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 Maine Department of Environmental Protection
 Biological Monitoring Program
 Stream Algae Report

Site Information
Name: Piscataquis River - Station 152 Sampled by: Biomonitoring Unit
Town: Dover-Foxcroft Method: Rock Scrapings 1 Inch Circles
Biomonitoring Basin Penobscot And Downeast Sample ID: SA-152-2004BR (256)
Sample Date: 2004-07-07 Taxonomist: Michigan State University
Location: 1 Km Below Dover - Foxcroft Potw
Sample comments:
Latitude: 45.18563052
Longitude: -69.16803792

Three figures from left to right: On the far left, an outline of the state of Maine with the site location marked in blue. In the middle, a satellite image view of the area of the site, with waterbodies marked in blue, and the site marked in red, with a scale bar and north arrow. On the right, a downstream image of the sample site.

Model Results and Variable Plots

 Blue = this sample. Boxplots = range of all samples. Grey shaded areas = 90th and/or 10th percentile of reference site values.

Statutory Class = B
Final Determination = B
Attains Class = YES
Reason = Model
Model Result = B
Prob. Class A = 0.01
Prob. Class B = 0.99
Prob. Class C = 0.00
Prob. NA = 0.00

Boxplots of stream algae model metrics, including range of values from all samples, from reference sites, and this specific sample. Stream algae model metrics are in a table below.

Additional Variable Plots

 Blue = this sample. Boxplots = range of all samples. Grey shaded areas = 90th and/or 10th percentile of reference site values.

Boxplots of additional stream algae metrics, including range of values from all samples, from reference sites, and this specific sample. Additional stream algae metrics are in a table below.

Model Variables Table
Variable Sample value All data median All data 10th percentile All data 90th percentile Reference range lower limit Reference range upper limit Reference range description
Salt-tolerant diatom percent abundance 4.59 0.90 0.00 9.15 0.00 1.08 <90th percentile
Nutrient-tolerant diatom richness 14.00 8.00 3.00 17.00 0.00 8.00 <90th percentile
Intermediate diatom richness 32.00 19.00 11.00 28.80 9.00 25.30 10th to 90th percentile
Intolerant algae percent species 14.81 18.75 3.70 42.27 22.12 72.41 >10th percentile
Motile diatom percent abundance 20.43 8.49 1.55 31.56 0.00 11.59 <90th percentile
Tolerant algae percent abundance 1.51 1.19 0.00 17.43 0.00 1.05 <90th percentile
Additional Variables Table
Variable Sample value All data median All data 10th percentile All data 90th percentile Reference range lower limit Reference range upper limit Reference range description
Tolerance Index (all algae) 50.30 42.67 37.09 49.07 0.00 42.34 <90th percentile
Nitrogen Index (all algae) 44.26 38.64 26.81 51.56 0.00 35.58 <90th percentile
Phosphorus Index (all algae) 65.32 58.62 38.59 76.56 0.00 53.06 <90th percentile
Intolerant algae percent species 8.00 6.00 1.00 14.00 5.00 23.00 >10th percentile
Intolerant algae richness 7.14 6.25 0.00 16.00 0.00 7.14 <90th percentile
Salt-tolerant diatom percent richness 96.35 89.95 61.14 98.30 45.42 97.96 10th to 90th percentile
Tolerant algae percent richness 25.93 16.67 0.00 41.38 0.00 14.29 <90th percentile
Nutrient- tolerant diatom percent abundance 47.19 42.06 7.59 84.31 0.00 48.33 <90th percentile
Stream Characteristics and Water Chemistry Plots

 Blue = this sample. Boxplots = range of all samples. Grey shaded areas = 10th to 90th percentile of reference site values

