77 West Jackson,
SQ-14J, Chicago, IL 60604.
XI
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
Die reauthorization of the dean Water Act and requirement to adopt narrative
and numerical biological criteria for assessing the nations' surface waters,
has prompted an instream assessment of the water quality of the State of
Indiana in order to develop numerical biological criteria. Section 304 (a) of
the dean Water Act (CWA) directs EPA to develop and publish water quality
criteria and information on methods for measuring toxic pollutants on bases
other than pollutant-by-pollutant, including biological monitoring and
assessment methods. The dean Water Act suggests using aquatic comnunity
components ("... plankton, fish, shellfish, wildlife, plant life...11; sec.
304(1) (a)) and community attributes ("... biological community diversity,
productivity, and stability ..."; sec. 304(l)(c)) in any body of water and;
factors necessary "... to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and
biological integrity of all navigable waters ..."(sec. 304 (2) (a)) for "... the
protection and propagation of shellfish, fish, and wildlife for classes and
categories of receiving waters..." (sec. 304 (2)(b)) and "...on the
measurement and classification of water quality11 (sec. 304(2) (c)) .
Die term biological integrity originated in the Water Pollution Control Act
Amendments of 1972 (PL 92-500) and has likewise appeared in subsequent
versions (PL 95-217; PL 100-1) . Previous attempts to define this concept were
based on a "pristine" or "pre-settlement" concept. Die expectations that
resulted however were unrealistic, and as a goal could not be accomplished.
Die modification of expectations by utilizing "pristine" as a conceptual goal
with consideration of past and present water and land uses has enabled the
present definition. Karr and Dudley (1981) defined biological integrity as,
"the ability of an aquatic ecosystem to support and maintain a balanced,
integrated, adaptive community of organisms having a species composition,
diversity, and functional organization comparable to the best natural habitats
within a region". Die use of a biological component to evaluate the ambient
lotic aquatic community of our nations surface waters has been well
elsewhere (Karr et al. 1986; Ohio EPA 1990a, b, c; DSEPA 1987; Simon et al.
1987; Davis 1990; Karr 1991) .
Utilizing structural and functional components of the aquatic community has
been the major advancement in biological assessment techniques. Structural
components include the concepts of diversity, taxa guilds, numbers, and
biomass. Functional components include the feeding or trophic strategy,
reproductive behavior and guild classification, environmental tolerance to
perturbations, and individual stress or condition.
Die original Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI; Karr 1981; Fausch et al. 1984)
provides a framework for evaluating the concepts of structure and function for
stream fish communities in the Midwest. Fish have been a major part of any
aquatic study designed to evaluate water quality for a number of reasons
(Table 1) . Not only are fish a highly visible part of the aquatic resource
but they are one component which are relatively easily sampled by professional
biologists. We are not advocating the exclusive use of fish over any other
taxonomic group; on the contrary, a similar effort in the State of Indiana is
also being conducted for the benthic macroinvertebrates. Differing
sensitivity and recovery levels have required the development of criteria for
both taxonomic groups.
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Central Corn Belt Plain Ecorecrion
Table 1. Attributes of fishes which make them desirable components of
biological assessments and monitoring programs.
Goal/Quality
Attribute
Accurate
Assessment of
Environmental
Health
Visibility
Ease of
Use and
Interpretation
Fish populations and individuals generally remain in the
same area during summer seasons.
Communities are persistent and recover rapidly from natural
^ifghTf-foajxrepT Comparable results can be expected from an
unperturbed site at various times.
Fish have larger ranges and are less affected by natural
nicrohabitat differences than smaller organisms. This makes
fish extremely useful for assessing regional and
macrohabitat differences.
Most fish species have long life spans (3-10+ years) and can
reflect both long term and current water resource quality.
Fish continually inhabit the receiving water and assimilate
the chemical, physical, and biological histories of the
waters.
Fish represent a broad spectrum of community tolerances from
very sensitive to highly tolerant and respond to chemical,
physical, and biological degradation in characteristic
response patterns.
Fish are highly visible component of the aquatic community
to the public.
Aquatic life uses and regulatory language is generally
characterized in terms of fish (i.e. fishable and swimmable
goal of the Clean Water Act).
The sampling frequency for trend assessment is less than for
short-lived organisms.
Taxonomy of fishes is well established, allowing
professional biologists the ability to reduce laboratory
time by identifying many specimens in the field.
Distribution, life histories, and tolerances to
environmental stresses of most North American species are
well documented in the literature.
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Indiana Ecoreaions
Additional mechanisms for establishing a fish-based response for evaluating
use attainment of aquatic resources has been proposed in the past. The Index
of Well-Being (Gammon 1976; Gammon 1980; Gammon et al. 1981) utilizes a
structural component in numbers, biomass, and species richness for evaluating
the water quality of large Rivers like the Wabash. A second type of
structural and functional index similar to the Index of Biotic Integrity was
developed for larval fishes. The Ichthyoplankton Index (I2) requires a sample
of fishes based on individuals less than 20 mm TL in size (Simon 1988) for
water quality determination. Neither the Index of Well Being or the
Ichthyoplankton Index will be discussed further for the purposes of this
study.
Six criteria have been proposed for evaluation of whether a biological
monitoring program meets the objectives of biological integrity. Herricks and
Schaefer (1985) divided these into sensitivity, reproducibility, and
variability. As demonstrated by Karr et al. (1986) and Ohio EPA (1987), the
objectives are met by the IBI and the goals of assessing biological integrity
can be achieved (Fausch et al. 1990).
The objective of this study is to evaluate the biological integrity in Indiana
water resources based on "least impacted" reference sites for establishing
baseline conditions (Hughes 1986). Least impacted reference sites are optimal
stream reaches, representative of the ecoregion under study, and represent the
least disturbance by anthropogenic change. The following project goals will
be addressed during the completion of the entire Indiana ecoregion project:
o Develop biological criteria for Indiana ecoregions using the Index of Biotic
Integrity and habitat classification;
o Identify areas of least disturbance within the ecoregions for use as
reference stations;
o Verify Indiana ecoregion boundaries;
o Develop maximum species richness lines from reference stations for each
Index of Biotic Integrity metric considering differences in stream order and
proximity to Lake Michigan;
This technical report details specific Index of Biotic Integrity criteria,
through the development of metrics and maximum species richness lines, to
delineate areas of least disturbance in the Central Corn Belt Plain. In order
to verify ecoregional boundaries, additional study areas will need to be
collected to determine the heterogeneity of the dine areas.
Definition of Reference Conditions
In order to make accurate evaluations of the region in question, various
baseline geological, geographic, and climatic differences need to be
addressed. The goal is not to provide a definition of pristine conditions,
since these types of conditions are either few in number or nonexistent in
heavily populated States (Hughes et al. 1982). Our expectations are determined
from the structurally and functionally attainable natural conditions of "least
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Central Corn Belt Plain Ecorecrion
impacted" or referenoe sites. Assessment of these criteria need to be
modified nationally since different processes can be attributed to the
regional expectations determining distribution of fishes. The concept of the
ecoregion is useful for separating large expanses of habitat since these areas
are demarcated by the use of four different structural components.
In order to select stations for sampling it is necessary to know the
geographical boundary of the "ecoregions" within the State of Indiana. A
valid ecoregion has boundaries where ecosystem variables or patterns emerge
(Hughes et al. 1986). Oroernik (1987) mapped the ecoregions of the
conterminous United States from maps of land-surface form, soil, potential
natural vegetation, and land use. Each ecoregion was then delineated from
areas of regional homogeneity. Using scaling prooedures, ecoregions hcygqn» a
very xigeft*! y**"t>qn'*g»T> to determine community complexity and establish
boundaries associated with various land forms.
Ecoregions provide a geographical basis for determining the appropriate
response from streams of similar proportion and complexity. By selecting
reference sites for establishing the areas of "least impact", further
calibration of -the Index of Biotic Integrity and monitoring will reveal the
current conditions of the surface waters of Indiana. Although ecoregional
expectations are determined, conditions do not remain static. On the
contrary, repeat sampling of stations, both referenoe and site specific will
need to be conducted in order to document improvement over tine in a dynamic
equilibrium.
Because of the additional microhabitat differences within ecoregion, further
demarcation was made examining the role of basin or watershed within the
context of natural areas. Fish emigration is determined by the availability
of water of appropriate quality to endure existence, sustain growth, and
increase fitness through optimal reproduction. Likewise, species-specific
differences exist in ccmnunity structure which may not reveal differences in
current water quality but may be determined by historical geomorphic (Leopold
et al., 1964) or zoogeographic processes (Hocutt and Wiley, 1986). Trends in
Indiana water quality were evaluated using a basin approach, within the
framework of the ecoregion concept.
Criteria for Selecting Reference Sites
Several procedures are available for determining reference stations. Larsen et
al. (1986) and Whittier et al. (1987) chose sites after careful examination of
aerial photographs, sub-basin specific information review, and on-site
reconnaissance. This procedure is time extensive and requires that a limited
number of high-quality sites are sampled and scaled-up in order to predict
regional expectations. The methods chosen were based on evaluation of
Regional Water Quality Planning Maps (USGS undated) which identified all known
point and non-point sources which may influence site selection. An equal
distribution of stations within all parts of the basins were selected based on
historic collections sites (Jordan 1877; Meek and Hildebrand 1910; Gerking
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Indiana Ecorecrions
1945; Becker 1976; Ledet 1978; Robertson and Ledet 1981; Robertson 1987; IDEM
1990) and were rigorously sampled in order to get representative, distance
specific, quantifiable g^tiiinat'^s of the species nunibers and bioniass. In order
to avoid bias, these data points were determined for all metrics calibrated in
the Index of Biotic Integrity. Maximum species richness lines were then
compiled, followed by calculations of Index of Biotic integrity values to
reveal which stations were the "least impacted" stations for the Central Corn
Belt Plain. Evaluation of habitat and other physical parameters refined the
final list of reference sites. Sites which had habitat or water quality
deficiencies but still attained high index ratings would have been removed
from the final list. This action was not required since these attributes
affected various portions of the community which resulted in a lowered index
score. These sites are not pristine or undisturbed (few exist in the
northwestern part of Indiana), but they do represent the best conditions given
the background activities (i.e. entiiroponorphic; cultural eutrophicaticn)
necessary for the current evaluation.
Sampling was conducted in all stream sizes of the Central Corn Belt Plain
ecoregion from small headwater streams (<20 square miles) to the largest main
stem drainage.
2.0 STUDY AREA
Indiana has an area of 36,291 square miles, and drains the Ohio, the upper
Mississippi, and Great Tflkps Regions (Seaber et al. 1984). These three
regions were further subdivided into nine subregions (Fig. 1), five of which
drain 86% of the State (USGS 1990). The State of Indiana lies within the
limits of latitude 37° 46' 18" and 41° 45' 33" north, for an extreme length of
275.5 miles in a north-south direction; and between longitude 84° 47' 05" and
88° 05' 50" west with an extreme width in an east-west directicn of 142.1
miles.
The State has a maximum topographic relief of about 273 m, with elevations
ranging from about 91 m above mean sea level at the mouth of the Wabash River
to slightly more than 364 m in Randolph County in east-central Indiana.
The current report considers only the Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion. The
Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion has an area of 46,400 miles2. The ecoregion
is located in extreme northwestern Indiana and forms the primary ecoregion in
the adjacent State of Illinois. In Indiana, the Central Corn Belt Plain
drains direct tributaries to Lake Michigan, and the mainstem and tributaries
of the Kankakee and Iroquois Rivers.
Physiographic Provinces
Fenneman (1946) divided the State into two physiographic provinces based on
the maximum extent of glaciation. The glaciated portion of the State contains
the Central Lowland province, which includes the Central Corn Belt Plain, and
the unglaciated portion is termed the Interior Low Plateaus province.
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Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreqion
Fig. 1. Map of Indiana and adjacent states showing the major and minor drainage
basins (from USGS drainage maps).
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Indiana Ecorecrions
Schneider (1966) divided the State into three broad physiographic areas that
closely reflect the surface-water characteristics of the State. The Central
Corn Belt Plain ecoregion is a part of the Northern Moraine and lake Region
(north of 41° latitude) and is characterized by landforns of glacial origin.
The central third of the State is a depositional plain of low relief that has
been modified only slightly by postglacial stream erosion. The third area is
located south of the Wisconsinan glacial boundary and represents a series of
north- and south-trending uplands and lowlands. Landforms in this area are
principally due to normal degradation processes.
The last major glaciation event dramatically altered the northwestern portion
of Indiana during the Wisconsinan (14,000 to 22,000 years ago). As glaciers
advanced and retreated, the topography was dramatically altered as the
landf arm was either scoured by advancing glacial ice or the scoured materials
were deposited by retreating glaciers. Two distinct glacial lobes are known
to have advanced into Indiana, from the northeast out of the Lake Erie and
Saginaw Bay basins and from the north from the Lake Michigan basin.
Econ fictions
Qmernik and Gallant (1988) characterized the attributes of ecoregions of the
midwest states. Indiana has six recognized ecoregions: Central Corn Belt
Plain, Southern Michigan-Northern Indiana Till Plain, Huron-Erie lake Plain,
Eastern Corn Belt Plain, Interior Plateau, and Interior River Lowland (Fig.
2). Subsequent documents will detail the development of biological criteria
for each of these ecoregions.
The following is a description of the Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion,
summarized from Omernik and Gallant (1988). Much of the ecoregion consists of
dissected glacial till plain mantled with loess. The ecoregion is
characterized by low relief; however, some morainal hills occur in the
northern portion reaching 60.1 m. Stream valleys are generally shallow
throughout the 46,400 miles2 of the ecoregion. fimqT) streams have narrow
valley floors; larger streams have broad valley floors. Elevation varies from
about 121 m, in the southern portion of the ecoregion, to over 303 m on a few
of the hills in the north. Precipitation occurs mainly during the growing
season and averages from 80 to 176 cm annually. Except near Lake Michigan,
and in the meander corridors along major rivers, few natural lakes occur.
Both perennial and intermittent streams are common in the ecoregion.
Constructed drainage ditches and channelized streams further assist in soil
drainage in flat, poorly drained areas (e.g. claypans). Stream density is
approximately one mile per square mile in the most typical portions of the
ecoregion, but ranges from one to two miles per square mile in the "generally
typical" portions of the ecoregion (Fig. 2).
