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 Maine Department of Environmental Protection
 Biological Monitoring Program
 Stream Algae Report

Site Information
Name: Western Little River - Station 820 Sampled by: Biomonitoring Unit
Town: Columbia Method: Rock Scrapings 1 Inch Circles
Biomonitoring Basin Penobscot And Downeast Sample ID: SA-820-2006R (568)
Sample Date: 2006-07-10 Taxonomist: Academy Of Natural Sciences
Location: 60m Upstream Of Saco Road
Sample comments:
Latitude: 44.69951449
Longitude: -67.77462645

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 = AA
Final Determination = A
Attains Class = YES
Reason = Model
Model Result = A
Prob. Class A = 0.94
Prob. Class B = 0.06
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 0.36 0.90 0.00 9.15 0.00 1.08 <90th percentile
Nutrient-tolerant diatom richness 10.00 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 30.00 18.75 3.70 42.27 22.12 72.41 >10th percentile
Motile diatom percent abundance 11.67 8.49 1.55 31.56 0.00 11.59 <90th percentile
Tolerant algae percent abundance 0.24 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) 41.76 42.67 37.09 49.07 0.00 42.34 <90th percentile
Nitrogen Index (all algae) 34.10 38.64 26.81 51.56 0.00 35.58 <90th percentile
Phosphorus Index (all algae) 49.56 58.62 38.59 76.56 0.00 53.06 <90th percentile
Intolerant algae percent species 15.00 6.00 1.00 14.00 5.00 23.00 >10th percentile
Intolerant algae richness 3.64 6.25 0.00 16.00 0.00 7.14 <90th percentile
Salt-tolerant diatom percent richness 90.71 89.95 61.14 98.30 45.42 97.96 10th to 90th percentile
Tolerant algae percent richness 6.00 16.67 0.00 41.38 0.00 14.29 <90th percentile
Nutrient- tolerant diatom percent abundance 47.43 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

Bankfull width = 12 m
Wetted width = 12 m
Depth = 24 cm
Water velocity = 56 cm/s
Riffle = 100 %
Canopy Cover = 24 %
Bedrock = 0 %
Boulder = 60 %
Cobble = 30 %
Gravel = 10 %
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 2006-07-10 8.64 8.60 7.00 10.23 7.80 10.62 Milligrams Per Liter
pH 2006-07-10 6.78 7.12 6.21 7.97 6.00 7.55 Standard Ph Unit
Specific Conductance 2006-07-10 21 88.55 25.00 492.00 15.41 67.31 Microsiemens Per Centimeter
Temperature 2006-07-10 22.7 20.00 14.70 24.70 12.80 23.60 Degrees Celcius (Temperature)
Dissolved Organic Carbon 2006-07-10 8.1 4.90 2.30 9.30 2.00 9.42 Milligrams Per Liter
Nitrate + Nitrite As Nitrogen 2006-07-10 0.05 0.08 0.02 0.61 0.01 0.09 Milligrams Per Liter
Orthophosphate As Phosphorus 2006-07-10 3 2.00 1.00 11.00 1.00 3.00 Micrograms Per Liter
Total Alkalinity 2006-07-10 5 19.50 4.44 113.20 2.00 21.00 Milligrams Per Liter
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen 2006-07-10 0.4 0.40 0.20 0.60 0.10 0.50 Milligrams Per Liter
Total Phosphorus 2006-07-10 20 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 0.63 Nuisance algae
Moss 30.91 Not algae
Plant 3.15 Not algae
Sand / Mud 8.83 Not algae
Mat Incomplete 18.30 Thin algal layer
Mat <1mm Thick 37.22 Thin algal layer
Mat Crust 0.95 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): 51.9
Impervious Cover %: 1
Land Use Table
Cover Type Percent Category
Urban 0.05 Developed
Residential 0.53 Developed
Water 1.57 Natural
Wetland 30.99 Natural
Forest 66.06 Natural
Grass 0.11 Agriculture
Cleared 0.09 Agriculture
Tilled 0.69 Agriculture

