Date of Award

2016

Type

Thesis

Major

Biology

Degree Type

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Dr. Jeffrey Zuiderveen

Second Advisor

Dr. Harlan Hendricks

Third Advisor

Dr. Cindy Ticknor

Abstract

In this study, macroinvertebrate communities were examined to determine an indication of the water quality in ponds on a wetlands property after a diesel spill. In 2012, a train derailed, and at least 3000 gallons of diesel fuel leached into a small pond of the wetlands. Even after clean-up attempts there remains major concerns that the contamination spread throughout the wetlands. This concern led to the present study. Macroinvertebrates were the chosen focus due to their sensitivity to changes in the environment. Two field trials were conducted in which Hester-Dendy multiplate samplers were placed in ponds to allow macroinvertebrates to colonize on the artificial substrate over the winter months. The macroinvertebrates were classified to family or order to compare taxonomic groups at increasing distances from the affected pond. The results of the study seemed to indicate the presence of pollution, which may be due to the diesel spill. At increasing distances from the spill site, a greater number of moderately pollution tolerant to pollution sensitive macroinvertebrates were found to be present in the samples. However, due to the small sample size collected, further study needs to be conducted to more conclusively evaluate the impact of the diesel fuel spill.

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