Major crops produced in the Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion are corn,
soybeans, feed grains, and some livestock forage. Emphasis on livestock
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecorecrion
,v«^ I' Lagrange
Gosher. , L
I LKHART |
—I Albion
CENTRAL IRREGULAR PLAINS
NORTHERN GLACIATED PLAINS
47 ga WESTERN CORN BELT PLAINS
46 | 1 RED RIVER VALLEY
49 [——j NORTHERN MINNESOTA WETLANDS
50 f rir^ NORTHERN LAKES AND FORESTS
51 I ! NORTH CENTRAL HARDWOOD FORESTS
52P**H DRIFTLESS AREA
H.ute T
•V ' V?GO I CLAY
53 | - 1 SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN TILL PLAINS
CENTRAL CORN BELT PLAINS
EASTERN CORN BELT PLAINS
56 j [ SOUTHERN MICHIGAN/NORTHERN INDIANA TILL PLAINS
57 |^| HURON/ERIE LAKE PLAIN
61 f ^ ] ERIE/ONTARIO LAKE PLAIN
70 PJJH WESTERN ALLEGHENY PLATEAU
71 (——j INTERIOR PLATEAU
INTERIOR RIVER LOWLAND
MISSISSIPPI ALLUVIAL PLAIN
Darker tones denote most typical areas
Eoongam 01 Ittt Cawmftous Urma Stuas (Onwm*. JM 1987 SucMnMrt K) trw
ANNALS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN GEOGRAPHERS W 77 No I) Tl»
nma nurnbH* WOT MM on bom nwpt tt MndMdoe cmioguing uras icnK tfw nabon
Fig. 2. Map of Indiana and adjacent states showing the ecoregions designation of
Omernik and Gallant. (1988).
8
-------
Indiana Ecorecrions
production is not as great as the adjacent ecoregions. Approximately, five
percent of the ecoregion remains as woodland, primarily on wet floodplains,
steeply sloping valleys, and morainal ridges.
Host of the soils of the Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion developed under
tall grass prairie. They are dark and fertile soils comprised of Hapludolls
and Argiudolls on loess-covered till. Argiaquolls, Haplaquolls, and
Ochraqualf 's occur on broad, flat uplands, especially in the claypan region of
southcentral Illinois. Fragiaqualf 's and Hapludalf 's are locally cannon on
forested slopes and loessal ridges. Hapludolls, Haplaquolls, Udifluvents, and
Fluvaquents are common on the poorly drained silty and clayey alluvium on
floodplains. A few Haplaquolls and Medisaprists have formed in poorly drained
flats and wet depressions.
The natural vegetation of the area consisted of a mosaic of bluestem prairie
and oak/hickory forest. Most of the level uplands and broad floodplains were
covered by tall grasses: big and little bluestem, indiangrass, prairie
dropseed, and switchgrass. Hardwood forest originally occurred along the
irregular topography of streams and moraines. Woodlands were originally a
mixture of oak and hickory species: black oak, white oak, bur oak, red oak,
shingle oak, shagbark hickory, and bitternut hickory, with occasional black
walnut, yellow popular, white ash, sugar maple, basswood, elm, and beech.
Riparian areas represent the remaining refugia for pin oak, silver maple, elm,
ash, cottonwood, willow, sycamore, and sweetgum in the heavily agricultural
area. Cattails, bulrushes, and common reeds grow in the organic soils of the
marshes.
Natural Areas
An alternate method of dividing land expanses into smaller workable regional
divisions include the recognition of major natural features. A natural region
is a major, generalized unit of the landscape where a distinctive assemblage
of natural features is present (Homoya et al. 1985). It is similar to the
ecoregion concept in that it integrates several natural features, including
climate, soils, glacial history, topography, exposed bedrock, presettlement
vegetation, and physiography. It differs from the ecoregion concept in the
utilization of species composition of the fauna and flora to delineate areas
of relative homogeneity.
The Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion incorporates the Grand Prairie Natural
Region and a portion of the Northwestern Morainal Natural Region. The Grand
Prairie is identified by an area of tall grass prairie and occupies an area of
glacial plain which contains unconsolidated deposits from Wisconsinan
glaciation, including sand dunes, lacustrine sediments, outwash plain
sediments, and till (Fig. 3). The extent of the area is defined by three
subsections: the Grand Prairie Section, Kankakee Sand Section, and the
Kankakee Marsh Section (Homoya et al. 1985). The Northwestern Morainal
Natural Region is the glaciated area formed by the latest advances of the Lake
Michigan lobe of the Wisconsinan ice sheet. This area consists of three
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecorecrion
M I
in r^s
EXPLANATION
1 Lake Michigan Natural Region
2 Northwestern Morainal Natural Region
A Valparaiso Moraine Section
B Chicago Lake Ram Section
C Lafcs Michigan Border Section
3 Grand Frame Natural Regton
A Grand Prame Section
B Kankakee Sand Section
C, Kankakee Marsh Section
Fig. 3. Map of northern Indiana indicating the natural areas designation of Homoya
etal. (1985).
10
-------
Indiana Ecorecrions
subsections, the Valparaiso Moraine Section, Chicago Lake Plain Section, and
Lake Michigan Border Section. Only the Chicago Lake Plain Section is of
concern in this ecoregional comparison.
Three major drainage units occur in the Indiana portion of the Central Corn
Belt Plain ecoregion: the Calumet River basins, Kankakee River basin, and the
Iroquois River Basin. The Calumet River basins include the Grand Calumet
River and the Little Calumet River and its tributaries. The Grand Calumet and
Little Calumet River are small and drain less than 2% of the State. Flow
reversals and streams which cross basin divides makes this basin an extremely
difficult area to study. The East Branch of the Little Calumet River flows
directly into Lake Michigan after the construction of Burns Ditch (a dredged
modification of the original stream channel). A portion of the West Branch of
the Little Calumet River likewise drains into Burns Ditch, while a portion
flows west into Illinois. Of the Little Calumet tributary segments, Deep
River and Salt Creek are the largest components, additional segments includes
Hart Ditch, Kemper Ditch, Coffee Creek, Sand Creek, and a number of smaller
tributary elements in the East Branch. The East Branch of the Calumet River
includes much of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the Heron Rookery.
A number of natural areas occur there as well, including the important Cowles
Bog, Clark and Pine Lakes, and many of the dunal ponds studied by Shelford.
Much of this area occupies the Northwestern Morainal Natural Region, Chicago
Lake Plain Section (Homoya et al. 1985). It was formed by the ridge-and-swale
and lacustrine plain topography along Lake Michigan from the water-level
fluctuations of Lake Chicago. The flow regime of the Grand Calumet River does
not vary much, determined primarily by Lake Michigan levels.
The Kankakee River watershed is the primary basin in the ecoregion, containing
the Kankakee River and its major tributary the Iroquois River. The Kankakee
Basin encompasses 3,006 square miles, approximately 7% of the State. The
Kankakee has been dramatically altered since the 1850's when it was changed
from a meandering stream in a marshy wetland to a large channelized stream.
Much of the baseflow derives from groundwater. Levees have been constructed
along the length of the main stem and tributaries to reduce the chances of
flooding. The Kankakee extends from South Bend to the Illinois border flowing
southwest, and includes a number of tributary elements, including the Yellow
River, Kingsbury Creek, and Qvfor Creek. Seme of the best water resource
streams of this ecoregion occur among the Yellow River. A number of drainage
ditches have modified the remainder of the streams and creeks to a relatively
straight, homogeneous habitat. Surprisingly, a large amount of recovery has
occurred, enabling the Central Corn Belt Plain to possess a diverse
ichthyofauna. The majority of this area occurs in the Kankakee Sand Section
and Karikakee Marsh Section (Homoya et al. 1985). The Kankakee Sand Section is
characterized by the predominance of prairie and savanna communities
associated with sandy soils. This area consists primarily of sand dune and
outwash plain sediments. The Karikakee Marsh Section is delineated by the high
proportion of marsh, lake, and wet prairie communities which existed along the
Karikakee River in presettlement times. The marsh was several miles wide on
each side of the River for almost its entire course in Indiana. Extensive
ditching began in the 1800's to enable agriculture and has all but eliminated
11
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Central Corn Belt Plain Ecorecrion
the natural wetlands. Average discharge for the Karikakee River, near the
Illinois border at Shelby, Indiana, is 1,619 cubic feet per second with ranges
of 417 cubic feet per second during 7 day, 10 year low flow and 6,950 cubic
feet per second during 100 year flood periods.
The Iroquois River basin is a major tributary segment of the Karikakee River
(comprising 780 square miles in Indiana) connecting with the main stem
Karikakee River in Illinois near Watseka. The Iroquois River has been
channelized, but unlike the Karikakee River it does not receive a substantial
amount of its streamflow from groundwater. This is reflected in more extreme
high and low flows, and in this regard the Iroquois resembles the Wabash River
more than the Karikakee River. The Iroquois River is much shallower, and is
not dredged as often as the Karikakee so the resident fish fauna has had a
greater opportunity for colonization and stabilization. The major tributary
segments of the Iroquois River includes: Ryan ditch, Oliver ditch, Howe ditch,
and Carpenter Creek. The Iroquois River occurs in two natural area sections,
the Grand Prairie Section and the Karikakee Sand Section. The Grand Prairie
section is characterized by the predominance of loamy soil and previously
considered the epitome of the vast tall grass prairie of presettlement
periods. The Karikakee Sand Section portion is in extreme northern portions of
the natural area and was discussed previously. The average discharge of the
Iroquois River near Foresman (near the Illinois-Indiana political boundary) is
383 cubic feet per second with ranges of 11 cubic feet per second during 7
day, 10 year low flow and 5,660 cubic feet per second during 100 year flood
periods.
3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sampling
Site Specific
A total of 197 sample locations (Fig. 4) were surveyed during July and August
of 1990 in order to compile the data needed to evaluate the mwJTmnn species
richness lines for calibration of the Index of Biotic Integrity. In order to
answer the basin specific questions, and determine if ecoregion boundaries
were adequately defined, a sufficient number of samples were required to
calibrate the Index for various drainages. Site location identifier
information for each site evaluated is contained in Appendix E of this report.
Since the primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the water quality of
Indiana using biological methodology, no further evaluation of site specific
data (e.g. site specific taxonomic species lists) will be included other than
an overall taxa list for each basin.
To ensure repeat sampling at the exact same site, all locations are based on
latitude and longitude and narrative description mileage is reported from the
center point rather than the edge of the nearest town since the boundaries of
many Indiana towns will change over the next century. All sites were
evaluated based on drainage area since this provides the most reliable
quantification (Hughes et al. 1986) of stream size. As drainage area
12
-------
Indiana Ecoregions
LAKE PORTER
Grand Calumet R'v!i
Fig. 4. Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion indicating the location of 197 headwater
and wading sites sampled during 1990.
13
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecorecrion
increases, and with it stream order, fewer locations are available for
comparative analysis.
Habitat
The range of habitats sampled has a major effect on data collection. A
representative sample always requires that the entire range of riffle, run,
pool, and extra-channel habitat be sampled, especially when large rivers are
surveyed. Atypical samples result when unrepresentative habitats are sampled
adjacent to the sampling site. Species richness near bridges or near the
mouths of tributaries entering large rivers, lakes, or reservoirs are more
likely to be characteristic of large-order habitats than the one under
consideration (Fausch et al. 1984).
A general site description of each established sampling location was conducted
using the field observation procedure of Ohio EPA (1987). The Qiality Habitat
Evaluation Index takes into account important attributes of the habitat which
increases heterogeneity. Scoring incorporates information on substrate
composition, instream cover, channel morphology, riparian zone and bank
erosion, and pool and riffle quality* The following physical parameters were
recorded for each sample site to help evaluate the biological data further:
dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, specific conductivity, and current
velocity. Equipment utilized for physical water quality analysis was a
Hydrolab SVR2-SU, while current velocity was measured using a Teledyne Gurley
pygmy meter following the specifications of the manufacturer.
Community Analysis
Sample Considerations
Although great attention has been given to sampling design and procedures,
biologists must exercise judgement to ensure that a sample is representative
of the system being assessed. Gear must be capable of sampling all species in
proportion to their relative abundance. As streams increase in size and
structural complexity, sophisticated equipment such as long-lines, sport-yaks,
and boat- mounted electrofishing equipment is required (USEPA 1988). However,
only one electrof ishing gear type need be used at each location (Jung and
Libosvarsky 1965; Ohio EPA 1987). Long-line and sport-yak equipment was built
following specifications of Ohio EPA (1987) and utilized the same generator, a
T&J pulsed-DC generator capable of 300 volt output. Boat electrofishing
equipment included the Oof felt 18 ft Jon boat rig with a bcw-raounted stainless
steel electrosphere. The boat power source was a 5000 watt Honda generator
which was fished at 300 volt capacity through a WP-15 transformer.
The young of fish less than 20 mm in length are excluded from Index of Biotic
integrity analysis. Early life stages exhibit high initial mortality (Simon
1990), and are difficult to identify and to collect with gear designed for
larger fish (Angermeier and Karr 1986). Collection of fish from this category
will be retained for possible future use in State water monitoring programs
14
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Indiana Ecorecrions
(e.g. ichthyoplankton index (I2)). Specimens were not included in IBI
calibration or composite totals, but they received notation on the data sheet.
Adult specimens from each stream reach were identified to species utilizing
the taxonomic keys of Gerking (1955), Trautman (1981), and Becker (1983).
Cyprinid taxonomy follows Mayden (1989), changes in all species nomenclature
are listed in Appendix E for comparability with previous investigations.
The length of stream reach sampled is an important consideration. Karr et al.
(1986) recommended sample reaches of 100 m sufficient in structurally simple
headwater streams. In larger streams, selecting several contiguous riffle-
pool sequences rather than relying on a standard length may be more
appropriate. When electrof ishing equipment was employed in larger rivers,
samples were taken in units of 0.5 to 1.0 km (Gammon et al. 1981). The length
of the sample reach was long enough to include all major habitat types.
Distances of 11 to 15 stream widths were generally adequate to sample two
cycles of habitat (Leopold et al. 1964). In addition, the location of the
site was precisely recorded so sampling could be repeated in the future.
Photographs; township, range, and section numbers; latitude and longitude; and
county locations were recorded on the data sheet.
Selecting the appropriate time of year for sampling is critical. Karr et al.
(1986) found no single best period could be defined. Periods of low-to
moderate stream flew are preferred and the relatively variable flow conditions
of early spring and late autumn/winter should be avoided. Species richness
tends to be higher later in summer due to the presence of young-of-the-year of
rare species, but this can be avoided if sampling does not incorporate young-
of-the-year species. Samples of limited area may be less variable in early
summer than comparable samples taken later in the year.
The aquatic community of each of the six Indiana ecoregions was sampled at
approximately 200 sites to evaluate the water resource using the Standard
Operating Procedures of the USEPA Central Regional Laboratory (1988).
Sampling was conducted during low to moderate flow periods (June to
September). A quantitative fish survey was conducted using the Index of
Biotic Integrity (IBI) and all comments in the proceeding sections will deal
only with fish field procedures. A total of 5% of the total sites were
resampled for precision and accuracy estimates. Die station numbering system
used for the project followed the methods of the Central Regional Laboratory
(1978).