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

Site Information
Name: Western Little River - Station 820 Sampled by: Biomonitoring Unit
Town: Columbia Method: Rock Scrapings 1 Inch Circles
Biomonitoring Basin Penobscot And Downeast Sample ID: SA-820-2006R (568)
Sample Date: 2006-07-10 Taxonomist: Academy Of Natural Sciences
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
Homoeothrix janthina Filamentous Cyanobacteria 0.455 0.009 43 19 21
Pleurocapsa minor Cyanobacteria 0.380 0.025 NA
Audouinella Red Algae 0.031 0.052 47.5 54 69
Gomphonema cf. parvulum MESLAP4 Pennate Diatom 0.022 0.134 4 4 2 5 N S 42.2
Fragilariforma virescens Pennate Diatom 0.015 0.061 1 1 1 2 N V 23 13 13
Gomphonema minutum Pennate Diatom 0.013 0.010 2 2 5 N S 54.6 61 55
Gongrosira Filamentous Green 0.009 0.026 37.3 37
Eunotia implicata Pennate Diatom 0.008 0.096 1 V E 28.3 16 15
Eunotia incisa Pennate Diatom 0.008 0.015 1 1 1 1 V E 24.8 18 35
Tabellaria flocculosa Pennate Diatom 0.007 0.015 1 2 1 3 N U 18.8 17 32
Ulnaria acus Pennate Diatom 0.006 0.043 2 3 2 5 N E 31.7 29 48
Meridion circulare Pennate Diatom 0.004 0.014 2 2 2 7 N E 46.5 64 87
Encyonema silesiacum Pennate Diatom 0.004 0.005 3 3 2 7 V S 46.9 43 69
Tryblionella sp. 1 Maine JZ Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.144 H P NA
Eunotia exigua Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.002 2 3 2 7 V E 21.7 13 13
Eunotia rhomboidea Pennate Diatom 0.003 0.005 1 1 1 1 V E 15.8 9 1
Staurastrum punctulatum Desmid 0.002 0.106 NA 15 21
Fragilaria vaucheriae Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.001 3 3 2 5 N V 44.2 36
Gomphonema intricatum Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.003 N S NA
Staurosira construens var. venter Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.000 1 2 2 4 N V 41.3 35 67
Psammothidium bioretii Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.003 1 1 2 3 V P 31.2 15 12
Stauroneis kriegeri Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.001 2 2 2 4 M P 48.4 59 96
Surirella angusta Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.004 2 2 2 5 H P 65.4 57 96
Achnanthes levanderi Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.006 1 1 1 1 V P NA
Encyonema minutum Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.001 2 V S 50.2 21
Psammothidium chlidanos Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.001 V P 32.5 16 14
Fragilariforma constricta Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.003 1 1 1 N V NA
Diatoma mesodon Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.004 1 1 1 3 N U 9.7 2 2
Eunotia bilunaris Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.002 2 2 2 7 V E 37.6 17 28
Eunotia pectinalis Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.019 1 2 1 3 V E 12.9
Eunotia praerupta Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.044 1 1 1 2 V E NA
Gomphonema gracile Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.005 1 1 2 3 N S 21.9 13 20
Nitzschia recta Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.006 2 2 2 7 H P 46.6 43 73
Pinnularia obscura Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.002 1 1 2 M P 47.1
Pinnularia subcapitata Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.003 3 2 2 2 M P 19.5
Frustulia erifuga Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.028 M P NA
Meridion circulare var. constrictum Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.001 2 2 2 7 N E 43.7 50 72
Frustulia vulgaris Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.004 1 2 2 4 M P 51.7 62 87
Gomphonema angustatum Pennate Diatom 0.001 0.002 1 1 2 1 N S 58 50 84
Cavinula cocconeiformis Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.007 1 1 1 2 M P 37.5
Geissleria decussis Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 1 2 4 M P 44.5 40 80
Chamaepinnularia mediocris Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 1 1 1 1 M P 41.9
Gomphonema apuncto Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 N S NA 8 8
Platessa conspicua Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 2 1 1 7 V P 49.8 39
Sellaphora seminulum Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.002 4 4 2 5 M P 51.5 67 73
Staurosirella pinnata Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 1 2 2 7 N V 44.2 38 56
Tryblionella compressa Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.022 H P NA
Encyonopsis cesatii Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 1 1 1 1 V S 38
Cymbopleura naviculiformis Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 2 2 2 5 V S 51.6 35 53
Reimeria uniseriata Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 M P NA
Stauroneis anceps Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.003 2 2 2 4 M P 40.1
Surirella amphioxys Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.003 2 4 5 H P 61.5 52 94
Achnanthidium caledonicum Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 2 N P NA
Psammothidium grischunum fo. daonensis Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 1 1 1 1 V P 30.2 31 39
Psammothidium altaicum Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 2 1 1 3 V P NA
Cocconeis lineata Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 3 2 2 5 N P 51.5 62 82
Eunotia soleirolii Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.002 1 2 1 1 V E NA
Fragilaria capucina Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 2 2 3 N V 32.9 59 51
Gomphonema patrickiae Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 N S NA 22 36
Navicula rhynchocephala Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 4 2 2 7 M P 62.1 44 78
Humidophila schmassmannii Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 M P 45.4 39 47
Pinnularia borealis Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 1 2 2 2 M P NA
Pinnularia ignobilis Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.014 M P NA
Pinnularia legumen Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.007 1 1 1 M P NA
Ulnaria delicatissima Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 2 3 N E 24.6
Frustulia crassinervia Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 1 1 1 1 M P 24.7 27 61
Nitzschia frustulum Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.000 3 2 3 5 H P 50.4 53 88
Neidium bisulcatum Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.014 1 1 1 1 M P NA
Ulnaria ulna Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.006 3 4 2 N E 34.2 17 21
Eunotia nymanniana Pennate Diatom 0.000 0.001 1 1 1 V E NA

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.