Wetted width = 47 m
Depth = 33 cm
Water velocity = 64 cm/s
Riffle = 70 %
Run = 20 %
Pool = 10 %
Canopy Cover = 5 %
Bedrock = 10 %
Boulder = 70 %
Cobble = 15 %
Gravel = 5 %
Sand = 0 %
Silt = 0 %
Clay = 0 %
Boxplots of stream water chemistry. Values are in a table below.
Water Chemistry Table
Parameter Sample Date Sample value All data median All data 10th percentile All data 90th percentile Reference 10th percentile Reference 90th percentile Units
Dissolved Oxygen 2004-07-07 10.3 8.60 7.00 10.23 7.80 10.62 Milligrams Per Liter
pH 2004-07-07 7.24 7.12 6.21 7.97 6.00 7.55 Standard Ph Unit
Specific Conductance 2004-07-07 74 88.55 25.00 492.00 15.41 67.31 Microsiemens Per Centimeter
Temperature 2004-07-07 22.3 20.00 14.70 24.70 12.80 23.60 Degrees Celcius (Temperature)
Dissolved Organic Carbon 2004-07-07 4.9 4.90 2.30 9.30 2.00 9.42 Milligrams Per Liter
Dissolved Organic Carbon 2004-07-07 4.4 4.90 2.30 9.30 2.00 9.42 Milligrams Per Liter
Nitrate + Nitrite As Nitrogen 2004-07-07 < 0.01 0.08 0.02 0.61 0.01 0.09 Milligrams Per Liter
Nitrate + Nitrite As Nitrogen 2004-07-07 0.01 0.08 0.02 0.61 0.01 0.09 Milligrams Per Liter
Orthophosphate As Phosphorus 2004-07-07 3 2.00 1.00 11.00 1.00 3.00 Micrograms Per Liter
Orthophosphate As Phosphorus 2004-07-07 4 2.00 1.00 11.00 1.00 3.00 Micrograms Per Liter
Total Alkalinity 2004-07-07 30 19.50 4.44 113.20 2.00 21.00 Milligrams Per Liter
Total Alkalinity 2004-07-07 30 19.50 4.44 113.20 2.00 21.00 Milligrams Per Liter
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen 2004-07-07 0.2 0.40 0.20 0.60 0.10 0.50 Milligrams Per Liter
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen 2004-07-07 0.3 0.40 0.20 0.60 0.10 0.50 Milligrams Per Liter
Total Phosphorus 2004-07-07 20 18.00 7.00 48.00 4.00 18.00 Micrograms Per Liter
Total Phosphorus 2004-07-07 21 18.00 7.00 48.00 4.00 18.00 Micrograms Per Liter
Viewing Bucket
Viewing Bucket Table
Cover type Percent cover Cover group
Filament 1-5cm Long 25.48 Nuisance algae
Filament 5-15cm Long 1.59 Nuisance algae
Filament >15cm Long 2.87 Nuisance algae
Plant 50.32 Not algae
Sand / Mud 0.96 Not algae
Mat Not Visible 2.87 Thin algal layer
Mat Incomplete 11.78 Thin algal layer
Mat <1mm Thick 4.14 Thin algal layer

Barplot of viewing bucket substrate cover types, available in table on the right.

Land Use
Land Cover Data Source: MELCD 2004
Watershed Area (sq km): 930.5
Impervious Cover %: 1
Land Use Table
Cover Type Percent Category
Highly Urban 0.21 Developed
Urban 0.15 Developed
Residential 3.50 Developed
Water 2.12 Natural
Wetland 3.29 Natural
Forest 87.42 Natural
Grass 1.30 Agriculture
Cleared 0.04 Agriculture
Tilled 1.78 Agriculture

Barplots of landcover data from watershed upstream of sample location. Percentages are available in a table on the right

Site Information
Name: Piscataquis River - Station 152 Sampled by: Biomonitoring Unit
Town: Dover-Foxcroft Method: Rock Scrapings 1 Inch Circles
Biomonitoring Basin Penobscot And Downeast Sample ID: SA-152-2004BR (256)
Sample Date: 2004-07-07 Taxonomist: Michigan State University
Taxa List (See key at end of report)

 Tolerance values color coding: Blue for sensitive, <32.20. Purple for intermediate, >=32.20 and <60. Red for tolerant, >=60.

