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        Bioindicators for Assessing Ecological Integrity of Prairie Wetlands
Report # EPA/ 600/ R-96/ 082        September 1995

by Paul R. Adamus*
Table of Contents:
Preferred citationAcknowledgments

1. Introduction
1.1 Need for This Document        1.2 Document         Organization        1.3 Cumulative         Effects of Stressors        1.4 Glossary, Abbreviations,         and Place Names        1.5 Statistical         Analyses: Objectives and Methods
2. Algae         and Microbial Communities as Indicators of Prairie Wetland Integrity
2.1 Ecological         Significance and Suitability as an Indicator        2.2 Potential Indicator         Metrics        2.3 Previous and         Ongoing Monitoring in the Region        2.4 Response to         Stressors2.4.1 Algae and Microbial           Communities as Indicators of Hydrologic Stressors          2.4.2 Algae           and Microbial Communities as Indicators of Vegetative Cover Condition          2.4.3 Algae           and Microbial Communities as Indicators of Wetland Salinity          2.4.4 Algae           and Microbial Communities as Indicators of Sedimentation and Turbidity          2.4.5 Algae           and Microbial Communities as Indicators of Excessive Nutrient Loads           and Anoxia          2.4.6 Algae           and Microbial Communities as Indicators of Pesticide and Heavy Metal           Contamination        2.5 Monitoring         Techniques2.5.1 Direct Sampling          2.5.2 Indirect Sampling           Through Measurement of Processes          2.5.3 Analysis of Historical           Conditions          2.5.4 Bioassay Methods        2.6 Variability and         Reference Points2.6.1 Spatial Variability          2.6.2 Temporal Variability        2.7 Collection         of Ancillary Data        2.8 Sampling         Design and Required Level of Sampling Effort        2.9 Summary
3. Vascular         Plants as Indicators of Prairie Wetland Integrity

3.1 Ecological Significance           and Suitability as an Indicator          3.2 Potential           Indicator Metrics          3.3 Previous           and Ongoing Monitoring in the Region          3.4 Response           to Stressors
3.4.1 Vascular Plants           as Indicators of Hydrologic Stressors          3.4.2 Vascular Plants           as Indicators of Vegetative Cover Condition          3.4.3 Vascular Plants           as Indicators of Wetland Salinity          3.4.4 Vascular Plants           as Indicators of Sedimentation and Turbidity          3.4.5 Vascular Plants           as Indicators of Excessive Nutrient Loads and Anoxia          3.4.6 Vascular Plants           as Indicators of Pesticide and Heavy Metal Contamination        3.5 Monitoring         Techniques3.5.1 Ground-based Sampling          3.5.2 Aerial           Methods          3.5.3 Potential or Historical           Vegetation          3.5.4 Bioassay Methods          3.5.5 Bioaccumulation        3.6 Variability and         Reference Points3.6.1 Spatial Variability          3.6.2 Temporal Variability        3.7 Collection         of Ancillary Data
3.8 Sampling Design           and Required Level of Sampling Effort
3.8.1 General Considerations          3.8.2 Asymptotic Richness          3.8.3 Power           of Detection        3.9 Summary
4. Invertebrates as Indicators         of Prairie Wetland Integrity
4.1 Ecological Significance         and Suitability as an Indicator        4.2 Potential         Indicator Metrics        4.3 Previous         and Ongoing Monitoring in the Region        4.4 Response         to Stressors4.4.1 Invertebrates           as Indicators of Hydrologic Factors          4.4.2 Invertebrates           as Indicators of Changes in Vegetative Cover          4.4.3 Invertebrates           as Indicators of Wetland Salinity          4.4.4 Invertebrates           as Indicators of Sedimentation and Turbidity          4.4.5 Invertebrates           as Indicators of Excessive Nutrient Loads and Anoxia          4.4.6 Invertebrates           as Indicators of Pesticide and Heavy Metal        4.5 Monitoring         Techniques4.5.1 General Considerations          4.5.2 Sampling Equipment          4.5.3 Time-Integrating           Methods          4.5.4 Bioassay Methods          4.5.5 Bioaccumulation        4.6 Variability and         Reference Points4.6.1 Spatial Variability          4.6.2 Temporal Variability          4.6.3 Spatial vs. Temporal           Variability        4.7 Collection         of Ancillary Data        4.8 Sampling         Design and Required Level of Sampling Effort4.8.1 General Considerations          4.8.2 Asymptotic Richness:           Results of Analysis          4.8.3 Power           of Detection: Results of Analysis        4.9 Summary
5. Amphibians         as Indicators of Prairie Wetland Integrity
5.1 Ecological Significance        5.2 Potential         Indicator Metrics        5.3 Previous         and Ongoing Monitoring        5.4 Response         to Stressors        5.5 Variability and         Reference Points        5.5 Monitoring         Techniques5.5.1 General Considerations          5.5.2 Equipment          5.5.3 Bioaccumulation        5.6 Variability and         Reference Points        5.7 Collection         of Ancillary Data        5.8 Sampling         Design and Required Level of Sampling Effort        5.9 Summary
6. Birds         as Indicators of Prairie Wetland Integrity
6.1 Ecological Significance        6.2 Potential         Indicator Metrics        6.3 Previous         and Ongoing Monitoring        6.4 Response         to Stressors6.4.1 Birds as Indicators           of Hydrologic Factors          6.4.2 Birds           as Indicators of Changes in Vegetative Cover          6.4.3 Birds           as Indicators of Wetland Salinity          6.4.4 Birds           as Indicators of Sedimentation and Turbidity          6.4.5 Birds           as Indicators of Excessive Nutrient Loads and Anoxia          6.4.6 Birds           as Indicators of Pesticide and Heavy Metal Contamination        6.5 Monitoring         Techniques6.5.1 General Surveys          6.5.2 Reproductive Success          6.5.3 Time           Budget Analysis          6.5.4 Bioassay Methods          6.5.5 Bioaccumulation        6.6 Variability and         Reference Points6.6.1 Spatial Variability          6.6.2 Temporal Variability        6.7 Collection         of Ancillary Data        6.8 Sampling         Design and Required Level of Sampling Effort6.8.1 General Considerations          6.8.2 Asymptotic Richness:           Results of Analysis          6.8.3 Power           of Detection: Results of Analysis        6.9 Summary
7. Synthesis         and Recommendations for Indicators