Sample Site Selection
Fish sample sites were selected based upon several factors:
1). Avoiding stream reaches affected by point source dischargers;
2). Stream use designation issues (i.e. Grand Calumet basin);
3). location of physical habitat features (e.g. dams, changes in geology,
15
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreaion
changes in stream order, presence of stream confluence, etc.);
4). Location of non-point sources of pollution (e.g. cities/urban areas,
and obvious farm runoff);
5). Variations in habitat suitability for fish;
6). Atypical habitat not representative of River reach or basin.
When possible sites were located upstream from pollution sources and adjacent
tributaries (Gainrron 1973). Should the upstream portion of the stream be
impacted, an alternate reference station was selected from another reach or
adjacent stream with similar geological and hydrological conditions. Stations
were selected from natural areas, parks (Federal, State, County, and Local),
exceptional designated streams, and from historical sampling locations
whenever available.
When non-impacted areas were not present, "least impacted" areas were selected
based on the above criteria. Inferior impacts, sites which exhibit obvious
attributable disturbances, may include channelization of rivers, and proximity
to non-point sources. Sites were chosen which indicate recovery from
channelization or potential non-point source areas, and which have a suitable
riparian buffer on the shoreline. When a series of point source dischargers
were located on a river, every effort was made to sample upstream of the
discharger present on the highest upstream segment, or to search for areas of
recovery between the dischargers (Krumholz 1946).
When impoundments or other physical habitat alterations had been installed on
the river, sampling was conducted in the tailwaters of a dam (area immediately
downstream). Tailwaters posses the greatest semblance of the unregulated
lotic habitat. In areas where sampling cannot be accomplished downstream of
the physical structure due to lack of access, stream tributary segments were
located upstream of the dam away from the immediate influence of the pooled
portion. Likewise, bridges were always sampled on the upstream side, away
from the immediate vicinity of the structure and bridge construction effects.
Fish from each location was identified to species and enumerated. A voucher
specimen of each taxa was retained. Likewise, all smaller and more difficult
to identify taxa were preserved for later examination and identification in
the laboratory. All fish collected were examined for the presence of gross
external anomalies. Incidence of these anomalies was defined as the presence
of externally visible morphological disorders, and is expressed as percent of
afflicted fish among all fish collected. Incidence of occurrence was computed
for each species at each station. Specific anomalies include: anchor worms;
leeches; pugheadedness; fin rot; Aeromonas (causes ulcers, lesions, and skin
growth, and formation of pus-producing surface lesions acccnpanied by scale
erosion); dropsy (puffy body); swollen eyes; fungus; ich; curved spine; and
swollen-bleeding mandible or opercle.
Hybrid species encountered in the field (e.g. csentrarchids, cyprinids) were
16
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Indiana Ecorecrions
recorded on the data sheet, and if possible, potential parental combinations
recorded.
Index of Biotic Integrity
The ambient environmental condition was evaluated using the Index of Biotic
Integrity (Karr 1981; Karr et al. 1986). This index relies on multiple
parameters (termed "metrics") based on coanmunity concepts, to evaluate a
complex system. It incorporates professional judgement in a systematic and
sound manner, but sets quantitative criteria that enables determination of
what is poor and excellent based on species richness and composition, trophic
and reproductive constituents, and fish abundance and condition. Hie twelve
original Index of Biotic Integrity metrics reflect insights from several
perspectives and cumulatively are responsive to changes of relatively small
magnitude, as well as broad ranges of environmental degradation.
Since the metrics are differentially sensitive to various perturbations (e.g.
siltation or toxic chemicals), as well as, various degrees or levels of change
within the range of integrity, conditions at a site can be determined with
considerable accuracy. The interpretation of the index scoring is provided in
six narrative categories that have been tested in Region V (Karr 1981; Table
2).
Several of the metrics are drainage size dependent and require selection of
numerical scores (Tables 3-7). The ecoregion approach developed by USEPA-
Oorvallis, OR, was utilized to compare "least impacted" zones within the
region (Omernik 1986). Ohio EPA (1987), modified several of the metrics in
order to make them more sensitive to environmental effects from their
experiences in Ohio. The current study utilizes the experiences of Ohio and
Karr et al. (1986) in adapting an index for Indiana.
Metrics
In general, the metrics utilized for the current study are those developed by
the State of Ohio (Ohio EPA 1987) for analysis of surface water use-
attainment. This includes a slight modification of several of the original
Index of Biotic Integrity metrics as proposed by Karr (1981).
Although the methodology and application of the ecoregional expectations are
similar in approach to Ohio and much of the inf ormation below is taken
directly from the Ohio documents (Ohio EPA 1988), a significant difference
exists between the Indiana and Ohio data bases. This difference exists in how
the metric expectations are developed. In Ohio, the ecoregional reference
stations were combined into a single data set for the entire State, and later
modifications were developed for the Huron-Erie Lake Plain. In Indiana,
"least impacted" conditions will be developed on a regional basis, with
recognition of basin differences within ecoregion, based on the natural areas
classification of Homoya et al. (1985). Further evaluation at the completion
of the study will determine if differential metric treatment is warranted for
17
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Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreaion
Table 2. Attributes of Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) classification, total
IBI scores, and integrity classes from Karr et al. (1986).
Ttotal IBI
score
Integrity
Class
Attributes
58-60 Excellent Comparable to the best situation without human
disturbance; all regionally expected species for
the habitat and stream size, including the most
intolerant forms, are present with a full array
of age (size) classes; balance trophic structure.
48-52 Good Species richness somewhat below expectation,
especially due to the loss of the most intolerant
forms; some species are present with less than optimal
abundances or size distributions; trophic structure
shows some signs of stress.
40-44 Fair Signs of additional deterioration include loss of
intolerant forms, fewer species, highly skewed trophic
structure (e.g. increasing frequency of omnivores and
other tolerant species); older age classes of top
predators may be rare.
28-34 Poor Dominated by omnivores, tolerant forms, and habitat
generalists; few top carnivores; growth rates and
condition factors commonly depressed; hybrids and
diseased fish often present.
12-22 Very Poor Few fish present, mostly introduced or tolerant forms;
hybrids common; disease, parasites, fin damage, and
other anomalies regular.
No fish Repeated sampling finds no fish.
18
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Indiana Ecoreaions
Table 3. Index of Biotic Integrity metrics vised to evaluate headwater sites in
the Karikakee and Iroguois River Basins.
Metric
Category
Metric
Scoring Classification
531
Species
Composition Total Number of Species
Number Darter/Sculpin/
Madtom Species
% Headwater Species
Number of Minnow Species
Number Sensitive Species
% Tolerant Species
Trophic
Composition
% Onmivores1
< 20 square miles
% Insectivores1
< 20 square miles
% Pioneer Species1
Fish
ttmditian
Catch per Unit Effort
% Simple Lithophils
% DEL3? anomalies'
1 %eciri aaag j*oadun «e lapied nbcn IBB fan 25 irfvifal 6it me odgcfed.
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 6-7)
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 9-10)
>26.6% 13.3%-26.6% <13.3%
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 16-17)
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 21-23)
< 25% 25.1-49.9% >50.0%
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 26)
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 27)
<24.7% 24.7-49.4% >49.4%
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 31)
>34% 16.5-33.9% <16.5%
<0.1% 0.1-1.3% >1.3%
19
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Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreqion
Table 4. Index of Biotic Integrity metrics used to evaluate wadable sites in
the Kankakee and Iroquois River basins.
Metric
Category
Metric
Scoring Classification
531
Species
Composition Total Number of Species
Number of Darter Species
Number of Sunfish Species
Number of Sucker Species
Number Sensitive Species
% Tolerant Species
Trophic
Composition
% Omnivores1
> 20 square miles
% Insectivores1
> 20 square miles
% Carnivores1
Fish
Condition
Catch per Unit Effort
% Simple Lithophils
% DEXIT anomalies1
1 %nM floovg fxocafcra vc rayiod vtaa bn fan SO ndhadbri fidi MB odoctod.
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 6-7)
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 9-10)
> 3 2-3 < 2
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 19)
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 21-22)
< 25% 25.1-49.9% >50.0%
<19.3% 19.3-38.7% >38.7%
>50% 25.1-49.9% <25%
>5.0% 2.1-5.0% <2.0%
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 31)
>34% 16.5-33.9% <16.5%
<0.1% 0.1-1.3% >1.3%
20
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Indiana Ecoreaions
Table 5. Index of Biotic Integrity metrics vised to evaluate headwater sites in
the Lake Michigan basin (East Branch Little Calumet River Division).
Metric
Category
Trophic
Composition
Fish
Condition
Metric
Scoring Classification
531
Species
Composition Total Number of Species Varies with drainage area (Fig. 8)
Number Darter/Sculpin/
Madtom Species Varies with drainage area (Fig. 11)
Number of Sunfish Species Varies with drainage area (Fig. 15)
Number of Salmonid Species Varies with drainage area (Fig. 20)
Number Sensitive Species Varies with drainage area (Fig. 23)
% Tolerant Species
% Carnivores1
< 20 square miles
% Insectivores1
< 20 square miles
% Carnivores1
Catch per Unit Effort
% Simple Lithophils
% DELT anomalies1
1 ffrpecBi BQOQE prooeduCT MC royrel wm IBB tap 25 ntviAjri fifa MC ocfccfal.
< 25% 25.1-49.9% >50.0%
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 26)
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 27)
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 30)
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 31)
>34% 16.5-33.9% <16.5%
<0.1% 0.1-1.3% >1.3%
21
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Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreqion
Table 6. Index of Biotic Integrity metrics used to evaluate headwater sites in
the Lake Michigan basin (Lake Michigan Division).
Metric
Category
Metric
Scoring Classification
531
Species
Cconpositi<
Trophic
Composition
Fish
Condition
Total Number of Species Varies with drainage area (Fig. 8)
Number Darter/Sculpin/
Madton Species
Number of Sunf ish Species
Number of Minnow Species
Number Sensitive Species
% Tolerant Species
% Omnivores1
< 20 square miles
% Insectivores1
< 20 square miles
% Pioneer Species1
Catch per Unit Effort
% Simple lathophils
% DELJT anomalies1
I SpecU nriqg poootaa «e itqund who fen fan 25 idviU fib «c odactd
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 11)
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 15)
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 18)
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 23)
< 25% 25.1-49.9% >50.0%
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 26)
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 27)
<24.7% 24.7-49.4% >49.4%
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 31)
>34% 16.5-33.9% <16.5%
<0.1% 0.1-1.3% >1.3%
22
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Indiana Ecoreaions
Table 7. Index of Biotic Integrity metrics used to evaluate wadable sites in
the lake Michigan basins (East Branch Little Calumet River and Lake
Michigan Divisions).
Metric
Category
Metric
Scoring Classification
531
Species
Composition
Trophic
Composition
Fish
Condition
Total Number of Species Varies with
Number of Darter Species Varies with
Number of Sunfish Species > 3
Number of Salmonid Species Varies with
Number Sensitive Species Varies with
% Tolerant Species < 25%
drainage area (Fig. 8)
drainage area (Fig. 11)
2-3 < 2
drainage area (Fig. 20)
drainage area (Fig. 23)
25.1-49.9% >50.0%
% Omnivores1
> 20 square miles
% Insectivores1
> 20 square miles
% Carnivores1
Catch per Unit Effort
% Simple Lithophils
% DECT anomalies1
<19.3% 19.3-38.7% >38.7%
>50% 25.1-49.9% <25.0%
>5.0% 2.1-5.0% <2.0%
Varies with drainage area (Fig. 31)
>34% 16.5-33.9% <16.5%
<0.1% 0.1-1.3% >1.3%
23
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreqion
basin specific or larger scale criteria.
The Index of Biotic Integrity is very sensitive to differences in collection
effort and gear type. In order to account for these inherent biases, separate
expectations are developed for each of the three stream classification types
utilized in the current study. Headwater sites were primarily sampled using a
long-line unit or common sense minnow seine, wadable sites were sampled using
a sport-yak or long-line unit, while larger unwadable rivers were sampled
using various boat-mounted equipment.
Below is a metric by metric definition of each of the twelve metrics utilized
for the calibration of the Indiana Index of Biotic Integrity. Due to inherent
differences between the Lake Michigan and Mississippi River drainages,
different metrics were necessary to evaluate both sections of the ecoregion.
Salmonid species in the Lake Michigan tributaries have a dramatic effect on
the fish community such that conventional (Karr et al. 1986; Ohio EPA 1987)
index metrics were not able to evaluate certain structural and functional
aspects of the community. Several modifications were necessary for headwater
streams and wadable streams where salmonid species occurred. Thus, two
different sets of metrics are included for Lake Michigan headwater tributaries
(Tables 5 and 6). The provisional break is set at the mouth of Burns Ditch
and includes the East Branch of the Little Calumet River and all tributary
segments of the East Branch to its origination in LaPorte County (Table 5).
Likewise, the West Branch of the Little Calumet Kiver, Grand Calumet River,
and all tributaries to these Rivers are more similar to the Mississippi River
drainage and were evaluated using metrics in Table 6. Cmernik (1987)
recognized a division of the Calumet Region and included a portion in the
adjacent ecoregion (Southern Michigan-northern Indiana Till Plain). Further
analysis of this situation is required in order to determine the exact
delineation of the two ecoregional boundaries.
Maximum species richness lines were drawn following the procedure of Fausch et
al. (1984) and Ohio EPA (1989). Scatter plot data diagrams of individual
metrics were first evaluated for basin specific patterns. The maximum species
richness line method primarily used was the trisection method. This requires
the uppermost line to be drawn so that 95% of the data area lies beneath. The
other two lines were then drawn so the remainder of the area beneath the 95th
percentile line was divided into three equivalent areas. In situations where
no significant deviation in relationship was observed within the three basin
segments, the segments were pooled to reflect an ecoregional consensus.
Likewise, if no relationship with increasing drainage area was observed, the
maximum species richness lines either leveled off at the point where no
additional increases were exhibited or horizontal plots were delineated
indicating no increase with drainage area.
The drainage area, where differentiation between headwater and wading sites
was conceived, was indicated on the graphs by a vertical dashed line on the
maximum species richness lines. This relationship was determined by searching
for bimodal patterns in the basin specific data set plots of species richness.
A sixth order polynomial defined where a significant bimodal effect was
24
-------
Indiana Ecoreaions
evident for each of the drainage basins (Fig. 5). The tails of the data are
not significant, rather the point where the data differentiates into two
distinct peaks suggest that at approximately 20 miles2 the transition between
headwater and wading methods should be made.
