ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Quantifying Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Structure, Biomass, and Habitat in a
Recently Restored Stream in Eastern Kentucky
NICHOLAS REVETTA*1, AMY BRACCIA1, ARTHUR PAROLA2, CLAYTON MASTIN2.
1
Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY 40475;
2
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
40292.
Although the practice of stream restoration is well underway in the U.S., there are few postrestoration studies of macroinvertebrate communities in restored streams in Kentucky. The goal
of this study is to quantify macroinvertebrate community structure, densities (individuals/m2),
standing stock biomass (mg AFDM/m2), and benthic habitat in a recently restored stream in
eastern KY (Slabcamp Creek) and to compare those results to a nearby pre-restoration reference
site (White Pine Branch). Seasonal sampling occurred along a 150 m representative reach in each
stream from fall 2011 through summer 2012. During each season, quantitative samples were
randomly collected with a bottom-area sampler from riffles (n=5) and pools (n=5) in each
stream. Thus far, riffle samples from fall 2011 and winter 2012 have been analyzed and 55 taxa
have been identified, measured and enumerated. Preliminary data show that the
macroinvertebrate community in Slabcamp Creek had significantly higher standing stock
biomass during fall (p = 0.03) and winter (p = 0.002), and significantly higher densities (p =
0.003) and taxa richness (p = 0.006) in winter. This study will provide first year, post-restoration
data which will serve as baseline data for a long-term study that will evaluate the
macroinvertebrate community response to the restoration at Slabcamp Creek.