Also available to download - Bioindicators         for Assesing Ecological Integrity of Prairie Wetlands

8. Appendices Read online or         download
Appendix A. Taxonomic         Index: Plant Species Tolerances and Responses to Water Regime, Drainage,         Land Use, Salinity, and Turbidity; Food Value to Waterfowl; Toxicity Data         Availability Appendix         B. Taxonomic Index: Invertebrate Tolerances and Responses to Water         Regime, Oxygen, Salinity, and Sediment; Food Value to Waterfowl Appendix         C. Taxonomic Index: Bird Wetland Type Associations, Relative Abundance,         and Trends Appendix         D. Taxonomic Index: Published Field Studies of Plant-Salinity Relationships         in Prairie WetlandsAppendix         E. Taxonomic Index: Published Field Studies of Plant-Water Regime         Relationships in Prairie Wetlands Appendix         F. Taxonomic Index: Published Field Studies of Invertebrate-- Vegetation         Cover Relationships in Prairie Wetlands Appendix         G. Taxonomic Index: Published Field Studies of Invertebrate-- Water         Regime Relationships in Prairie Wetlands Appendix         H. Dominant Algae in Prairie Wetlands Appendix         I. Rare Wetland Plants Reported From Prairie Counties of North Dakota         Appendix         J. Catalog of Published Biological Studies of Prairie Wetlands: Locations,         Sampling Regimes, Key Variables, and Related Descriptors Appendix         K. Catalog of Ongoing Biological Studies of Prairie Wetlands: Locations,         Sampling Regimes, Key Variables, and Related Descriptors Appendix         L. Descriptions of Data Sets Analyzed For This Report Appendix         M. Results of Power of Detection Analyses of Existing Prairie Data         Sets Appendix         N. Library of Coefficients of Variation from Prairie Wetlands Appendix         O. Results of Asymptotic Richness Calculations Using Existing Prairie         Data Sets Literature       Cited
This document is designed to assist state agencies and other users in         developing programs to monitor biological communities of prairie pothole         wetlands and ultimately, to develop biological criteria appropriate for         protecting this valued resource. The document emphasizes one aspect of         biocriteria development: the selection (targeting) of assemblages of biological         indicators (bioindicators) and metrics, as a basis for designing and conducting         biosurveys. Before meaningful biocriteria can be developed and implemented,         appropriate bioindicators must be identified and tested. Bioindicators         are species, species assemblages, or communities whose presence, abundance,         and condition is indicative of a particular set of environmental conditions.       

