Jennifer Goble BIOL 3510 Nov 3, 2009 Macroinvertebrate Lab Macroinvertebrate Sampling: Comparing Hester-Dendy and Leaf Pack

Samplers Hypothesis and Predictions: Our hypothesis was that Hester-Dendy and leaf pack sampling methods would differ. The predictions for this experiment were that abundance of each taxonomic group, taxonomic richness (at class and order level), total abundance, EPT index, and biotic index, would be higher in leaf packs than Hester-Dendy samplers. Materials and Methods: In this experiment we compared each sampling method (Hester-Dendy and leaf packs) to each other to determine the differences between each. Data for total abundance (number of individuals in the sample), taxonomic richness (class and order level), EPT index, Biotic index, and abundance of each taxonomic group, for each sampling method were collected and analyzed. Leaf pack samplers were purchased from the LaMotte Company located in Chestertown, MD. Four leaf pack samplers were prepared by adding twelve leaves of each of the following trees: Sweetgum (liquidambar), Maple (disambiguation), and Poplar (liriodendron) to each leaf pack. Leaf packs were deployed on September 15, 2009 into Lake Baranski, which is located in Catawba Colleges Ecological Preserve in Salisbury, NC. Leaf packs were left in the lake for three weeks. The mean water temperature was 28.4oC and the mean conductivity level was 101.3 S/cm. Measurements were taken using an YSI Model 556 handheld multiparameter instrument purchased from YSI Inc. Yellow Springs, OH. High levels of pollen were visible on the top of Lake Baranski. Due to predation, two leaf packs were lost out of four.
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Jennifer Goble BIOL 3510 Nov 3, 2009 Macroinvertebrate Lab

Hester-Dendy samplers were purchased from Forestry Suppliers Incorporated located in Jackson, MS. Four Hester-Dendy Samplers, composed of composite material, were deployed into Lake Baranski on September 22, 2009 and left in the lake for three weeks. The mean temperature was 24.5oC and mean conductivity was 73.0 S/cm. Measurements were taken using an YSI Model 556 handheld multiparameter instrument purchased from YSI Inc. Yellow Springs, OH. High levels of pollen were visible on the top of Lake Baranski. Leaf packs and Hester-Dendy samplers were collected and individually placed into plastic bags to keep all of the material inside the bag. In the lab, macroinvertebrates were sorted by order, counted, and then placed into separate Petri dishes. StatView (version 5.0; SAS Incorporated, Cary, NC) was used to calculate statistical analysis for this experiment. A Students t-test was used to analyze the total abundance (number of macroinvertebrates per group collected). abundance (order level), taxonomic richness (order level), and total abundance (number of macroinvertebrates collected). Statistical analysis for the Biotic index and EPT index data required the use of the Mann-Whitney U test. When measuring abundance of taxonomic groups, group statistical analysis for Oligochaeta required the use of a Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Total abundance and taxonomic richness (class) did not significantly differ between HesterDendy and leaf pack samplers. Taxonomic richness (order) did significantly differ between

Jennifer Goble BIOL 3510 Nov 3, 2009 Macroinvertebrate Lab Hester-Dendy and leaf pack samplers. See Table 1 and Figures 1-3 for more information regarding these variables. Both Biotic index and EPT index did not significantly differ between Hester-Dendy and leaf pack samplers. See Table 2 and Figures 4-5 for more information regarding these variables. For abundance of each taxonomic group; Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, Odenates, Coleoptera, Diptera, Oligochaeta, and Hirdinea showed no significant differences between both HesterDendy and leaf packs. Amphipoda however, did show significant differences between both Hester-Dendy and leaf pack samplers. See table 3 for more information regarding these variables.