25
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreqion
Metric 1. Total Number of Fish Species (All methods)
Xnpetu
This metric is utilized for all of the stream classification types used for
calibrating the Indiana Index of Biotic Integrity. Unlike the Ohio metric,
exotic species are included in the total number of taxa. The premise behind
this metric is based on the observation that the number of fish species
increases directly with environmental complexity and quality of the aquatic
resource (Karr 1981; Karr et al. 1986). Although the number of exotic or
introduced species may be indicative of a loss of integrity (Karr et al. 1986;
Ohio EPA 1987), the differences between lower levels of resolution may be due
to colonization of habitats by pioneer or tolerant taxa which mostly
incorporate exotic species.
This single metric is considered to be one of the most powerful metrics in
resolving water resource issues since a direct correlation exists between high
quality resources and high numbers of species for warmwater assemblages (Ohio
EPA 1987; Davis and lubin 1989; Plafkin et al. 1989). As total number of
species increases, species become more specialized and have narrower niche
breadths, numerous higher levels interactions occur and presumably enable
greater efficiency in resource utilization.
The determination of headwater and wadable classifications for Indiana was
made primarily on the data from this metric. A sixth order polynomial curve
fit line revealed two peaks at drainage areas of approximately 20 square miles
(Fig 5).
r ana Wading Sites
The number of species is strongly correlated with drainage area at headwater
and wading sites up to ca. 100 square miles. Determining the Index of Biotic
Integrity scoring criteria for this metric requires the comparison of maximum
species richness lines for the appropriate basin and drainage area (Fig 6, 7,
8; headwater and wading sites).
26
-------
Indiana Ecorecrions
to
O 1O
A Kankakee
Drainage
1 10 10O
DRAINAGE AREA (SO. Ml>
10OO
o Iroquois
Drainage
1COO
Lake
Michigan
1COO
Fig. 5. Species diversity trends with drainage area for determining the separation of
headwater and wading catergories using polynominal curve fit graphing techniques.
27
-------
(O
00
<
O
4O
3O
O ^
K
20
10
O
0.1
Wading/Headwater Sites
Kankakee
Drainage
10
100
1OOO
O
fl>
3
rt
O
O
w
(0
W
O
O
fl
§
H-
O
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
Fig. 6. Maximum species richness lines determining trends in total number of
species with increasing drainage area for the Kankakee River drainage.
-------
Wading/Headwater Sites
to
ID
yj
O
K
<
Iroquois
Drainage
1OO
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
1000
3.
.j*
V
3
P
.J*
n
Fig. 7. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in total number of species
with increasing drainage area for the Iroquois River drainage.
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecorecfion
a>
I
05
0
D)
I
i
J32
+
O
O
O
o
o
. o
tf
"o
o>
Q.
V)
.Q
E
=j
c
1 d>
c ^
r
-------
Indiana Ecoreaions
Metric 2. Number of Darter Species (Headwater, Wading Methods)
Karr et al. (1986) indicated that the presence of members of the tribe
Ethecstomatini are indicative of a quality resource. Darters require high
dissolved oxygen concentrations, are intolerant to toxicants and siltation,
and thrive over clean substrates. Life history information for all of the 27
Indiana species indicates darters are insectivorous, habitat specialists, and
sensitive to physical and chemical environmental disturbances (Page 1983;
Kuehne and Barbour 1983) . Darters are excellent indicators of a quality
resource, generally in riffle habitats.
The darters include the genera: Anrniocryptaf Crvstallariaf Etheostomaf and
Percina. Of the 28 species recorded from Indiana, six are commonly found
throughout the State and are not restricted to a particular «tr**am size
(Gerking 1945) . Fifteen species are confined to the Ohio River basin; none of
the species are restricted to the Mississippi River basin; and a single
species occurs only in the Great lakes drainages (Table 8) .
ar Sites
For headwater sites, those less than 20 square miles drainage area, this
metric also includes members of the family Oottidae (sculpins) and Ictaluridae
(madtoms; genus Noturus,, tribes Noturus. Scnilbeodes, and Rabida). The
sculpins and madtoms are benthic insectivores and functionally occupy the same
type of niche as darters. Their inclusion enables a greater degree of
sensitivity in evaluating streams that naturally have fewer darter species.
This metric changes with drainage area, thus Tnaxinmm species richness lines
were prepared using Central Corn Belt Plain data (Fig. 9, 10, 11). An
increase in the number of benthic insectivores increases with increasing
drainage area for each of the three basins. In the Lake Michigan drainage,
few darters actually occurred so this metric was estimated based on the total
number of species which could be expected rather than actually observed during
the current study.
Wading Sites
The darter metric, as originally proposed by Karr (1981), is used only in
wadable habitats. The criteria developed for the maximum species richness
lines was determined from the Indiana data set (Fig. 9, 10, 11) and indicates
a positive relationship with increasing drainage area. Due to the reduction
of quality sites in higher drainage area categories for the Lake Michigan
drainage, the number of expected species in quality habitats was estimated.
Madtom and sculpin species are not included in cumulative scoring for drainage
areas greater than 20.0 square miles.
31
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecorecrion
Table 8. The distributional
Etheostcsnatini) .
characteristics of Indiana darter species (tribe:
Distribution in Indiana Drainaaes
Species Statewide
AmnocrvDta Dellucida
&. clara
Etheostoroa asprigene
£• blennioides
£• canmrum
E» *^%\ • orosoxna
£• exile
£. gracile
£• histrio
£. kennicottj.
£• macula-fern
£• nictrum
£• spectabile
£• tippecanoe
£• variatum
E. zonale
JnEUu'wJLnci CglLffXXA'SS
£. copelandi
P. evades
£- maculata
£• phoxDoephala
P_. sciera
£. shumardi
X
X
X
X
X
X
Ohio Great Mississippi
River Takes River
X X
X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X XX
X X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X X
X
X
IRokitdto]
potncft
32
-------
U)
tr
LLJ
Q
10
8
o
0.1
Wading/Headwater Sites
Kankakee
Drainage
-ft—'—' 'AM A''
1 10 100
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
1000
Fig. 9. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number of darter species
with increasing drainage area for the Kankakee River drainage.
H
Q.
H-
Q)
3
0)
(D
Q
_l.
0
W
-------
Wading/Headwater Sites
O Iroquois
Drainage
o
(D
3
QC
UJ
O
1O
8
2 -
O
0.1
3
w
(D
w
O
D
(D
o
10
100
10OO
DRAINAGE AREA (SO. Ml)
F/0. /O. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number of darter species
with increasing drainage area for the Iroquois River drainage.
-------
Wading/Headwater Sites
+ Lake
Michigan
Ul
CL
111
QC
3
5-
10
8
O
0.1
10 1OO
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
10OO
Fig. 11. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number of darter species
with increasing drainage area for the Lake Michigan drainage.
a
H-
Q>
01
W
O
O
l-l
(D
Q
H-
O
en
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecorecrion
Metric 3. Proportion of Headwater Species (Headwater Methods)
Number of Sunfish Species (Lake Michigan Headwater, Wading Methods)
Impetu
This metric follows Karr (1981) and Karr et al. (1986) by including the number
of sunfish species (family Centrarchidae), and excluding the black basses
(Mcropterus spp). Unlike the Ohio metric, the redear sunf ish Lepomis
microlophus is included because it is native to Indiana. Hybrid sunfish are
not included in this metric following Ohio EPA (1987).
This metric is an important measure of pool habitat quality. It includes all
members of the sunfish genera Ambloplites (rock bass), Oentrarchus (round
sunfish), Lepomis (sunfish), and PnmnaHs (crappies), as well as, the
ecological equivalent Elassomatidae. Sunfish normally occupy slower moving
water which may act as sinks for the accumulation of toxins and siltation.
This metric measures degradation of rock substrates (i.e. gravel and boulder)
and instream cover (Pflieger 1975; Trautman 1981), and the associated aquatic
macTOinvertebrate community which are an important food resource for sunfish
(Forbes and Richardson 1920; Becker 1983). Sunfish are important components
of the aquatic community since they are wide ranging, and distributed in most
streams and rivers of Indiana. They are also very susceptible to
electrofishing gear. Karr et al. (1986) found sunfish to occupy the
intermediate to upper ends of sensitivity of the index of biotic integrity.
Headwater sites
The amount of pool habitat is a limiting factor in many headwater streams
which prohibits colonization by sunfish due to their deep-bodied shape. This
metric is replaced with the proportion of headwater species at sites with
drainage areas less than 20 square miles (OEPA 1987). Nine headwater species
were defined by Ohio EPA (1987) and their presence indicates permanent habitat
with low environmental stress (Table 9). The presence of headwater species
does not show a trend with increased drainage area (Fig. 12). Due to the
natural absence of most of the headwater taxa in the Lake Michigan drainage,
the number of sunfish species metric was retained (Fig. 15) since a direct
relationship was observed between number of species and increasing drainage
area.
Wading sites
The number of sunfish species is not affected by increasing drainage area
using wading methods for any of the basins (Fig. 13, 14, 15).
36
-------
Indiana Ecoreaions
Table 9. List of Indiana fish species considered to be headwater species for
evaluating permanent habitat in headwater streams (Smith 1971).
Headwater Species
Least brook lanprey
American brook lamprey
Bedside cfac^
Blacknose dace
Southern redbelly
Brook stickleback
Fantail darter
Mottled sculpin
Banded sculpin
Scientific Name
Lampetra aepvptera
Lampetra appendix
Rhini rfithys atratulus
Phoxinus
incoiisbans
Etfaeostoma
Oottus bairdi
Oottus carolinae
37
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreqion
Sites
eadwate
s
r
ee
Kankak
Drainage
(0 S
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38
-------
Indiana Ecoreqions
CO
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40
-------
o
Wading Sites
+ Lake
Michigan
10
8
O
+•»++++
' * "• I'
0.1
10 100
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
1OOO
H
a.
3
3)
D
n
F/ig. 15. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number of sunfish species
with increasing drainage area for the Lake Michigan drainage.
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecorecrion
Metric 4. Number of Minnow Species (Headwater, Lake Michigan Division
Headwater Methods)
Number of Sucker Species (Wading Methods)
Number of Salmonid Species (East Branch Little Calumet River
Division Headwater, Wading)
Tnnwiai
The original Index of Biotic Integrity metrics included the number of sucker
species (Karr 1981; Karr et al. 1986). Suckers represent a major component of
the Indiana fish fauna since their total biomass usually ranks them among the
highest contributors to the community. The general intolerance of most sucker
species to habitat and water quality degradation (Phillips and Underbill 1971;
Karr et al. 1986; Trautman 1981; Becker 1983) results in sensitivity at the
higher end of environmental quality. Suckers due to their long life cycles
(10-20 years) provides a long-term assessment of past environmental
conditions. Of the nineteen species extant in Indiana, Laaochila lacera is
considered extinct, seven species are widely distributed throughout the State
(Table 10). Extant sucker genera include: Cvcleptus. Carpiodes. Catostomus.
TFjT*T ^ns^zori t Hvpsntilivrrn * Xotiocus/ MmvJtrjt.'jHm8i • stncl Moxostoros.*
Headwater Sites
The number of minnow species metric is substituted for the number of sucker
species at headwater sites because of the expected low numbers of sucker
species in small streams (OEPA 1987). The number of sucker species decreases
rapidly with declining drainage area at sites with less than 20 square miles
(Fig. 19). Examination of the Indiana data base suggested that the number of
minnow species would serve as a suitable substitute. As many as ten different
minnow species have been observed at locations with drainage areas under 5
square miles. The number of minnow species also correlates with increased
environmental quality. Species including the hornyhead chub (Nocomis
biquttatus), sand shiner (Notropis ludibundus), and rosyf ace shiner (Notropis
rubellus) are examples of minnow species which occur in high quality headwater
streams. Species such as creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus), bluntnose
minnow (Pimephales notatus), and fathead minnow (P. promelas) are tolerant to
both chemical degradation and stream desiccation. Environmental tolerance is
represented at both ends of the continuum. A direct relationship exists
between the number of minnow species and drainage area for Indiana basins
(Fig. 16, 17, 18). Scaring is dependent on drainage area of the site. In Lake
Michigan headwater tributaries the minnow metric is retained for the Lake
Michigan Division (West Branch of the Little Calumet River and tributaries and
Grand Calumet River). In the East Branch of the Little Calumet River Division
the minnow metric is not used. Instead the number of salmonid species is
substituted (see explanation below).
42
-------
Indiana Ecoreaions
Table 10. Distributional characteristics of Indiana sucker species (family
Catostomidae).
Species
Statewide
Small
Streams
Large
Rivers
Rare
Taxa
Cvcleotus _
Carpjodes carpio
C. cvprinus
C. velifer
Catostomus catostomus
C. wumtersoni
Erimyzon oblongus
1. sucetta
Hvpentilium nioricans
Ictiobus bubalus
.1.
I.
X
X
. lacera
_ melanops
Moxostoma anisurum
M. carinatum
M. ervthrurum
M. macrolepidotum
M.
X
X
X
X
EXTINCT
X
X
x
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Wading sites
A direct relationship exists between the number of sucker species and drainage
area at wading sites. Scoring is thus dependent on the drainage area of the
site and is accomplished using Fig. 19. No difference in ejgjectaticns was
observed for the Kankakee or Iroquois Rivers so the two basins were combined
for this metric.
43
-------
Headwater Sites
Kankakee
Drainage
o
ID
rt
15
12
O
n
o
1-1
3
M
ID
P-
3
W
O
O
H
0)
Q
H-
§
0.1
10
1OO
10OO
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
Fig. 16. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number of minnow species
with increasing drainage area for the Kankakee River drainage.
-------
O Iroquois
Drainage
Headwater Sites
01
o
O
15
12
O
O.1
10
1OO
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
1000
Fig. 17. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the number of minnow
species with increasing drainage area for the Iroquois River.
0,
3
P)
W
O
O
n
(D
Q
H-
B
tn
-------
Headwater Sites
*
15
. 12
O
6
Lake
Michigan
o
fl>
3
rt
n
01
o
o
OB
(D
0J
H-
3
O
0
n
(D
Q
0.1
10
100
1000
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
Fig. 18. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the number of minnow
species with increasing drainage area for the Lake Michigan drainage.
-------
Wading Sites
1O
. 8
a
a
OC 6
O
Iroquois
Drainage
Kankakee
Drainage
10
1OO
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
1OOO
H-
(II
3
P>
5
^
8
H-
§
Cfl
/fir. 79. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the number of sucker
species with increasing drainage area for the Kankakee and Iroquois River drainages.
