Scott Alexander with Malcolm Crittenden and Robert Ryder, PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), “Instream Limestone Sand Dosing in the Allegheny Plateau” Attendees will learn of the successful recovery of trout populations in low-buffered, acidic streams by the use of alkaline treatments. Documented low-cost/long term trout restoration methods such as (ILS) may be useful for other watersheds dealing with stream acidification because several high cost alternatives have been proposed in Pennsylvania which on analysis may deliver far less stream-alkalinity per dollar.

2. The Problem
Most measures of biological recovery from
acidification are insufficient, clunky, subject to
sampling bias, subjective, difficult to interpret.
Water sampling, while quantitative, is expensive
and only measures chemistry, not whether the
community is recovering.

3. Leuctridae Simulidae Nemouridae

6. The Problem
No good quantitative or qualitative method
exists to measure how badly an aquatic
invertebrate community is affected by
acidification effects. We need one number, not
several:
% EPT % Ephemeroptera
% Chironomidae % Dominant
Taxa Richness Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI)
Shannon Diversity PA DEP Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI)
Density

7. The Solution?
No metrics are indexed to the effects of
acidification on biological communities… we
need a Hilsenhoff for acid.
A good metric should also incorporate facets of
community health: richness, diversity, and
trophic function… and should be sensitive, but
not overly sensitive or biased.

8. The Solution!
Consequently builds from:
1. Acid Tolerance Values (like Hilsenhoff’s PTVs)
2. Acid Tolerance Index (the weighted average of PTVs)
3. Index of Biotic Acidification (the IBA, a multi-metric
index)

9. It all began in 2007…

10. The Process!
1. Collect, process, and analyze A LOT of data!
– ~50,000 insects; 10,000+ water quality data values
2. Run Macroinvertebrate Weighted Chemical Means
through Principle Components Analysis (PCA)...
3. Run PCA eigenvectors through k-means clustering
to assign ATVs to each taxa collected…
4. Assign co-dominance information to assign ATVs to
uncollected taxa…
5. Choose metrics for IBA and test, test, test.

