Impact of the University of Michigan Biological Station's Stream Facility on stream biota in the Maple River, MI.

Abstract

Influence of the UMBS Stream Facility on the Maple River was investigated from July to August 2003. The lab facility directly takes up water from the stream and dumps it back with small addition of ground water. Four study sites were chosen: upstream right before intake, inside the lab right before the water is dumped back into the stream, midstream located at about the same site as stream lab, and downstream right after effluent. Results indicated that flow and sedimentation are the major disturbance factors that are being altered by the stream lab. I have found that the stream lab not only reduces species abundance but also significantly lowers the species richness thereby negatively affecting the Maple River.