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreaion
Lake Michigan Headwater and Wading Sites
Only a few species of sucker are expected, and usually only one (Catostomus
commersoni) is ever common in most Lake Michigan tributaries. The presence of
C. commersoni reduces the elucidation capacity of the index, since this
species is considered tolerant, in evaluating water quality. Due to the low
expected number of sucker species in the Lake Michigan drainage, this metric
was replaced by the number of salmonid species. Salmonids are keystone
species in Lake Michigan tributaries, their presence determines the remainder
of the community's composition and its function. Salmonids are top-carnivores
and because of the stocking of various strains in Indiana and adjacent States,
they are present in Lake Michigan tributaries during all months of the year.
Thermal avoidance is a particularly sensitive attribute salmonids exhibit.
This makes them extremely important indicator organisms when evaluating the
thermal barriers that industrial dischargers may establish between Lake
Michigan and the tributaries. The presence of a number of salmonid species
indicates good pool and quality habitat similar to the original intention of
the sucker metric by Karr et al. (1986).
It was determined that an inverse relationship between number of salmonid
species and drainage area was apparent, higher numbers exist in lower order
streams of the East Branch of the Little Calumet Division (Fig. 20). A total
of seven species occur in the drainage including the genera Qncorhvnchus.
Salvelinus. and Salmo. Stocking of these genera are common, however, possibly
two of these species (Salvelinus fontinalis and S_. naTnaynigh) were native to
the area. Caution must be exercised in determining whether species collected
were newly stocked or residents. If only small specimens, all the same size,
are collected in high numbers, these probably represent recently stocked
individuals and should not be used in the biotic analysis. Likewise,
collections should not be conducted during known peak spawning migrations
since transient individuals are present in much greater abundance than usual.
Indications of black or hooked mouths in males of several species are good
indications that sampling was conducted at an inappropriate time.
48
-------
Wading/Headwater Sites
VO
Q
|
ft
tr
LLJ
0.1
Lake
Michigan
10
100
DRAINAGE AREA (SO. Ml)
1000
a>
3
o
0
0
CO
Fig. 20. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number of salmonid
species with increasing drainage area for Lake Michigan.
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreaion
Metric 5. Number of Sensitive Species (All Methods)
Dnpetus
The number of sensitive species metric distinguishes between streams of
highest quality. Designation of too many species as intolerant will prevent
this metric from discriminating among the highest quality resources. Only
species that are highly intolerant to a variety of disturbances were included
in this metric so it will respond to diverse types of perturbations (Table 11;
see Appendix A for species specific information).
The criteria for determining intolerance is based on the numerical and
graphical analysis of Olio's regional data base, Gerking's (1945)
documentation of historical changes in the distribution of Indiana species,
and supplemental information from regional ichthyofaunal texts (Pflieger 1975;
Smith 1979; Trautman 1981; Becker 1983; Burr and Warren 1986). Intolerant
taxa are those which decline with decreasing environmental quality and
disappear, as viable populations, when the aquatic environment degrades to the
"fair11 category (Karr et al. 1986). The intolerant species list was divided
into three categories, all are included in this metric for scoring:
1). conmuii intolerant species fl): species which are intolerant, but
are widely distributed in the best streams in Indiana;
2). uncommon or geographically restricted specigg (S); species that
are infrequently captured or that have restricted ranges)
3). rare or possibly extirpated species fR); intolerant species that
are rarely captured or which lack recent status data.
Commonly occurring intolerant species made up 5-10% of the common species in
Indiana. This was a recommended guideline of Karr (1981) and Karr et al.
(1986). Although the addition of species designated uncommon or rare
sensitive species (categories 2 and 3), inflates the number of intolerant
species above the 10% guideline, nowhere in the State do all of the species
coexist at the same time. Indiana taxa within the Central Corn Belt Plain
were below Ohio criteria for Intolerant taxa expectations. In order to
evaluate streams in the Central Corn Belt Plain, only the sensitive species
metric will be used until further resolution is possible with the addition of
adjacent ecoregion sampling. Until more sampling is completed or improvements
in water quality warrants it, the intolerant classification metric of Ohio
will not be used. The sensitive metric that is used only in the headwater
sites in Ohio (Ohio EPA 1987) will be included for all stream classifications
in Indiana.
50
-------
Indiana Ecorecrions
Headwater Sites
The number of intolerant taxa is a modification of the original index
developed by Ohio EPA (1987). The metric includes moderately intolerant
species when sampling at headwater sites. This combination is called
sensitive species since few intolerant taxa are expected in headwater streams.
The moderately intolerant species meet most of the established criteria of
Ohio EPA (1987). Sensitive species require permanent pools so use of this
metric will distinguish between streams with ephemeral characteristics. An
absence of these species would indicate a severe anthropogenic stress or loss
of habitat due to fluctuating water levels. This metric varies with basin
specific drainage area and scoring is conducted using criteria in Fig. 21, 22,
and 23.
Wading Sites
The expected number of intolerant species was anticipated to increase with
drainage area among the wading sites, however, such a positive trend is not
evident in Central Corn Belt Plain data. Intolerant taxa are scarce and may
even decrease at larger wading sites. In order to provide meaningful stream
reach comparisons in Indiana, the sensitive species metric is currently
retained for wading sites until further evaluation can be completed.
51
-------
Central Corn Belt: Plain Ecoreqion
Table 11. List of Indiana fish species considered to be sensitive to a wide
variety of environmental disturbances including water quality and
habitat degradation.
Sensitive Species
Ocnnon Name Scientific Name
Ohio lamprey Ichthvanyzon bdellium
Northern brk lamprey I. foasor
Least brook lamprey Lamcetra aepvptera
American brk lamprey L. appendj.x
Paddlefish
Goldeye
Mooneye
Bedside dace
Streamline chub
Gravel chub
Speckled chub
Bigeye chub
Pallid shiner
Rosef in shiner
Hornyhead chub
River chub
Pugnose shiner
Popeye shiner
Bigeye shiner
Ironcolor shiner
Blacknose shiner
Blackchin shiner
Sand shiner
Silver shiner
Rosyface shiner
Weed shiner
Mimic shiner
Pugnose minnow
Longnose dace
Blue sucker
Highfin carpaucker
Northern hogsucker
Silver redhorae
River redhorse
Black redhorse
Golden redhorse
Shorthead redhorse
Greater redhorse
Polvodon spatula
Hiodon alosoides
H. teraisus
Clinostcmus elonoatus
Erimystax disaimilis
E. x-txmctata
Extrarius aestavalie
Hvbopsls antolops
H. amnis
Lythrurus ardens
Nocomis biouttatus
N*
NotropiB anooenus
N. ariommus
WT V-i_n-r-LMri_i-i
H. L«-*jpB
N. chalvbaeus
N. heterodon
heterolepis
ludibundis
photOQenis
rubelluB
texanus
volucellus
N
N.
N.
N.
N.
OpsopoeoduB eroiliae
Rhinichthvs cataractae
Cycleptus elonoatus
Carpiodes velifer
Hvpentilium nioricans
Moxostcma anisurum
M. carinatum
M. duouesnei
M. ervthurum
M. macrolepidotum
M. valenciennesi
OOKITOII Name
Mountain madtom
Slender madtom
Stonecat
Brindled madtom
Freckled madtom
Northern cavefish
Southern cavefish
Northern studfish
Starhead tcpninnow
Brook silverside
Rock bass
Longear sunfish
Smallmouth bass
Western sand darter
Eastern sand darter
Greenside darter
Rainbow darter
Bluebreast darter
Harlequin darter
Spotted Apv+pr
Tippecanoe darter
Variegate darter
Banded darter
Logpsrch
Channel darter
Gilt darter
Slenderbead darter
Dusky darter
Scientific Name
Noturus eleutherus
N. exilis
N- flavus
N. miuruB
N. nocLurnus
amblvopsifl spelaea
£. subterraneuB
Fundulus catenatus
F. dispar
sicculus
ftmbloplites rupestris
LepcmiB meoalotis
MicropteruB dolonieui
ftnuiocrvpta clara
Etheostcma blennioides
E. caeruleurn
E. camorum
E. histrio
E. souamiceps
E. tippecanoe
£. variatum
E. zonale
Percina caprodes
P. copelandi
P. phoxocephala
P. sciera
52
-------
Wading/Headwater Sites
Ul —
LU
P
O
Kankakee
Drainage
10
1OO
1000
DRAINAGE AREA (SO. Ml)
Fig. 21. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number of sensitive species
with increasing drainage area for the Kankakee River drainage.
H
•a
I
•J*
3
01
-------
Ul
lil
P
O
15
1O
O
Wading/Headwater Sites
Iroquois
Drainage
o
ID
[t
1)
o
\
w
(D
M
ft
^
M
0>
8
O
^
n>
Q
P-
0
3
0.1
10
100
1OOO
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
Fig. 22. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number of sensitive
species with increasing drainage area for the Iroquois River drainage.
-------
Wading/Headwater Sites
+ Lake
Michigan
01
Ul
a
85
iii
F
10
100
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
100O
Fig. 23. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in number of sensitive species
with increasing drainage area for the Lake Michigan drainage.
H
0.
h>-
01
01
Q
H-
0
in
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreqion
Metric 6. Percent Abundance of Tolerant Species (All Methods)
Enpetu
This metric is a modification of the original index metric, the percentage of
green sunfish (Karr et al. 1986) , by Ohio EPA (1987) . This metric detects a
decline in stream quality from fair to poor categories. The green sunfish,
Lepomis cyanellus. is a species that is often present in moderate numbers in
many Midwest streams and can become a dominant mgmhgr of the community in
cases of degradation or poor water quality. A tolerance to disturbed
environments enables the green sunfish to survive and reproduce even under
perturbed conditions. Although the green sunfish is widely distributed in the
Midwest, it is most conmonly collected in low order streams. This introduces
an inherent bias for moderate to large rivers. Karr et al. (1986) suggested
additional species could be substituted for the green sunfish if they
responded in a similar manner. Several species in Indiana meet this criteria
of increasing in proportion with increasing degradation of stream. This
increase in the number of tolerant species increases the sensitivity of this
metric for various sized streams and rivers. Since different species have
habitat requirements that are correlated with stream size, composition of the
tolerant species metric does not change with drainage area.
Indiana's tolerant species are listed in Table 12. This list is based on a
numerical and graphical analysis of Indiana catch data and historical changes
in the distribution of fishes throughout Indiana (Gerking 1945) . Tolerant
species were selected based on the following criteria:
1) . present at poor or fair sites; Based on our data base of Indiana
collections these species are commonly collected at sites ranked
either fair or poor.
2) . historically incenses in abur^gnce: R»g**3 on historical
collection information (Gerking 1945) these species increase in
abundance and have not indicated any reduction in distribution.
3) . increased tolerance to degraded conditions: these species
increased in community dominance when environmental conditions
shifted from good to fair or poor environmental quality.
Headwater and Wading Sites
Headwater and wading sites were scored together for this metric for the
Kankakee and Iroquois drainages (Fig. 24) . No relationship was evident for
drainage areas greater than 100 square miles, but an inverse relationship
became apparent for sites with drainage sizes less than 100 square miles.
Lake Michigan sites were scored separately because of the higher proportion of
tolerant taxa (Fig. 25) .
56
-------
Indiana Ecorecrions
Table 12. List of Indiana fish species considered to be nicely tolerant to a
wide variety of environmental disturbances including water quality
and habitat degradation.
Tolerant Species
Common Name
Central mudminnow
White sucker
Goldfish
Redfin shiner
Carp
Golden shiner
Bluntnose minnow
Fathead minnow
Blacknose dace
Creek chub
Yellow bullhead
Brown bullhead
Eastern Banded killif ish
Green sunfish
Scientific Nams
Umbra limi
Catostomus cmdwersoru.
Ca-raggjug aurat|ig
Cyprinella lutrensls
Cyprinus carpio
Notemiqonus crysoleucas
Piroephal<=^t notatus
Pirosphales promelas
Rhinichths
Ameiurus natalis
Fundulus diaphanus diaphanus
57
-------
Wading/Headwater Sites
O Iroquois
Drainage
A Kankakee
Drainage
o
ro
3
rt
01
09
i
LU
O
IUU
7*S
f \j
RH
Ow
25
0.
i i ' i i i i i | i 1 — i i i i i i | P 1 — r-ii
'. A A A i
A A A A :
A A : A
A A, :• A
AA"A:AA
A A: A
a&-~: — AA--Q
A ^ O 4 A^
" /"\ ^^ /V " /^ jf\
'c 0 A° * 00
' 5 A A
1 1 — i — i— j _L.I 1 1 A i i i i i i i i I A iVA ' '/'
1 1 10
!ii i i 1 1 1 1 — i — i i i 1 1
^A
A "
^_Q. & '_
G> A
A
i i 1 1 1
100 10(
W
(D
3
D
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
Fig. 24. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the proportion of tolerant
species with increasing drainage area for the Kankakee and Iroquois River drainage.
-------
Wading/Headwater Sites
Lake
Michigan
Ul
vo
a*
9)
oc
LU
1OO
75
5O
25
O
•1
-*r*
0.1
10 100
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
10OO
H
I
H-
V
3
P>
8
H-
§
0)
r. 25. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the proportion of tolerant
species with increasing drainage area for Lake Michigan.
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreaion
Metric 7. Proportion of Qmnivores (All Methods)
The definition of an omnivore follows that of Karr (1981) and Karr et al.
(1986), which requires species to take significant quantities of both plant
and animal Tnat«ri»?« (including detritus) and have the ability, usually
indicated by the presence of a long gut and dark peritoneum, to utilize both.
Gnmivores are species whose diets include at least 25% plant and 25% animal
foods. Fishes which do not feed on plants but on a variety of animal material
are not considered onnivores. Dominance of omnivores suggests specific
components of the food base are less reliable, increasing the success of more
opportunistic species. Specialized filter-feeders are not included in this
metric after Ohio EPA (1987) since these species are sensitive to
environmental degradation, e.g. paddlefish, Polyodon spathula and lamprey
ammocoetes, Lampetra and Icfathyomyzon. Species which tended to shift diet due
to degraded environmental conditions were also not included as omnivores, e.g.
Semotil11*8 atromaculatufs and Rh ^ nichthys atratviliiP. This metric evaluates the
intermediate to low categories of environmental quality (Table 13; see
Appendix B for species specific feeding guild classification).
Headwater and Hading Sites
Due to minor changes in ornnivore classification, only those species which
consistently feed as omnivores were included in our analysis. These values
differ from the omnivore percentages of Karr et al. (1986) but resemble Ohio
EPA's (1987) classification. A relationship with drainage area was found foe-
sites less than 20 square miles (Fig. 26), but reached an asymptote or
slightly declined with increasing drainage areas.
60
-------
Indiana Ecoreaions
Table 13. List of Indiana fish species considered to be omnivores.
