Mountain Research Station – University of Colorado, Boulder

The goal of the study was to look at the
different numbers and species of
Aquatic Invertebrates living in winter
streams in the Rocky Mountains.
http://www.mbgnet.net/fresh/slide/pict/19.htm

Does the Stream Morphology and
Chemical Composition play a huge roll to
the life of Aquatic Invertebrates living there
through the winter?

Do many Aquatic Insects inhabit the
Streams throughout the winter season?

Hypothesis: How do factors of dissolved O2, pH,
temperature, elevation, and TOC (Total Organic
Carbon) affect the species richness, and species density
of aquatic invertebrates in fresh water streams during
the winter?
Streams Located on Same Mt. in Similar areas
 Known and similar elevation between streams
 Known Order of Stream
 Similar Stream
Morphology
 Similar Slope

Site 2 WCC
2900’
N
W
Site 1 WCC
3050’
E
S
Headwaters of WCC
Headwaters of CC
Site 4 CC
2700’
Site 3 CC
2800’

The stream was more narrow here and it
was much more protected by the snow.
There was rich sediment in the bottom of
the stream here.

This site was closer to peoples personal
land and that may have affected the
water quality. The stream here begins to
get wider and is still protected by snow.

Here the Stream is wider, pebbles and
rocks make up the bottom. There is much
less organic Material here, and the
vegetation is Conifers instead of
predominantly willow.
Ice dominates the stream.

Here again the dominant vegetation is
willows. The stream is at its widest and
the bottom is covered with rocks. The
stream is covered with ice.
pH Probe
 Temperature Probe
 Water Sample Collection
 Strainer to collect Aquatic Inverts
 Send the Samples to Louisville Water Lab

Laboratory TOC Analyzer
 Multifunctional Probe :

Chlorophyll, Dissolved O2, TDS

Turbidimeter
I was able to collect 2 samples from
each stream. These are represented on
the graphs on the next page.
 Each sample was tested for: Temp, pH,
TOC, DO, Chlorophyll, and Turbidity

Temperature C
3100
West Chicago Creek
3050
pH
Elevation '
Dissolved Oxygen
mg/L
Total Organic
Carbon mg/L
Chlorophyll mg/L
3000
2950
Turbidity NTU
2900
-0.2 0.8 1.8 2.8 3.8 4.8 5.8 6.8 7.8 8.8 9.8 10.8
2900
Chicago Creek
Insects Found #'s
Temperature C
pH
2850
Elevation '
Dissolved Oxygen
mg/L
2800
Total Organic
Carbon mg/L
Chlorophyll mg/L
2750
Turbidity NTU
2700
-0.2 0.8 1.8 2.8 3.8 4.8 5.8 6.8 7.8 8.8 9.8 10.8
Insects Found #'s
Temperature goes down by less than a
degree as elevation drops in both
streams
 The TOC goes up a fraction as elevation
goes down, this is almost negligible.

In Chicago Creek there is no chlorophyll
or insects found. While in WCC both the
chlorophyll and # of insects found
increased with elevation.
 In WCC the DO is lower at higher
elevations, while in CC it is stable
throughout
 Turbidity decreases with elevation in CC
but increases with elevation in WCC

I wasn’t able to identify this
insect however if slightly
resembles beetle larvae.
Found at Site 1.
 This Insect is likely a Stonefly Larvae – They feed on
plant matter and TOC. They live in the benthic area of
streams. Found at Site 1.
 This insect began to decompose before I was
able to identify it. However it is likely a Stonefly
Larvae or a Mayfly Larvae- They cling onto
rocks in the bottom of streams and also eat
detritus and plants. Found at Site 2.
The main question I was looking at is
pretty inconclusive. I didn’t collect
enough data to show aquatic insect
species diversity in CC.
 I did find that CC had less Chlorophyll
and I didn’t find any insects there. So it is
possible that there is a correlation but
more testing is necessary to find out for
sure.
