Understanding the Relationship Between Natural Conditions and Loadings on Eutrophication: Algal Indicators of Eutrophication for New Jersey Streams: Final Report Year 3

The goal of this study was to develop diatom indices that can be used as regulatory tools to effectively monitor nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and periphyton responses in New Jersey rivers. It was therefore important that the indices a) accurately characterize nutrient concentrations, b) represent the biological response of benthic algae, c) are consistent with New Jersey nutrient criteria categories, and d) can be used in conjunction with other indicators being used by the state. The study approach was to select sites, collect algae and water chemistry samples, prepare diatom samples for analysis, identify and count diatom taxa, use multivariate analysis to understand relationships between assemblage composition and water chemistry, and develop and test diatom inference models using WA regression and calibration techniques. Diatom indices were developed by creating nutrient categories and subsequently assigning the inferred nutrient values, converted to an ordinal scale, to those categories.Cover Title=New Jersey Periphyton Bioassessment Development Projects: Trophic Diatom Inference Models and Index Development for New Jersey Wadeable StreamsSubmitted to Thomas Belton, Project Manager New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Science, Research and Technology by Karin Ponader and Donald Charles, Patrick Center for Environmental Research, The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PAPurpose: To create criteria for identifying nutrient impairment