Qnnivores
Common Name
Gizzard shad
Threadf in shad
Central mudminnow
Goldfish
Grass carp
Carp
Cypress minnow
Central silvery minnow
Eastern silvery minnow
Silver carp
Bluntnose minnow
Fathead minnow
Bullhead minnow
River carpsucker
Quillback
Highfin carpsucker
White sucker
Scientific Name
Dorosoina oepedianum
D. petenense
Umbra limi
auratus
Ctenopharyngodon idella
Cyprinus carpio
Hvbocmathus havi
H. nuchalis
H. recfius
Hvpopthalmichthvs molitrix
Carpiodes carpio
Catostomus cc
:
-------
100
(O
CO
111
CC
O
I
O
Wading/Headwater Sites
o Iroquois
Drainage
Kankakee
Drainage
Lake
Michigan
o
(D
3
O
o
n>
M
ft
-------
Indiana Ecoreaions
Metric 8. Proportion of Insectivores (All Methods)
The proportion of insectivores is a modification of Karr et al. 's (1986)
original metric, proportion of insectivorous cyprinidae. This metric is
intended to respond to a lowering of the benthic macroinvertebrate community
which comprises the primary food base for most fishes. As disturbance
increases, the diversity of insect larvae decreases, triggering an increase in
the omnivorous trophic level. This metric thus varies inversely with metric 7
with increased environmental degradation. The inclusion of all insectivorous
species was based on the observation that all regions of Indiana do not
possess high proportions of insectivorous cyprinids in high quality streams.
This metric was recalibrated following the recommendation of Karr et al.
(1986; see Appendix B for species specific classification).
Headwater and Wading sites
Insectivorous species designation generally conforms to that provided in Karr
et al. (1986), however, I concur with Ohio EPA in the elimination of the
opportunistic feeding creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatusf and blacknose dace,
Rhinichthvs atratulus. from the insectivore designation. Leonard and Qrth
(1986) felt that the current trophic definitions of Karr et al. (1986) were
rather arbitrary since they observed a negative correlation between
insectivores and biotic integrity in a West Virginia stream. Scoring criteria
indicated no relationship existed between drainage area and proportion
insectivorous fishes in headwater and wading sites (Fig. 27). However, due to
the proportional scarcity of true insectivorous fishes in small headwater
streams, the criteria was lowered in order to provide a greater emphasis on
their presence.
63
-------
Wading/Headwater Sites
tu
QC
O
U
LU
2 CO
10O
75
5O
25
O
O Iroquois
Drainage
0.1
Kankakee
Drainage
Lake
Michigan
-44
1
10
o
n>
rt
0
3
W
(D
0»
M
O
D
D
a
100
1OOO
DRAINAGE AREA
-------
Indiana Ecoreaions
Metric 9. Proportion of Pioneer Species (Headwater Methods, Lake Michigan
Division)
Proportion of Carnivores (Wading Methods, East Branch Little Calumet
River Division Headwaters)
TllB'M* 1.113
Karr (1981) developed the carnivore metric to measure community integrity in
the upper trophic levels of the fish community. It is only in high quality
environments that upper trophic levels are able to flourish. This metric
includes individuals of species in which the adults are predominantly
piscivores, although some may feed on invertebrates and fish as larvae or
juveniles. Species which are opportunistic do not fit into this metric, e.g.
creek chub or channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Karr et al. 1986; Ohio EPA
1987). Karr et al. (1986) suggest that some members of this group may feed
extensively on crayfish and other vertebrates, e.g. frogs.
Headwater Sites
Headwater systems generally do not have a high abundance of carnivores, and
carnivores may not be able to persist there at all. The alternative metric
developed by Ohio EPA (1987) indicates the permanence of the stream habitat.
Smith (1971) identified a certain assemblage of small stream species which he
termed "pioneer species" (Table 14). These are species which are the first to
colonize sections of headwater streams after desiccation. These species also
predominate in unstable environments affected by anthropogenic stresses and
temporal desiccation. A high proportion of pioneer species indicates an
environment temporally unavailable or stressed. The metric does not change
with increases in drainage area (Fig. 28). m the East Branch of the Little
Calumet River Division the entire fauna may be pioneer species yet contain
high proportions of carnivores due to the presence of salmonid species.
Within the Lake Michigan drainage, the carnivore metric was retained for
headwater sites in the East Branch of the Little Calumet River Division (see
explanation prior to metric sections), but the pioneer metric is applied to
the Lake Michigan Division.
Wading Sites
Karr (1981) suggested that the proportion of carnivores should be a reflection
of drainage area, however, neither Ohio EPA nor our study found such a
correlation in streams greater than 20 square miles. The proportion of
carnivores was visually determined from the current data base and approximated
Karr et al. 's (1986) original numbers (Fig. 29). Separate criteria were
established for the Lake Michigan tributary segments due to observed higher
number of predator species (Fig. 30).
65
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreaion
Table 14. List of Indiana fish species considered to be indicators of
temporally unavailable or stressed habitats (Larimore and Smith
1963; Smith 1971).
Pioneer Species
Common Name
Central stoneroller
Largescale stoneroller
Silverjaw minnow
Bluntnose minnow
Fathead minnow
Creek chub
Creek chubsucker
Lake chubsucker
Green sunfish
Johnny darter
Qrangethroat darter
Scientific Name
Caiiiputatoma ancmalum
Piaephales notatus
promslas
oblon1 lg
Erimyzon sucetta
Lepomis cyanellus
Etheostoma nigrum
Etheostoma spectabile
66
-------
Headwater Sites
DC
UJ
O
a
O Iroquois
Drainage
1OO
(J)
o 75
111
a
5O
25
A Kankakee
Drainage
Lake
Michigan
O
•=r^fc:
A
AA
O
++
O.1
1O
§
100
w
DRAINAGE AREA (SO. Ml)
Fig. 28. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the proportion of pioneer
species with increasing drainage area for the central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion.
§
H-
§
0)
-------
Wading Sites
O Iroquois
A Kankakee
Drainage Drainage
50
4O
CO
LU
cr
O 3O
z
w nr
03 LL
n 20
u
^
10
o
-
-
-
-
„
O
-
A
/
L
A
A
-
.
.
B
A
v
^ o :
A A
A &
A O A A
o° ° O?_A^ ^ ° A ° ^ 5;
^^
A A A /YiAi
ii Zi wis
10
L^* VA A. ' A 3:
fiS)f /V. A * XN ' i i i i i i ii 4
" "" *-» 1
1 0O 1 0OO
DRAINAGE AREA
0»
M
n
0
3
w
n>
rt
^
»
3
w
o
o
H
D
3
-------
Wading/Headwater Sites
+ Lake
Michigan
(/)
J
* >
o
100
75
5O
25
O
0.1
I I I I I I
I t f f I f
f I fill I T
10
100
1000
P.
Q)
01
s
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
F/ig. 30. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the proportion of carnivores
with increasing drainage area for the Lake michigan drainage.
o
in
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreaion
Metric 10. Number of Individuals in a Sample (All Methods)
Tmpefai
This metric evaluates populations and is expressed as catch per unit of
effort. Effort is expressed by relative number of individuals per length of
reach sampled, per unit of area sampled, or per unit time spent depending on
the gear used. Karr et al. (1986) suggests that this metric is most sensitive
at intermediate to low ends of the sensitivity continuum. When low numbers
of individuals are observed the normal trophic relationships are generally
disturbed enough to have severe effects on fish abundance. Because of this
effect, scoring adjustments are encouraged for headwater streams in which less
than 25 individuals are collected or 50 individuals in wadable streams (see
next section for details). As integrity increases, total abundance increases
and becomes more variable depending on the level of energy and other natural
chemical factors limiting production. Under certain circumstances, e.g.
channelization, increases in the abundance of tolerant fishes can be observed
(Ohio EPA 1987). Lyons (personal communication) found that abundance,
excluding tolerant species, was highest at fair quality sites and lower at
excellent classified sites. Our catch per unit effort was determined based on
the total number of individuals collected per 15 times the channel width
without modification for tolerant taxa.
Headwater and Wading Sites
Drainage area proportionally affects the number of individuals caught at
headwater and wading sites (Fig. 31). Since the relationship is not linear, a
log—transformed analysis of the relative number of individuals was conducted.
The expected numbers of individuals in "least impacted" stream levels off at
150 individuals. These "least impacted" sites were cctnpfyrgct to a series of
known impacted sites to derive the best and worst case situations. The number
of individuals necessary to implement scoring adjustments was taken from Ohio
EPA (1987). It is necessary to change most proportional metrics when fewer
than 25 individuals are collected in headwater strpgaros and 50 individuals in
wading streams greater than 20 square miles drainage area (see scoring
adjustments section for more information).
70
-------
75O
O
Ti
m
5OO
25O
O
O.1
Wading/Headwater Sites
Iroquois
Drainage
A Kankakee
Drainage
Lake
Michigan
10 1OO
DRAINAGE AREA (SO. Ml)
100O
H-
01
3
P>
M
O
O
(D
Q
H-
O
3
CO
Fig. 31. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the catch per unit effort with
increasing drainage area for the Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion.
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreaion
Metric 11. Proportion of Individuals as Simple Lithophilic Spawners (All
Methods)
Impetus
This metric is a replacement for the original index metric, proportion of
hybrids, by Ohio EPA (1987). The hybrid metric was abandoned since the
original intent of the metric was to assess the extent to which degradation
has altered reproductive isolation among species. Difficulties of
identification, lack of occurrence often in headwater and impacted streams,
and presence in high quality streams among certain taxa, e.g. cyprinids and
oentrarchids, caused a lack of sensitivity for the hybrid metric.
Spawning guilds have been shown to be affected by habitat quality (Balon 1975;
Berkman and Rabeni 1987) and have been suggested as an alternative index
metric (Angermeier and Karr 1986). Reproduction attributes of simple spawning
behavior which requires clean gravel or cobble for success (i.e. lithophilous)
are the most ensdronmentally sensitive (Ohio EPA 1987). Simple lithophils
broadcast eggs which then come into contact with the substrate. Eggs then
develop in the interstitial spaces between sand, gravel, and cobble substrates
without parental care. Berkman and Rabeni (1987) observed an inverted
correlation between simple lithophil spawners and the proportion of silt in
streams. Historically, some simple lithophil spawners have experienced
significant range reductions due to increased silt loads in streams. Some
simple lithophils do not require clean substrates for reproduction. Larvae of
these species are buoyant, adhesive, or possess fast developing eggs with
phototactic larvae which have minimal contact with the substrate (Balon 1975)
and are not included in the above designation. Simple lithophils are
sensitive to environmental disturbance, particularly siltation. Species
specific designations are included in Table 15 (see Appendix C for species
specific ratings).
Headwater and Hading Sites
No relationship with drainage area was observed at headwater or wading sites
(Fig. 32). Scoring was completed using the alternate trisection method of
Ohio EPA (1987). Simple lithophils are major components of the fish
communities in these sized streams, indicating the importance of clean gravel
and cobble substrates.
72
-------
Indiana Ecoreaions
Table 15. List of Indiana species considered to be simple lithophilous
spawners.
Simple T.< tfrepih^ 1 a
Ouiuiun Name
Padrtlefiah
Lake sturgeon
Shovelnose sturgeon
Bedside dace
Lake chub
Streamline chub
Gravel chub
Cent silvery minnow
Eastn silvery minnow
Bigeye chub
Pallid shiner
Striped shiner
Rosefin shiner
Emerald shiner
Popeye shiner
River shiner
Bigeye shiner
Silver shiner
Rosyface shiner
I Southn redbelly dace
I Blacknose dace
j Longnose dace
I Blue sucker
| Longnose sucker
I White sucker
Northern hogsucker
Spotted sucker
Silver redhorse
j River redhorse
Black redhorse
I Golden redhorse
Shorthead redhorse
Greater redhorse
Burbot
Western sand darter
Eastern sand darter
Rainbow darter
Bluebreast
Spotted
Qrangethroat darter
Tippecanoe 'fort01*
Variegate darter
Logperch
Channel
Scientific name
Polvodon spatula
Aeipenser fulveseens
platorvnchus
OonTOon Name
Clinostcmus elonaatus
Oouesius plumbeus
Gilt
Blackside
Slenderhead
DUSky
River
Sauger
Walleye
Scientific Name
P. evides
P. tnaculata
P. phoxoceohala
P. sciera
P. shumardi
Etizostedion
S. vitreum
E. x^punctata
Hvboanathus havi
H. nuchalis
Hvbopeis amblops
H. amis
Luxilus chrvBocepha\UB
Lvthrurus ardens
Nbtropis atherinoides
N. aricmtus
N. blennius
N. boops
N. photoaans
N. rubellus
Rhinichthvs atratulus
R. cataractae
Cvcleotus elonaatus
Catostcmus catostomus
C. tajftiEjraom.
Hvpentilium nioricans
Minvtrema melanops
Moxostoma anisurum
M. carinatum
M. duouesnei
M. ervthurum
M. macrolepidotum
M. valenciennesi
Lota lota
clara
A. pellucida
Etheostana caeruleum
E. camurum
E . maculatum
E. spectabile
E. tippecanoe
E. variatum
Percina caprcdes
P. copelandi
73
-------
Wading/Headwater Sites
o Iroquois A Kankakee + Lake
Drainage Drainage Michigan
10O
_J
I 75
Q_
0
f
J 5O
Uj
I
Q.
2
w 25
so
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i i i i i i i i | i i i i i i i 1 1 r r— i — i — rr-rrj 1 1 1 — i i i i i
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A " .(JO A
AA K) L A
-5 £ 0 4iP A -
"_ 7± j—^-A^-A jAj. :
o O A /-)A ^:r^v A A
A *-* St\' O^A
: ^^^^^ <^A. O- —A,- -
~ "4 1 ^« ^^*^ V^ , ~iit-i A Jv+J —
"^i. O J* 4Mt '.m^r A^ ,»O A
i i i i i i i i 1 A 1 ||Hf § * •Illltl'£\M?'(niTYVWf fBlir6irftl*l J|i«»*"A 1 ^ ( , i i i i i i
LilllLil I i_JliU IfimrUBJJM'il ,| ULJI— ULMV
O.1 1 1O 100 ' 10OO
DRAINAGE AREA (SO. Ml)
Fig. 32. Maximum species richness lines for determining trends in the proportion of simple
lithophil species with increasing drainage area for the Central Corn Belt ecoreqion.
o
ID
rt
L_l
n
o
3
CD
ID
H*
rt
2
j.
3
ii
3
D
Q
-I*
0
3
-------
Indiana Ecoreaions
Table 15. List of Indiana species oonsidered to be simple lithophilous
spawners.
