Biology Dept. features April 16 talk by Joel Gottschalk on his thesis subject, biological monitoring of Cook Inlet Basin

Friday, April 16, 3:30-4:45 p.m.
CPISB, Room 120

The Biology Dept. is pleased to have Joel Gottschalk present his thesis subject: 'Development of a Diatom Biological Monitoring Index for Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska, Streams.'

Benthic diatom assemblages in streams may respond simultaneously to both natural variation in stream habitat and to anthropogenic habitat degradation and thus are ideal organisms for biological monitoring.

The overarching goal of this study was to examine the utility of diatoms for monitoring Cook Inlet regional aquatic systems and to develop the criteria for its interpretation.  Within that framework, the main objectives of this project were to:

• ascertain the variability of diatom assemblages caused by natural factors (e.g., stream slope)
• separate natural variation from that attributed to urban development (e.g., increases in nutrients and conductivity) and
• assess the seasonal variability of diatom assemblages to evaluate the prospect of applying year-round sampling protocols to an Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) for Cook Inlet Ecoregion streams.

With these objectives in mind, resident attributes of diatoms were quantified and combined with other measures of assemblage attributes to develop a functional IBI using diatoms.

While there are several natural patterns that occur spatially within the Cook Inlet Ecoregion, the final index did respond urbanization gradients.  The current index appears sensitive to human disturbance measured at in-stream, riparian, and landscape scales, and as such, provides an integrative index reflective of overall ecological health.

Parking is free on the UAA campus every Friday.  No-host refreshments will be provided.