Name Group RA RB Oxy Sap Sal Tr Mot GF Tol TN TP
Hapalosiphon hibernicus Filamentous Cyanobacteria 0.442 0.188 NA
Xenococcus Cyanobacteria 0.369 0.198 53.4
Homoeothrix janthina Filamentous Cyanobacteria 0.018 0.005 43 19 21
Phormidium Filamentous Cyanobacteria 0.017 0.006 42.6 60
Achnanthidium minutissimum Pennate Diatom 0.016 0.008 1 2 2 7 N P 41.2
Phormidium minnesotense Filamentous Cyanobacteria 0.016 0.001 42.6
Scenedesmus ecornis Colonial Green 0.015 0.003 39.9 23 69
Scenedesmus acuminatus Colonial Green 0.013 0.018 44
Encyonema silesiacum Pennate Diatom 0.012 0.036 3 3 2 7 V S 46.9 43 69
Merismopedia glauca Cyanobacteria 0.010 0.003 NA
Scenedesmus acutus Colonial Green 0.008 0.009 NA 61
Scenedesmus spinosus Colonial Green 0.006 0.002 45.7
Gomphonema clevei Pennate Diatom 0.005 0.015 N S 31.3
Stauridium tetras Colonial Green 0.005 0.003 35.2
Fragilaria gracilis Pennate Diatom 0.005 0.010 1 1 2 2 N V 30.6 18 22
Navicula cryptotenella Pennate Diatom 0.004 0.011 2 2 7 M P 44.6 61 82
Aphanothece clathrata Cyanobacteria 0.003 0.000 43.1
Cocconeis lineata Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.007 3 2 2 5 N P 51.5 62 82
Diatoma moniliformis Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.004 3 N U 52.8 27 36
Fragilaria mesolepta Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.008 2 N V NA
Fragilaria vaucheriae Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.003 3 3 2 5 N V 44.2 36
Melosira varians Centric Diatom 0.002 0.014 3 3 2 5 N U 67 67 89
Achnanthidium rivulare Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.001 N P 49.9 39 49
Adlafia bryophila Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.001 1 1 1 3 M P 38.2 20 59
Nitzschia palea Pennate Diatom 0.002 0.003 4 5 2 6 H P 60.3 67 89
Oedogonium spp. (20-25um) Filamentous Green 0.002 0.404 37.6 27 47
Ankistrodesmus falcatus Colonial Green 0.001 0.000 45.7 58 75
Chroococcus minutus Cyanobacteria 0.001 0.001 NA
Synedra rumpens Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.001 2 2 N E 34.3 20 32
Gloeocystis sp. 2 MESLAP Colonial Green 0.001 0.002 39.6 68 73
Gomphonema parvulum Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.001 4 4 2 5 N S 42.2 21
Navicula cryptocephala Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.002 3 3 2 7 M P 56.3 55 80
Achnanthidium subhudsonis var. kraeuselii Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.001 V P 57 33 89
Eolimna minima Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.000 4 4 2 5 M P 57 64 88
Planothidium frequentissimum Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.000 3 4 2 V P 65.1 69 92
Reimeria sinuata Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.001 1 2 2 3 M P 60.9 65 88
Scenedesmus bicaudatus Colonial Green 0.001 0.001 NA
Staurosira construens Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.002 1 2 2 4 N V 46.8 30 58
Tetraedron minimum Unicellular Green 0.001 0.002 19.5
Amphora pediculus Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 2 2 2 5 M P 76.2 71 93
Brachysira microcephala Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 2 1 2 2 M P 18 12 18
Caloneis bacillum Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 2 2 2 4 M P 64.9 72 96
Craticula molestiformis Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 4 4 2 5 M P 67.2
Cyclotella meneghiniana Centric Diatom 0.000 0.001 5 4 3 5 N U 72.6 55 73
Cymbella tumida Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.010 1 1 2 4 V S 57.8 48 78
Eunotia exigua Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 2 3 2 7 V E 21.7 13 13
Fragilaria crotonensis Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 2 2 2 3 N V NA 53 64
Gomphonema olivaceoides Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 1 1 1 3 N S 70.8 63 55
Gomphonema pumilum Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 2 7 N S 43.6 14 21
Gomphonema truncatum Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.004 2 2 2 4 N S 36.5 47 44
Karayevia laterostrata Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 1 1 1 1 V P 59 58 84
Sellaphora absoluta Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 1 1 2 3 M P NA
Psammothidium curtissimum Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 V P NA
Gogorevia exilis Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 1 2 2 7 N P 51.1 63 91
Nitzschia acidoclinata Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 1 2 1 3 H P 51.6 40 56
Nitzschia amphibia Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 3 3 2 5 H P 79.8 53 93
Nitzschia dissipata var. media Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 2 H P 64.7
Nitzschia fonticola Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 2 2 2 4 H P 82.2 49 80
Nitzschia pumila Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 H P 71.2
Nitzschia supralitorea Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 2 3 2 5 H P 65.4 62 89
Nitzschia umbonata Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 5 5 2 6 H P NA
Tabellaria flocculosa Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 1 2 1 3 N U 18.8 17 32
Tryblionella gracilis Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 3 3 3 5 H P NA
Fragilaria sepes Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 1 1 1 2 N V 32.1 18 39
Ulnaria acus Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 2 3 2 5 N E 31.7 29 48

Taxa List Key
Column Name Description
RA Relative Abundance number of cells (density of cells per square centimeter) in a sample / total abundance of all taxa
RB Relative Biovolume Volume of a taxon’s cells in a sample / volume of all algae cells in a sample
Oxy van Dam Oxygen tolerance 1=100% DO saturation, 2=>75% DO saturation, 3=>50% DO saturation, 4=>30% DO saturation, 5=<30% DO saturation
Sap van Dam Saprobic value Saprobic values relate to the amount of organic pollution, biological oxygen demand, and DO concentrations. Values range from 1 (intolerant of organic pollution) to 5 (highly tolerant of organic pollution)
Sal van Dam Salinity value 1=freshwater (<100 mg/L chloride) , 2=fresh-brackish (<500 mg/L), 3=brackish-freshwater (500-1000 mg/L), 4=brackish (1000-5000 mg/L)
Tr van Dam Trophic value 1=oligotraphentic, 2=oligo-mesotraphentic, 3=mesotraphentic, 4=meso-eutraphentic, 5=eutraphentic, 6=hypereutraphentic, 7=indifferent to trophic state
Mot Motility of Diatoms Motility (capability of movement in water or on substrates) based on genus (Wang et al. 2005): N= not motile, M = motile , H = highly motile, V=variable within genus
GF Growth Forms E= erect, P=prostrate, S=stalked, U=unattached, V=variable (based on communication with R. Jan Stevenson)
Tol Tolerance value Tolerance to a combination of watershed disturbance, conductivity, and nutrient enrichment (based on Maine data). Value range from 1=most senstive to 100=most tolerant.
TN TN value Preference for total nitrogen (TN) based on Maine data. Values range from 1=low TN concentrations to 100=high TN concentrations.
TP TP value Preference for total phosphorus (TP) based on Maine data. Values range from 1=low TP concentrations to 100=high TP concentrations.