Simple
Scientific name Ooctmon Name
Burbot
Western sand darter
Eastern sand rta»-^r
Rainbow «*«**»r
Bluebreaat darter
Spotted darter
Orangethroat darter
Tippecanoe darter
Variegate darter
Logperch
Channel darter
Scientific Name
Paddlefish
Lake sturgeon
Shovelnose sturgeon
Bedside dace
Lake chub
Streamline chub
Gravel chub
Cent silvery minnow
Eastn silvery minnow
Bigeye chub
Pallid shiner
Striped shiner
Rosefin shiner
Emerald shiner
Popeye shiner
River shiner
Bigeye shiner
Silver shiner
Rosyf ace shiner
Southn redbelly dace
Blacknose dace
Longnose dace
Blue sucker
Longnose sucker
White sucker
Northern hogsucker
Spotted sucker
Silver redhorse
River redhorse
Black redhorse
Golden redhorse
Shorthead redhorse
Greater zedhoree
Polvodon spatula
AcJpenser fulvescens
Sfmrfr» r-hvnchus latorvnchus
Clinostcnue elonoafcus
Oouesius Plumbeus Walleye
•Rr^myatax Higa
-------
Indiana Ecoreaions
-------
Indiana Ecorecrions
Metric 12. Proportion of Individuals with Deformities, Eroded Fins, Lesions,
and Tumors (All Methods)
This metric evaluates the status of individual fish in the community using the
percent occurrence of external anomalies and corresponds to the percent of
diseased fish in Karr's (1981) original index. Studies of fish populations
indicate that anomalies are either absent or occur at very low rates
naturally, but reach higher percentages at impacted sites (Mills et al. 1966;
Berra and Au 1981; Baumann et al. 1987). Common causes for deformities,
eroded fins, lesions, and tumors are described by Allison et al. (1977), Post
(1983) and Ohio EPA (1987). Primary causes result from bacterial, fungal,
viral, and parasitic infections, neoplastic diseases, and chemicals. An
increase in the frequency of occurrence of these anomalies is an indication of
stress and environmental degradation caused by chemical pollutants,
overcrowding, improper diet, excessive siltation, and other perturbations.
The presence of black spot is not included in the above analyses since
infestation varies in degree and may be a natural occurrence not related to
environmental stress (Allison et al. 1977; Berra and Au 1981). Whittier et
al. (1987) showed no relationship between Ohio stream quality and black spot.
Other parasites are also excluded due to the lack of consistent relationship
with environmental degradation.
In Ohio and in the current study/ the highest incidence of deformities, eroded
fins, lesions, and tumors occurred in fish communities downstream from
dischargers of industrial and municipal wastewater, and areas subjected to the
intermittent stresses from combined sewers and urban runoff. Leonard and Orth
(1986) found this metric to correspond to increased degradation in streams in
West Virginia. Karr et al. (1986) observed this metric to be most sensitive
at the lowest extremes of the index of biotic integrity.
AU Sites
The scoring criteria used for this metric follows Ohio EPA (1987) and was
developed by analyzing wading data. For wading sites, the median score was
rounded to the nearest 0.1% for the highest expected score and 90th percentile
value. According to Ohio protocols, if a single fish in a sample of less than
200 fish was captured with anomalies this would have been enough to exceed the
established criterion. Ohio EPA scoring modifications enable a single fish at
a site to be present to score a "5" and two fish at a site to score a "3" when
less than 200 individuals are collected.
75
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreqion
Scoring Modifications
Samples with extremely low numbers in the catch can present a scoring problem
in sane of the proportional metrics unless adjustments are made to reduce the
possibility of rewarding degraded sites. Aquatic habitats impacted by
anthropomorphic disturbances may exhibit a disruption in the food base and
comprise very few individuals. At such low population sizes the normal
structure of the community is unpredictable (Ohio EPA 1987). Based on Ohio
EPA experiences, the proportion of omnivores, insectivorous fishes, and
percent individuals affected by anomalies do not always match expected trends.
Although scores are expected to deviate strongly from those of high quality
areas, this is not always observed. Kather, at times the opposite metric
score is achieved due to low numbers of individuals or absence of certain
taxa.
Scoring very degraded sites without modifying scoring criteria for the
proportional metrics can overrate the total index score for these sites.
Scoring modifications proposed by Ohio EPA (1987) were adopted for evaluating
Indiana sites with low numbers of individuals.
Proportion of omnivores for wading sites is assigned a score of "1" if less
than 50 total individuals are collected, likewise for headwater sites, if less
than 25 individuals are collected. When 50 to 150 individuals are collected,
but are dominated (> 50%) by such species are creek chub and blacknose dace a
"1" can be assigned when dominated by generalist feeders. This is left up to
the biologists best professional judgement when at the site.
Proportion of insectivores is scored a "1" when a high proportion of
insectivores is observed when less than 50 individuals are collected. At
sites with 50 to 150 individuals this metric can be scored "I11 if this metric
is dominated (> 50%) by either striped shiner, common shiner, or spotfin
shiner, species that can act as omnivores under certain conditions (Angermeier
1985).
Proportion of top carnivores metric should be scored a "1" when dominated by
high numbers (> 50%) of grass pickerel in impacted wading areas.
Proportion of simple lithophils always scores a "l" at sites with less than 50
total individuals. Based on Ohio EPA data (1987) this is rarely different
from its score without the adjustment.
lion of individuals with deformities, erosion, lesions and tumor
riropoir
anomalies are scored a "1" when less than 50 individuals are collected. A
high proportion of young fishes may also be sufficient reason to score a "1"
since they will not have had sufficient time to develop anomalies from
exposure to chemical contaminants.
Proportion of pioneering species is scored a "1" at headwater sites if less
than 50 individuals are collected at drainage areas greater than 8 square
miles, and 25 individuals at drainage areas less than 8 square miles.
76
-------
Indiana Ecoreqions
No scoring adjustments are necessary for proportion of tolerant species.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A total of 112 sites were sampled in the Kankakee River basin during Central
Corn Belt Plain ecoregion sampling during 1990. A total of 82 species were
collected (Table 16) and were numerically dominated by cyprinid species. The
headwaters of the Kankakee River were depauperate of cyprinids, and instead
were comprised of carnivores and benthic insectivores.
The overall water quality of the Kankakee River ranges between a low of very
poor (score of 12; numerous sites) to excellent (score of 57; Yellow River)
based on Index of Biotic Integrity scoring criteria developed during the
current investigation (Fig. 33a) . An increasing trend was evident in going
from headwater to higher order tributaries in the overall water quality of the
Kankakee basin. The number of sites approximated a normal curve based on
water quality determination from index scores. The following was the percent
of total Kankakee stations (112) within each index classification:
excellent 1.78% (2 stations); good 16.07% (18 stations); fair 36.6% (41
stations); poor 28.57% (32 stations); very poor 16.07% (18 stations); no fish
0.89% (1 station). The sites which had low index values were primarily
attributed to poor habitat and to a limited extent low dissolved oxygen
levels. The Yellow River, a main tributary component of the upper Kankakee
River, had very high index of biotic integrity scores for almost all sites
sampled. This River deserves extra protection to ensure that the quality of
the resource continues for future generations.
Two stream types appear to exist in the Kankakee basin, those which possess
stream flow, few aquatic macrophytes, and stable riparian bank vegetation, and
those which have little to no flow causing the accumulation of soft
substrates, heavy aquatic macrophyte growth, and little canopy cover. These
latter streams contain several species of concern; Notropis chalyfaaeus. N.
texanus. N. heterolepis. and N. heterodon. High numbers of these intolerant
taxa existed in these nacrophyte chocked areas. The biological criteria
developed during the current study recognizes the importance of these habitats
for the maintenance of the species plus a number of other low-gradient taxa
distributed in the Kankakee basin.
Due to possible improvement in water quality and habitat since Gerking's
survey, two darters have been added to the Kankakee River drainage, while only
a single darter species has been extirpated from the basin. Rainbow darter,
Etheostoma caeruleum. previously occurred in the headwaters of the Kankakee,
but not during the current investigation. An equally plausible explanation of
the discovery of new species, is the better coverage of the area and the use
of a more effective gear type. New additions to the fauna include the
bluntnose darter, E. chlorosoroa. and orangethroat darter, 1. spectabile. A
number of studies have correlated the presence of darter species with a
77
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreaion
Table 16. Species list of taxa collected in the Kankakee, Iroquois, and Lake
Michigan drainages, Indiana during ecoregion sampling 1990.
Drainaoe
Lake
Kankakee Iroouois Michigan
Petromvzontidfle ~ lamprey
Ichthvomvzon bdellium (Jordan), Ohio lamprey X
I.. fOBsor Reighard and Cummins, northern brook lamprey X
Lampetra aeovptera (Abbott), least brook lamprey X X
L. appendix (DeKay), American brook lamprey X X
Lepisosteifbxaes - gars
Lepisosteijlae - gars
Jj. oaseua Linnaeus, longnose gar X
Aoiifomes - bowfin
flmiidae - bowf in
Amia calva Linnaeus, bowfin X X
Clupeiformas - herring, shad
Clueoidae - herring
A. pseudoharenQus (Wilson), alewife X
Dorosoroa oepedianum (Lesueur), gizzard shad X XX
Salmoniformes - trout, salmon, whitefiah
Salrooni'jlflp — salmon and whitefish
Onoorhynchus mvkiss Walbaum, rainbow trout X X
O. kisutch (Walbaum), coho salmon X
O. tahawytscha (Walbaum), Chinook salmon X
Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchell), brook trout X
Salmo salar (Walbaum), Atlantic salmon X X
S. trutta LinneauB, brown trout X
Osmsridae - smelt
Oamerus mordax (Mitchill), rainbow smelt X
Pmbridae - nudminnows
Phfara limi (Kirtland), central nudminnnow X XX
Esocidae - pikes
Esox americanus Qnelin, grass pickerel X XX
E. lucius Linnaeus, northern pike X X
CrprJuniforaes - carps and minnows
CvTTinidae — carps and minnows
Campostoma. ancttulum (Rafinesque), stoneroller X
C. olioolepis Hubbs and Greene, largescale stoneroller X X
Carassius auratus (Linneaus), goldfish X
Cyprinella lutrensis (Baled and Girard), red shiner X X
C. spiloptera Cope, spotfin shiner X XX
C. vMpplei (Girard), steelcolor shiner X
Cyprinus carpio Linneaus, carp X XX
Ericvmba buccata Cope, silverjaw minnow X X
Luxilus chrvsocenhalus (Rafinesque), striped shiner X X
L. cornutus (Mitchell), uumuti shiner X X
Lythrurus umbratilis (Girard), redfin shiner X X
Nocomifl biguttatuB (Kirtland), hornyhead chub X XX
Notemiaonus crysoleucuB (Mitchell), golden shiner X XX
Notropis atherinoides Rafinesque, emerald shiner X
N. chalvbaeus (Cope), ironcolor shiner X
78
-------
Cyprini^ac* ( Continued)
N. dorsalis (Agassiz), bigmouth shiner
N. heterodon (Cope), blacknose shiner
N. heterolepis Eigenmann and Eigenmann, blackchin shiner
N. hudflonius (Clinton), spottail shiner
N. ludibundus Cope, sand shiner
N. rubellus (Agassiz), rosyface shiner
N. texanus (Girard), weed shiner
N. voluoelluB (Cope), mimic shiner
PhenacobiuB mirabilis (Girard) , suckermouth minnow
Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque) , bluntnose minnow
P. protnelas Rafinesque, fathead minnow
P. viailax (Baird and Girard) , bullhead minnow
RhinichthvB atratulus Agassiz, blacknose dace
R. cataractae (Valenciennes), longnose dace
Setnotilus atromaculatus (Mitchill), creek chub
Catostcmidae - suckers and buffalo
Carpiodes carpio (Rafinesque) , river carpsucker
C. cvprinus (Lesueur), quillback
Catostcmus cannuruuni Lacepede. white sucker
E. sucetta (Laoepede), lake chubsucker
Hvpentilium niqricans (Lesueur) , northern hogsucker
Ictiobus bubalus (Rafinesque) , smallmouth buffalo
i. cvprinellus (Valenciennes), bigmouth buffalo
Minvtrema melanops (Rafinesque) , spotted sucker
Maxostoma anisurum (Rafinesque) , silver redhorse
M. duquesnei (Lesueur) , black redhorse
M. ervthurum (Rafinesque), golden redhorse
M. macrolepidotum (Lesueur), shorthead redhorse
M. valenciennesi Jordan, greater redhorse
Silurif ormas - bullhead and catfish
TefcaiiiT-irtao - bullhead and catfish
Atneiurus melas (Rafinesque) , black bullhead
A. natalis (Lesueur) , yellow bullhead
A. nebulosus (Lesueur), brown bullhead
Ictalurus txmctatus (Rafinesque) , channel catfish
Noturus flavus Rafinesque, stonecat
N. gyrinus (Mitchill) , tadpole madtcm
Kankakee
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
x
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
DJ^A i T^ac
Iroouois _
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
x
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
x
X
X
X
IP
Lake
Mi_chi_nan
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
x
X
X
x
X
X
Percapsifbrne* - cavefish, pirate perch, trout-perch
'eridae - pirate perch
sayanus (Gilliams), pirate perch
AtherxDiformes - tcpnimows, silversides
fXmduli^ao — toptniimows
Fundulus disoar (Agassiz), northern starhead topminnow
£• notatus (Rafinesque), blackstripe topminnow
£• olivaoeus (Storer), blackspotted topminnow
Atherinidae — silversldes
Labidesthes sicculus (Cope), brook silverside
Gasterosteifbraes - sticklebacks
Gasterosteidae - sticklebacks
Culaea inconstans (Kirtland), brook stickleback
X
X
X
X
X
X
79
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreqion
Drainaoe
Percifoxmes - basses, sunfish, perch, darters
Oentrarchidae - black bass and sunfish
flmbloplites nroestris (Raf inesque), rock bass
Lecomis cvanellus Rafinesque, green sunfish
L. oibbosus (Linnaeus), pumpkinseed
oulosus (Cuvier), wantouth
humilis (Girard), orangespotted sunfish
roacrocb'' ^us T^afi nqsnuig, bluegill
msoalotis (Rafinesque), longear sunfish
Microoterus dolonieui Lacepede, amallmouth bass
M. salmoides (Lacepede), larganouth bass
Pcmoxis anmilaris Raf inesque, white crappie
P. nioromaculatus (Lesueur), black crappie
Pereidae - perch and darters
Etheostana chlorosona (Hay), bluntnose darter
E. flabellare Rafinesque, fantail rtartm-
E. microperca Jordan and Gilbert, least darter
£. nigrum Rafinesque, johnny darter
E. spBctabile (Agassiz), orangethroat darter
E. zonale (dope), banded da,tt,er
Perca flavesoens (Hitchill), yellow perch
Percina caprcdes (Rafinesque), logperch
P. maculata (Girard), blackside darter
P. phoxoceohala (Nelson), slenderhead darter
Cottidae - sculpins
Cottus bairdi Girard, mottled sculpin
Lake
Kankakee Iroouois Michigan
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Total Number of Species
82
56
55
80
-------
Indiana Ecorecrions
100
DRAINAGE AREA (SQ. Ml)
1000
1000
1000
Kankakee
Drainage
Iroquois
Drainage
Lake
Michigan
E Br Little
Calumet
Fig. 33. Trends in water resources based on the Indiana Index of Biotic Integrity with increasing
drainage area for the Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion.
