Assessing Water Quality at Large Geographic Scales: Relations Among Land Use,Water Physicochemistry,Riparian Condition,and Fish Community Structure |
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Authors: | MEADOR MICHAEL R GOLDSTEIN ROBERT M |
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Institution: | (1) US Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 413, Reston, Virginia 20192, USA, US;(2) US Geological Survey, 2280 Woodale Drive, Mounds View, Minnesota 55112, USA, US |
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Abstract: | Data collected from 172 sites in 20 major river basins between 1993 and 1995 as part of the US Geological Survey's National
Water-Quality Assessment Program were analyzed to assess relations among basinwide land use (agriculture, forest, urban, range),
water physicochemistry, riparian condition, and fish community structure. A multimetric approach was used to develop regionally
referenced indices of fish community and riparian condition. Across large geographic areas, decreased riparian condition was
associated with water-quality constituents indicative of nonpoint source inputs—total nitrogen and suspended sediment and
basinwide urban land use. Decreased fish community condition was associated with increases in total dissolved solids and rangeland
use and decreases in riparian condition and agricultural land use. Fish community condition was relatively high even in areas
where agricultural land use was relatively high (>50% of the basin). Although agricultural land use can have deleterious effects
on fish communities, the results of this study suggest that other factors also may be important, including practices that
regulate the delivery of nutrients, suspended sediments, and total dissolved solids into streams. Across large geographic
scales, measures of water physicochemistry may be better indicators of fish community condition than basinwide land use. Whereas
numerous studies have indicated that riparian restorations are successful in specific cases, this analysis suggests the universal
importance of riparian zones to the maintenance and restoration of diverse fish communities in streams. |
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Keywords: | : Water quality Fish community Riparian zone Land use Ecological indicators |
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