The Impact of Urbanization on Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Southern Appalachian Streams

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dc.contributor.authorMcTammany, Matthew Eric Jr.en
dc.contributor.committeechairBenfield, Ernest F.en
dc.contributor.committeememberWebster, Jackson R.en
dc.contributor.committeememberVoshell, J. Reese Jr.en
dc.contributor.committeememberYin, Rayen
dc.contributor.departmentBiologyen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T21:52:58Zen
dc.date.adate1998-08-26en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T21:52:58Zen
dc.date.issued1998-07-24en
dc.date.rdate1999-08-26en
dc.date.sdate1998-07-24en
dc.description.abstractMacroinvertebrate assemblage structure was compared from 12 streams differing in urbanization type and degree. Urbanization, both historical and current, was measured using several variables generated from GIS overlays of land cover, aerial photographs, and field exploration in the study watersheds. Quantitative benthic macroinvertebrate samples were taken, and a variety of physicochemical characteristics were measured. Increasing urbanization resulted in a decline in diversity and abundance of intolerant organisms. Streams in industrial areas had greater invertebrate density due to large increases in a few tolerant groups. Urbanization in the watersheds was coupled with changes in the physical and chemical structure of the streams suggesting some possible mechanisms for urbanization impact on stream biota. Multivariate analysis grouped streams based on a number of pollution-sensitive taxa suggesting the utility of this type of approach in analyzing community data. Primary funding for this project was from the Coweeta Hydrologic Lab NSF-LTER grant. Additional funding was provided through a Graduate Research and Development Project grant from the Graduate Student Assembly of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Matching funds were provided by the Biology Department.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-72498-163751en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-72498-163751/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/46508en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartThesis.PDFen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectstreamen
dc.subjectmacroinvertebrateen
dc.subjecturbanizationen
dc.subjectland useen
dc.subjectdiversityen
dc.titleThe Impact of Urbanization on Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Southern Appalachian Streamsen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineBiologyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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