81
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreaion
quality resource (Gerking 1945; Larimore and Smith 1963; Kuehne and Barbour
1983).
Gerking (1945) found 9 sunfish and 7 sucker species, while we found 11 sunfish
and 11 sucker species. The abundance of sunfish generally conforms to an
increase in quality pool development, while sucker abundance correlates with
run habitat. Although, much of the Kankakee basin has been and continues to
be dredged in order to maintain agricultural ditches, a high proportion of the
sites have recovered and have the resemblance, of a quality riffle, run, and
pool habitat. The ability of species colonization from the mainstem Kankakee
into most tributary segments enables the recovery of most stream reaches even
after periods of severe degradation. The number of sunfish species should not
have substantially differed between seining and shocking techniques, however,
sucker species composition may have dramatically been skewed using seine
methods.
Basin
A total of 37 headwater and wading sites were sampled in the Iroquois River
basin during Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion sampling. A total of 56
species were collected (Table 16) and were numerically dominated by catfish
species. The headwaters of the Iroquois River, Oliver ditch and Ryan ditch,
were depauperate of cyprinids, instead were comprised of bullheads and
centrarchids. These areas were generally degraded due to fluctuating flows
and prohibited few species from maintaining permanent residence.
The overall water quality of the Iroquois River ranged between a low of very
poor (score of 16; one station) to a high of excellent (score of 56; one
station) based on Index of Biotic Integrity scoring criteria developed during
the current investigation (Fig. 33b) . The biotic integrity of the Iroquois
River basin did not vary much with increasing drainage area. Like the
Kankakee basin, the number of Iroquois basin sites approximated a normal curve
with respect to water quality as determined from index scores. The following
was the percent occurrence of total Iroquois stations (37) within each index
classification: excellent 5.41% (2 stations); good 29.73% (11 stations); fair
45.95% (17 stations); poor 16.22% (6 stations); very poor 2.70% (1 station).
Fish were collected at all sites in the Iroquois basin. Sites which had low
index values were primarily attributed to poor habitat. The low flows of some
tributaries caused the accumulation of soft substrates in adjacent riffle and
pools effectively reducing available habitat, likewise dredged streams reduced
habitat complexity. Sugar Creek was an exceptional stream in the Iroquois
basin. Curtis and Carpenter Creek, main tributary components of the middle to
upper Iroquois River, had very high index of biotic integrity scores for
almost all sites sampled.
Species of concern collected in the Iroquois River include the presence of the
tolerant Cvprinella lutrensis. a species known from Illinois but previously
unknown from Indiana. High numbers of these tolerant taxa existed in most of
the ditches feeding the mainstem Iroquois.
82
-------
Indiana Ecoregions
Only a single darter species has been added to the drainage list since the
last survey completed by Gerking (1945). Blackside darter, Percina maculata.
previously unreported from the drainage was collected at a number of sites
during the current investigation.
Gerking (1945) found 5 sunfish and 3 sucker species, while we found 5 sunfish
and 7 sucker species. The increase in sucker taxa is likely due to the same
reason as the Kankakee River, the recovery of dredged ditches, greater number
of stations sampled, or better gear efficiency. The Iroguois basin has been
and continues to be dredged in order to maintain agricultural irrigation
capability. A high proportion of the sites have recovered and have the
resemblance of a quality riffle, run, and pool habitat. Ihe ability of
species colonization from the mainstem Iroguois into tributary segments is
less than the Kankakee since several lowhead dams exist on the River, and
greater contributions of groundwater cause natural fluctuations in flow during
various seasons.
Lake Michigan Basin
Water quality trends evident in the Lake Michigan basin will be categorized
into the two stream divisions (East Branch Little Calumet River and other Lake
Michigan drainage tributaries) in order to facilitate presentation.
Branch j.it^ie Calumet River Division
This division of the Lake Michigan drainage includes Burns Ditch, the East
Branch of the Little Calumet River and its tributaries (e.g. Salt Creek,
Reynold's Creek, and the unnamed tributary in the Rivers headwater) .
A total of 28 headwater and wading sites were sampled in the East Branch
Little Calumet River division during Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion
sampling. A total of 48 species were collected (Table 13) and were
numerically dominated by centrarchid species. The headwaters of the East
Branch of the Little Calumet River, Reynold's Creek and the unnamed tributary,
possessed high biological integrity comprised of many salmonid species and
more tolerant species from Lake Michigan. These areas were the best observed
in this basin segment although they only achieved a fair evaluation for water
resource classification.
The overall water quality of the East Branch Little Calumet River division
ranged between a low of very poor (score of 12; three stations) to a high of
fair (score of 45; one station) based on Index of Biotic Integrity scoring
criteria developed during the current investigation (Fig. 33c) . The biotic
integrity of the East Branch Little Calumet River division declined with
increasing drainage area. Unlike the other basin segments, the number of
sites approximated a highly skewed curve (towards degraded conditions) with
respect to water quality as determined from index scores. The following was
the percent occurrence of total East Branch Little Calumet River Division
stations (28) within each index classification: fair 14.29% (4 stations); poor
83
-------
Central Corn Belt Plain Ecorecrion
46.43% (13 stations); very poor 39.29% (11 stations). Fish were collected at
all sites in the division. Sites which had low index values were primarily
because of poor habitat and anthropogenic influences from industrial and
municipal dischargers. The low flows of some tributaries caused the
accumulation of soft substrates in adjacent riffle and pools, effectively
reducing available habitat, likewise dredged streams reduced habitat
complexity. Reynold's Creek was an exceptional stream in the East Branch
division. The unnamed tributary in the Little Calumet headwaters, and the
Little Calumet headwaters near the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore's Heron
Rookery had relatively high index of biotic integrity scores.
Species previously uncollected in the State appearing in the basin division
included Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar. which either emigrated through Michigan
stocking efforts or were accidentally stocked by State personnel. New
drainage records include the American brook lamprey L. appendix and the
largescale stoneroller Carnpostoma oligolepis. The lamprey occurred at several
high quality wading sites while the largescale stoneroller was ubiquitous. No
specimens of the parasitic sea lamprey were collected.
Only a single darter species has been added to the drainage list since the
last survey completed by Gerking (1945). Blackside darter, Percina maculata.
previously unreported from the drainage, was collected at a single site during
the current investigation. No other taxa additions were found during the
current investigation.
T *0ce Michigan Basin Division
This division of the Lake Michigan drainage includes the Grand Calumet River
basin, the West branch of the Little Calumet River and its tributaries (e.g.
Deep River, Turkey Creek, and Hart Ditch).
A total of 20 headwater and wading sites were sampled in the Lake Michigan
division during Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion sampling. A total of 36
species were collected (Table 13) and were numerically dominated by
centrarchid species. Nowhere in this division were there outstanding
reference locations, however, the single location which scored the highest was
on the Little Calumet River at Cline Avenue. This area was the best observed
in this basin segment although it only achieved a fair evaluation for water
resource classification.
The overall water quality of the Lake Michigan division ranged between a low
of very poor (score of 12; numerous stations) to a high of fair (score of 44;
one station) based on Index of Biotic Integrity scoring criteria developed
during the current investigation (Fig. 33c). The biotic integrity of the Lake
Michigan division was relatively degraded throughout, but a declining trend
was evident with increasing drainage area. Unlike the other basin segments,
the number of sites approximated a highly skewed curve (towards degraded
conditions) with respect to water quality. The following was the percent
occurrence of total Lake Michigan Division stations (20) within each index
84
-------
Indiana Ecoreaions
classification: fair 5.0% (1 station); poor 10.0% (2 stations); very poor
85.0% (17 stations). Fish were collected at all sites in the division. Sites
which had low index values were due to poor habitat and toxic influences
caused by industrial and urban land uses. The low flows of some tributaries
caused the accumulation of soft substrates effectively reducing available
habitat, likewise dredged streams reduced habitat complexity.
Species previously uncollected in the drainage division included bluntnose
darter, Etheostoma chlorosoma. which may either be due to their rare
occurrence or were misidentified as johnny darters in previous investigations.
This species was only collected from Deep River.
The West Branch of the Little Calumet River has a peculiar flow regime with a
portion of the River flowing eastward towards Burns Ditch and a westward
flowing segment towards Illinois. The hydrologic division between the two
occurs near Indianapolis Boulevard depending on Lake Michigan level. The
eastward flowing segment has relatively better quality potential than the
westward flowing segment. The barriers to overall improvements in water
resource quality include the presence of landfills, and frequent oil and
hazardous waste spills into the river. Waste diversions from municipalities
also are quite frequent resulting in only the most tolerant taxa existing as a
resident community. The headwaters of Deep River are extremely degraded and
can be attributed to municipalities along the upper portions of Niles Ditch,
Main Beaver Dam Ditch, and Turkey Creek.
The Grand Calumet River has been a well studied basin with numerous
investigations conducted over the past three decades (USEPA 1985; Simon et al.
in press). Previous attempts at evaluating the biological integrity of the
basin were based on criteria developed for the adjacent northeastern sections
in Illinois (Bickers et al. 1988; UFA 1989) since no equivalent study had
been completed in Indiana. The current study is that evaluation which
quantifies the expected natural variation in the Lake Michigan basin. Based
on the historic data set, similar trends in water quality were observed
between the current and past surveys. The overall quality of the River is
very poor even though a high proportion of cattail marsh wetland lies along
the basins margins. Overall, habitat is not the limiting factor in the
improvement of this basin since enough refuges exist to facilitate the
colonization of impacted areas after the perturbations have been removed. The
high degree of industrialization along the Rivers banks is the principal cause
of toxic influence impacting the aquatic camraunity.
Reference Sites
Few natural areas remain in the Central Corn Belt Plain ecoregion. The list
of candidate sites is based on superior Index of Biotic Integrity scores,
typical habitat for the ecoregion, and professional judgement (Table 17).
85
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Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreqion
Table 17. Reference sites determined using fish communities for the Central
Corn Belt Plain ecoregion.
Kankakee River
Iroguois River
Yellow River: Marshall County: at South Redwood Road bridge,
4.5 mi SW Plymouth, Union Twp., T 33N R IE S 35. lat. 86°
23' 35" long. 40° 16' 14" (site: 90-108) .
Carpenter Creek: Jasper County: at 680 W bridge, Carpenter
TWp., 2.5 mi N Remington. T 27N R 7W S 12. lat. 87° 10' 23"
long. 40° 47' 55" (site: 90-134) .
Wolf Creek: Jasper County: at 1450 N bridge, 2 mi N
Wheatfield, Wheatfield TWp., T 32N R 6W S 14. lat. 87° 04'
42" long. 41° 13' 38" (site: 90-157) .
Yellow River: Marshall County: at Upas Road bridge, 7.5 mi
SW Plymouth, Union Twp., T 33N R IE S 31. lat 86° 27' 14"
long. 41° 16' 23" (site: 90-109) .
Bice Ditch: Jasper County: at CR 1000 S (SR 16) bridge, 4.75
mi S Rensselaer, Milroy Twp., T 28N R 6W S 22. lat. 87° 05'
30" long. 40° 52' 00" (site: 90-136) .
Yellow River: Marshall County: at North Hickory Road bridge,
5.5 mi S Breman, German Twp., T 34N R 3E S 28. lat 86° 11'
39" long. 41° 21' 06" (site: 90-107) .
Sugar Creek: Benton County: at SR 71 bridge, 4 mi SW Earl
Park, York Twp., T 26N R 9W S 31. lat. 8T 29' 09" long. 40°
39' 39" (site: 90-164).
Sugar Creek: Benton County: at 200 W bridge, 4 mi E Earl
Park, Richland Twp. T 26N R 8W S 17. lat. 87° 19' 37" long.
40° 41' 38" (site: 90-166) .
Curtis Creek: Jasper County: at SR 114 bridge, 5.5 mi W
Rensselear, Newton Twp., T 29N R 7W S 19. lat. 87° 15' 32"
long. 41° 56' 26" (site: 90-170) .
Sugar Creek: Benton County: at CR 500 W Road, 0.5 mi N Earl
Park, Richland Twp., T 26N R 9W S 14. lat. 87° 25' 11" long.
40° 41' 56" (site: 90-167) .
Iroguois River: Jasper County: at CR 700 W bridge; 6.75 mi
NW Rensselear, Union Twp., T SON R 7W S 23. lat. 87° 10' 50"
long. 41° 01' 59" (site: 90-151) .
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Indiana Ecoreaions
Table 17. Reference sites determined using fish ccanmunities for the Central
Corn Belt Plain ecoregion (continued).
Beaver Creek: Newton County: at CR 600 W bridge, 3.25 mi W
Morocco, Beaver Twp., T 29N R 10/9 W S 24/19. lat. 87° 30'
29" long. 40° 57' 10" (site: 90-124).
Lake Michigan Reynold's Creek: LaPorte County: at Snyder Road bridge, 1.5
mi W SR 421 and US 80/90 intersection, New Durham Twp. T 36N
R 4W S 6. lat. 86° 55' 21" long. 41° 35' 53" (East Branch
Little Calumet Division; site: 90-205).
Little Calumet River: Porter County: at CR 600 E bridge,
3.75 mi S Pines, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Heron
Rookery, Pine Twp., T 37N R 5W S 25. lat. 86° 57' 06" long.
41° 37' 38" (East Branch Little Calumet Division; site: 90-
199).
Unnamed Tributary Little Calumet River: Porter County: at
old CR 1300 N bridge, 4.25 mi S Pine, Pine Twp., T 37N R 4W
S 36. lat. 86° 56' 48" long. 41° 37' 03" (East Branch Little
Calumet Division; site: 90-303).
Little Calumet River: Lake County: at SR 912 (Cline Ave.),
Gary, Calumet Twp. T 36N R 9W S 24 (Lake Michigan Division;
site: 90-189).
Deep River: Lake County: at County Line Road and Old
Lincolnway, Deep River County Park at walkbridge, 2 mi N
Merrillville, Ross Twp., T 35N R 7W S 16/21. lat. 87° 13'
16" long. 41° 28" 36" (Lake Michigan Division; site: 90-
184).
87
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Central Corn Belt Plain Ecoreaion
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