Skip Links

USGS - science for a changing world

Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5049

Prepared in cooperation with Colorado Springs City Engineering and Colorado Springs Utilities

Comparability among Four Invertebrate Sampling Methods, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado, 2010–2012

By Robert E. Zuellig, James F. Bruce, Robert W. Stogner, and Krystal D. Brown

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (7.5 MB)Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Colorado Springs City Engineering and Colorado Springs Utilities, designed a study to determine if sampling method and sample timing resulted in comparable samples and assessments of biological condition. To accomplish this task, annual invertebrate samples were collected concurrently using four sampling methods at 15 U.S. Geological Survey streamflow gages in the Fountain Creek basin from 2010 to 2012. Collectively, the four methods are used by local (U.S. Geological Survey cooperative monitoring program) and State monitoring programs (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) in the Fountain Creek basin to produce two distinct sample types for each program that target single-and multiple-habitats. This study found distinguishable differences between single-and multi-habitat sample types using both community similarities and multi-metric index values, while methods from each program within sample type were comparable. This indicates that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment methods were compatible with the cooperative monitoring program methods within multi-and single-habitat sample types. Comparisons between September and October samples found distinguishable differences based on community similarities for both sample types, whereas only differences were found for single-habitat samples when multi-metric index values were considered. At one site, differences between September and October index values from single-habitat samples resulted in opposing assessments of biological condition. Direct application of the results to inform the revision of the existing Fountain Creek basin U.S. Geological Survey cooperative monitoring program are discussed.

First posted August 4, 2014

For additional information contact:
Director, Colorado Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
Box 25046, Mail Stop 415
Denver, CO 80225
http://co.water.usgs.gov

Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF). For best results viewing and printing PDF documents, it is recommended that you download the documents to your computer and open them with Adobe Reader. PDF documents opened from your browser may not display or print as intended. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge. More information about viewing, downloading, and printing report files can be found here.


Suggested citation:

Zuellig, R.E., Bruce, J.F., Stogner, R.W., and Brown, K.D., 2014, Comparability among four invertebrate sampling methods, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado, 2010–2012: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5049, 13 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20145049.

ISSN 2328-0328 (online)



Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Study Methods

Data Analysis

Effects of Sampling Method and Month on Invertebrate Community Similarities

Effects of Sampling Method and Month of Sampling on MMI Values

Moving Forward

Summary

Acknowledgments

References Cited

Appendix 1


Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/sir/2014/5049/index.html
Page Contact Information: GS Pubs Web Contact
Page Last Modified: Monday, 07-Mar-2016 13:44:45 EST