Our Hypotheses

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By Laura Pierce, Sarah Magness, and Morgan Black
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• Located in Central Ohio, Bokes Creek, Mill
  Creek, and the Scioto River run through
  Marysville, Logan, Union, Marion, Delaware, and
  Franklin Counties.

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Source http//www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/watersh
ed/grp/group34.htmk
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Source http//www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/watershed/
grp/group35.htmk
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• We chose this watershed because Northwestern
  Franklin County, and 30 of Columbus get their
  drinking water from the Scioto River.

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• The Scioto River has moderate water quality,
  that is easily affected by stressors such as
  pollution.
  

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Upper Scioto
Bokes/Mill Creek
(Poor)
(Good)
Source http//tycho.cfm.ohio-state.edu
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What factors are causing changes in the biotic
measures in the Upper Scioto River?
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• When the quality of the habitat (QHEI) of
  the river is lower, then the fish community (IBI)
  and the macroinvertebrate diversity (ICI) of that
  area of the river are reduced.

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• Chart 1 shows how the quality of the habitat,
  the fish community, and the macroinvertebrate
  diversity relate in each sub-watershed.

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• Based on our data, we found that our first
  hypothesis was supported. When the QHEI of the
  river is lower due to poorer habitat quality then
  the IBI and ICI of that area of the river are
  reduced.

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• Siltation is caused by erosion during
  construction. When silt covers the bottom of the
  stream the substrate becomes poor. A substrate is
  the bottom area of the stream. A good stream
  usually has a rocky bottom, but when the bottom
  is covered it takes away organisms homes.

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• When the quality of the substrate in an area
  of the river is poorer, it lacks habitat for
  macroinvertabrates and fish, then the IBI and ICI
  are reduced.

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• Chart 2 shows the relationship between the
  health of the substrate, and the fish and
  macroinvertebrate communities.

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• Our second hypothesis was also supported. When
  the substrate in an area of the river is poorer,
  it doesnt have a rocky bottom. Therefore, it
  lacks habitat for macroinvertabrates and fish,
  and the IBI and ICI are reduced.

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• Land use in the watershed-which includes
  large tracts of residential, commercial,
  industrial, and transportation-can adversely
  affect the QHEI of the river.

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The main causes of impairment are nutrient
enrichment, habitat alterations, and siltation.
This is caused by the human impact from
residential, industrial, commercial, and
agricultural development.
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• Nutrient enrichment is the increase of
  chemicals, for example, nitrates and phosphorous.
  Nutrient enrichment can be caused by excessive
  fertilizer runoff from residential yards and
  agriculture.

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• Habitat alterations can be caused by development
  near the riparian zone. This is the forested
  area along the river that shades the river and
  provides habitat in order to maintain
  biodiversity.

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Channelization causes streams to be
widened,deepened, or straightened by human
development. Environmental consequences
associated with channelization include bank
erosion, increased sedimentation, flooding, and
decreased biodiversity.
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• According to our research, our third hypothesis
  was supported. Land use in the watershed
  which includes large tracts of residential,
  commercial, industrial and transportation use
  can adversely affect the QHEI of the river.

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• We conclude that the reduction of biotic
  diversity in the Upper Scioto River and
  Bokes/Mill Creek is due to human impact. Land
  development results in the destruction of the
  riparian zone, erosion, and stream alteration,
  reducing the quality of the habitat.

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We would like to thank the staff at YWSI and OSC .
Steve Gordon
Leslie Southern
Amy Sheaffer
Kathryn Kelley
Julie Burns
Paula Williams
And a special thanks to our group leader, Karen
Bachmann.