11. Macroinvertebrate Weighted Chemical Means
Taxa pH Acidity Alk45 fakeANC ANC CaD AlD FeD MnD NaD MgD KD SO4
Acentrella MWCM 7.175831 -4.59931 14.14558 18.74489 332.9261 7.834149 0.02278 0.0199 0.00295 0.535483 1.069441 0.500688 8.52376
Atherix MWCM 6.990715 -0.83878 6.860194 7.69897 144.6448 3.482952 0.025238 0.020985 0.002982 1.280265 0.981448 1.054453 7.486414
Stenelmis MWCM 6.988587 -7.1 10.8 17.9 229.9201 3.897 0.03205 0.1605 0.10845 3.354 1.5925 0.999 6.489999
Mystacides MWCM 6.97444 3.974999 5.974999 2 105.9371 2.792499 0.0263 0.021537 0.003487 0.99675 0.82675 1.082666 6.639999
Isogenoides MWCM 6.97444 3.974999 5.974999 2 105.9371 2.792499 0.0263 0.021537 0.003487 0.99675 0.82675 1.082666 6.639999
Agnetina MWCM 6.959685 -4.83808 7.598627 12.43671 202.1648 3.720949 0.026845 0.020783 0.002543 2.382508 1.343942 0.999 6.281492
Rhithrogena MWCM 6.95549 -6 7.699997 13.69999 195.7742 5.256498 0.0177 0.02295 0.0039 5.301998 1.547499 0.999 8.749997
Anthopotamus MWCM 6.947128 -2.9 7.300005 10.20001 200.8297 2.665002 0.0324 0.0199 0.00199 1.034501 1.255001 0.999001 4.320003
Remenus MWCM 6.924595 -5.6 8.099998 13.7 158.7508 4.130999 0.0104 0.0199 0.002895 0.4765 0.964 1.1115 7.419998
Ptychoptera MWCM 6.924595 -5.6 8.1 13.7 158.7508 4.131 0.0104 0.0199 0.002895 0.4765 0.964 1.1115 7.42
Phylocentropus MWCM 6.924595 -5.6 8.099998 13.7 158.7508 4.130999 0.0104 0.0199 0.002895 0.4765 0.964 1.1115 7.419998
Podura MWCM 6.92202 -3.4 9.799998 13.2 203.2675 4.455499 0.05265 0.02795 0.0106 0.718 1.357 0.999 7.449998
Drunella MWCM 6.912731 -5.03859 8.597459 13.63605 202.3538 5.149197 0.021544 0.020743 0.003101 1.971239 1.147833 0.866567 8.23265
Leucrocuta MWCM 6.889013 -1.71557 6.645607 8.361179 151.5079 3.510396 0.030424 0.021253 0.005436 1.512428 1.088057 1.02797 7.35183
Yugus MWCM 6.871548 -3.54104 9.836675 13.37771 242.6052 5.679465 0.025987 0.0199 0.002575 0.559215 0.947632 0.682636 7.420164
Chimarra MWCM 6.871068 -6.49924 10.56733 17.06657 224.785 3.889476 0.034885 0.150743 0.100694 3.149528 1.560355 0.999 6.512453
Paragnetina MWCM 6.867173 -0.48368 5.891577 6.375254 121.1401 2.922677 0.034929 0.029598 0.009933 0.695435 0.881028 1.028056 6.56967
Hydracarina MWCM 6.84799 -1.59781 6.823503 8.421314 148.6907 2.959577 0.042286 0.044877 0.025913 1.108253 0.972531 0.877806 5.923548
Ectopria MWCM 6.840646 -3.3504 7.513346 10.86374 164.4043 3.925189 0.031747 0.0206 0.003869 1.329609 1.121494 0.970695 7.422215
Ephemera MWCM 6.837595 -1.77644 7.015703 8.792144 156.9036 3.463467 0.042459 0.03454 0.020791 1.360974 1.196446 0.955328 7.11798
Isonychia MWCM 6.833088 2.08821 6.302358 4.214148 153.8725 1.958976 0.065821 0.061034 0.055832 0.811949 1.08118 0.999 3.80583
Dubiraphia MWCM 6.827766 1.936748 6.746132 4.809384 153.6744 2.079516 0.069126 0.087024 0.077793 1.150132 1.116171 0.999 4.091462
Anchytarsus MWCM 6.825107 -5.91476 9.864701 15.77946 211.476 3.801443 0.037346 0.138359 0.092625 2.999634 1.494051 0.989778 6.670819
Hydropsyche MWCM 6.823364 -5.29725 8.366286 13.66353 180.8029 3.345358 0.037098 0.133233 0.071516 2.484172 1.369184 0.999 6.821257
Serratella MWCM 6.810008 -0.14211 6.246692 6.388797 141.7883 2.783601 0.052072 0.04616 0.033496 0.700066 1.031387 0.996058 5.937703
Culicoides MWCM 6.803707 3.6 6.000001 2.4 139.6411 1.745 0.07595 0.0735 0.07215 0.7445 1.0285 0.999 3.65
Epiphragma MWCM 6.788587 -0.8 5.800001 6.600001 140.4362 2.479 0.029 0.0199 0.00199 0.7995 1.4415 0.8505 7.325001
Diphetor MWCM 6.77741 -4.09985 6.644433 10.74429 156.9282 3.129845 0.035424 0.050914 0.02666 1.565227 1.141339 0.965784 6.507166
Pteronarcys MWCM 6.771407 -3.62766 6.324298 9.951957 138.9905 3.557731 0.030186 0.022734 0.005358 1.403033 1.069419 1.000116 7.342066

12. MWCM PCA
AMD
Sialis
Nigronia
Epeorus
Baetis
Pteronarcys
Peltoperla
Leuctra
Rhithrogena
Acroneuria
Stenelmis
Acentrella

