Four streams of southeast Texas (San Jacinto and Walker Counties) were sampled from January to September 2002 in order to survey both the endemic benthic macroinvertebrates (Ephemeroptera) and the potential of those species assemblages found to serve as rapid bioassessment organisms. The streams selected represent a continuum in terms of disturbance levels. Monthly sampling of water quality parameters including dissolved oxygen concentration, nitrate and phosphate concentrations, pH, flow rate, temperature, depth, and sediment particle size were compared against occurrence, abundance, and diversity of the mayfly species collected at the same sampling event. In addition, laboratory experiments will be completed to determine tolerance thresholds of the chemical parameters sampled. Information yielded through this study should confirm or eliminate the potential of individual mayfly species or mayfly species assemblages of the survey area to serve as as bioassessment tools.
Keywords: Bioassessment, Bioindicator
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