As a foundation for developing biocriteria, the document compiles current         knowledge regarding responses of various organisms to natural and anthropogenic         stresses, and summarizes the utility of various organisms as indicators         of these stresses. Information is organized according to major assemblages         of related species: microbes, The document also reviews past and ongoing         biological monitoring programs of the prairie region's wetlands, and from         a limited number of existing data sets, provides quantified estimates         of spatial and temporal variability of various biological s. As an additional         aid to future monitoring, the document broadly describes field sampling         methods potentially applicable to the region's wetlands. By documenting         the ecological roles of each biological , the document also attempts to         clarify understanding of interactions among ecosystem components and justify         use of particular biological s as indicators. Several appendices of the         document are in electronic format and provide a data base of information         on environmental tolerances, life history, habitat preferences, and other         characteristics of individual taxa, as well as tabulating results of the         analyses of indicator variability.

The document concludes that in most prairie wetlands the possibility         of ongoing or recent past exposure to excessive **sedimentation** is         probably best indicated by species composition of algae and invertebrates,         with emphasis on the epibenthic forms (organisms that live on the top         surfaces of the sediment). Epibenthic and epiphytic algae and invertebrates         are also useful indicators of excessive **enrichment, removal of vegetative         cover, and turbidity** that is occurring either currently or during         past years as determined by analysis of decay-resistant remains. Ongoing         or recent past changes of **water regime and salinity**, as well as         overgrazing, in individual wetlands are perhaps best indicated by species         composition of vascular plant communities. Longer-term changes in these         factors can be inferred by examining seed banks and decay-resistant remains         of invertebrates. Exposure to **pesticides and heavy metal contaminants**         can sometimes be inferred from species composition of invertebrates and         from various biomarkers in amphibians and birds. For bioaccumulative contaminants,         tissues of individual plants and birds can be examined. Birds are also         uniquely valuable for spatially integrating information on the hydrologic         stresses to wetlands across entire regions.

This document was prepared at the EPA National Health and Environmental         Effects Research Laboratory, Western Ecology Division, in Corvallis, Oregon,         through Contract 68-C4-0019 to ManTech Environmental Research Services         Corp. It was subjected to the Agency's peer and administrative review         and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products         does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. 

**Preferred citation:**

Adamus, P.R. 1996. *Bioindicators for assessing ecological integrity         of prairie wetlands*. EPA/600/R-96/082. Corvallis, OR: U.S. Environmental         Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory. 

**Acknowledgments**

This effort was conducted in support of the Risk Reduction component         of EPA's Wetlands Research Program. Mary E. Kentula was the EPA Project         Officer. Brooke Abbruzzese and Stephanie Gwin were the project managers         for ManTech Environmental Research Corporation (MERSC). William Sanville         and Naomi Detenbeck of the USEPA Environmental Research Laboratory - Duluth,         and P. James Wigington of the USEPA Environmental Research Laboratory         - Corvallis, were instrumental in focusing the study objectives. Ted Ernst         performed the statistical analyses. Carol Roberts helped prepare the figures.         The document benefitted greatly from the review comments of Loren Bahls,         Walter Duffy, Chip Euliss, Susan Galatowitsch, Mark Gloutney, Hal Kantrud,         Gary Krapu, Mark Hanson, Judy Helgen, Henry Murkin, and Louisa Squires.         Cynthia Chapman of MERSC edited the document. The statistical analyses         presented in this document would not have been possible without suggestions         from Scott Urquehart, Oregon State University, and the gracious sharing         of data sets by the following scientists:

Sam Droege,        Breeding Bird Survey, National Biological Service, Washington, DC

Walter Duffy,        Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, National Biological Service,         Brookings, SD

Ned (Chip) Euliss and David Mushet,        Northern Prairie Science Center, National Biological Service, Jamestown,         ND

Susan Galatowitsch,        University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Mark Hanson,        Minnesota Dept. Natural Resources, Bemidji, MN

Lawrence Igl and Douglas Johnson,        Northern Prairie Science Center, National Biological Service, Jamestown,         ND

Henry Murkin,         Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research, Oak Hammock Marsh, Manitoba

Louisa Squires,        Santa Clara Water Resources District, San Jose, CA (formerly Iowa State         University)

The following scientists were especially helpful in informing me of relevant         ongoing studies during a visit to the Northern Prairie Science Center:         Lew Cowardin, Ray Greenwood, Larry Igl, Gary Krapu, and Jeff Price.

 

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