The Influence of Temperature, Land Use, and Recreation on Macroinvertebrate Diversity in Tributaries of the Pend Oreille River
Faculty Mentor
Camille McNeely
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
May 2025
End Date
May 2025
Location
PUB NCR
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Biology
Abstract
Macroinvertebrate diversity and composition serve as bioindicators of water quality. Macroinvertebrates are also a key food source for Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi), a species of ecological and cultural importance, particularly to the Kalispell Tribe. We hypothesize that water temperature, land use, and recreation intensity influence macroinvertebrate diversity in the Pend Oreille River Basin. We predict that higher temperatures, greater nonforest land use, and increased recreational activity will lead to lower diversity, reduced Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera proportions, smaller organisms, and a higher proportion of multivoltine taxa. We sampled macroinvertebrates from tributaries in the Priest, Pack, and Lightning River watersheds. We sampled 13 tributaries in 2024 and 7 in 2023. Six Surber samples were collected per tributary in 2024 and 3 Surber samples were collected per tributary in 2023., Invertebrates are being identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level, typically genus. Response metrics include taxa richness, Shannon diversity, EPT ratio, proportion of multivoltine taxa, and organism size. Temperature data were collected with loggers during summers 2023–2024, using 7-day maximums (maximum 7- DADMax) to assess thermal conditions. Land use (forest, agricultural, exurban, urban) will be analyzed via GIS, while recreation intensity will be inferred from road proximity, trails, and campgrounds. These findings will contribute to conservation strategies in the Pend Oreille River Basin, helping to protect aquatic biodiversity and sustain native trout populations. Preliminary results show a diverse macroinvertebrate community, spanning at least six orders, 10 families, and 15 genera.
Recommended Citation
Mee, Devlin S.; Duncan, Garrett; McNeely, Camille; Spruell, Paul; and Stachowiak, Lauren, "The Influence of Temperature, Land Use, and Recreation on Macroinvertebrate Diversity in Tributaries of the Pend Oreille River" (2025). 2025 Symposium. 32.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2025/ps_2025/p1_2025/32
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
The Influence of Temperature, Land Use, and Recreation on Macroinvertebrate Diversity in Tributaries of the Pend Oreille River
PUB NCR
Macroinvertebrate diversity and composition serve as bioindicators of water quality. Macroinvertebrates are also a key food source for Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi), a species of ecological and cultural importance, particularly to the Kalispell Tribe. We hypothesize that water temperature, land use, and recreation intensity influence macroinvertebrate diversity in the Pend Oreille River Basin. We predict that higher temperatures, greater nonforest land use, and increased recreational activity will lead to lower diversity, reduced Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera proportions, smaller organisms, and a higher proportion of multivoltine taxa. We sampled macroinvertebrates from tributaries in the Priest, Pack, and Lightning River watersheds. We sampled 13 tributaries in 2024 and 7 in 2023. Six Surber samples were collected per tributary in 2024 and 3 Surber samples were collected per tributary in 2023., Invertebrates are being identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level, typically genus. Response metrics include taxa richness, Shannon diversity, EPT ratio, proportion of multivoltine taxa, and organism size. Temperature data were collected with loggers during summers 2023–2024, using 7-day maximums (maximum 7- DADMax) to assess thermal conditions. Land use (forest, agricultural, exurban, urban) will be analyzed via GIS, while recreation intensity will be inferred from road proximity, trails, and campgrounds. These findings will contribute to conservation strategies in the Pend Oreille River Basin, helping to protect aquatic biodiversity and sustain native trout populations. Preliminary results show a diverse macroinvertebrate community, spanning at least six orders, 10 families, and 15 genera.
