Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Biology
Date of Award
5-2022
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Joseph R. Bidwell
Committee Members
Thomas F. Laughlin, Ingrid Luffman
Abstract
Previous work found significant differences in growth rates of native mussels at locations downstream from the regulated Walter’s Dam and the out-of-service, free-flowing Davy Crockett Dam. The purpose of this study is to investigate differences within the macroinvertebrate communities related to factors driving the differences in mussel growth between rivers. Macroinvertebrate samples were collected following the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation protocol for SQKICK collection and analyzed using the Tennessee Macroinvertebrate Index (TMI). There were no significant differences in TMI scores between the downstream sites of the rivers, but there were significant increases in chlorophylla, dissolved oxygen, and specific conductance downstream compared to upstream in both rivers. This suggests that these indices are suitable to identify pollution changes, but potentially not the productivity differences that impacted mussel growth.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Grizzard, Anna, "Using Macroinvertebrates to Assess the Effects of Nutrient Input Between the Nolichucky and Pigeon Rivers" (2022). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4078. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4078
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.