13. Cluster AnalysisNearest neighbour
S tenacro
Habrophl
Maccaffe
Nyctioph
Neophyla
Tipula M
S tylogom
B ezzia M
Rasvena
A trichop
P silotre
E phemere
A croneur
Gomphus
S phaerii
Hexatoma
Helichus
Isogenoi
Mystacid
Calopter
Heptagen
Molophil
Orconect
Litobran
Nematoda
B aetisca
Tallaper
Isoperla
Lepidost
P rosimul
Ceratopo
A meletus
Ceratops
P rostoia
Micrasem
Turbella
S trophop
Dolophil
S w eltsa
Lanthus
Lype MW C
P romores
A ttenell
A gapetus
Diplectr
Dicranot
P ycnopsy
P seudoli
E peorus
Haploper
A lloperl
P aralept
P aragnet
Chironom
Cambarus
E uryloph
B oyeria
A patania
Diploper
Corduleg
Neoplast
Ironoqui
Taeniopt
Molanna
S imulium
P olycent
Optioser
Glossoso
Leptophl
A cerpenn
E ccoptur
Hydatoph
Rhyacoph
Leuctra
S yrphida
P edicia
P latycen
Oligocha
A mphinem
P sephenu
P aranemo
E ctopria
Cheumato
Habrophl
P tychopt
Remenus
P hylocen
Diphetor
E phemera
A therix
S erratel
A ntocha
E piphrag
Cinygmul
Leucrocu
B aetis M
Hydracar
Oulimniu
P teronar
Culicoid
Isonychi
Dubiraph
Ostracod
P arapsyc
P eltoper
P hantola
Hydropor
S iphlonu
Heteropl
Tabanus
S oyedina
P aracapn
P tilosto
Hydropti
Oligosto
A dicroph
S tygonec
Oemopter
S tegopte
B rachyce
W ormaldi
Taenione
S tratiom
Oreogeto
Collembo
A llocapn
Chelifer
Hansonop
P erlesta
Hemerodr
Hyalella
Malireku
Nigronia
P ilaria
Ostrocer
Chrysops
Dytiscid
Limonia
P lanorbi
Dolichop
Muscidae
B ranchio
A gnetina
Drunella
P odura M
A nthopot
Rhithrog
A nchytar
Chimarra
S tenelmi
Y ugus MW
Hydropsy
P robezzi
S igara M
P alaeaga
Caecidot
S ialis M
Ormosia
Hygrotus
A centrel
240 200 160 120 80 40 0
Taxa bATV
Dolichopodidae 10
Dytiscidae 10
Hygrotus 10
Muscidae 10
Ormosia 10
Palaeagapetus 10
Planorbidae 10
Probezzia 10
Sialis 10
Sigara 10
Adicrophleps 9
Allocapnia 9
Chrysops 9
Collembola 9
Hansonoperla 9
Hyalella 9
Nigronia 9
Oemopteryx 9
Oligostomis 9
Oreogeton 9
Ostrocerca 9
Pilaria 9
Stegopterna 9
Stratiomyidae 9
Stygonectes 9
Taenionema 9
Wormaldia 9
Amphinemura 8
Boyeria 8
Brachycentrus 8
Caecidotea 8
Cambarus 8
Chironomidae 8
Hemerodromia 8
Heteroplectron 8
Hydroporus 8
Hydroptila 8
Leuctra 8
Paracapnia 8
Parapsyche 8
Peltoperla 8
Phantolabis 8
Polycentropus 8
Ptilostomis 8
Rhyacophila 8
Siphlonurus 8
Soyedina 8
Tabanus 8
Taeniopteryx 8
Acerpenna 7
Agapetus 7
Apatania 7
Attenella 7
Chelifera 7
Cordulegaster 7
Dicranota 7
Diplectrona 7
Diploperla 7
Dolophilodes 7
Eccoptura 7
Eurylophella 7
Glossosoma 7
Hexatoma 7
Hydatophylax 7
Ironoquia 7
Lepidostoma 7
Leptophlebia 7
Micrasema 7
Molanna 7
Neoplasta 7
Oligochaeta 7
Paranemoura 7
Pedicia 7
Platycentropus 7
Prosimulium 7
Pseudolimnophila 7
Pycnopsyche 7
Simulium 7
Strophopteryx 7
Sweltsa 7
Syrphidae 7
Tallaperla 7
Turbellaria 7
Acroneuria 6 6
Ameletus 6
Baetisca 6
Branchiobdellida 6
Ceratopogon 6
Ceratopsyche 6
Isoperla 6
Lanthus 6
Litobrancha 6
Lype 6
Malirekus 6
Nematoda 6
Optioservus 6
Ostracoda 6
Perlesta 6
Promoresia 6
Prostoia 6
Atrichopogon 5
Bezzia 5
Calopteryx 5
Gomphus 5
Habrophlebia 5
Helichus 5
Heptagenia 5
Isogenoides 5
Limonia 5
Maccaffertium 5
Molophilus 5
Mystacides 5
Neophylax 5
Nyctiophylax 5
Orconectes 5
Paragnetina 5
Psilotreta 5
Rasvena 5
Sphaeriidae 5
Stenacron 5
Stylogomphus 5
Tipula 5
Acentrella 4
Alloperla 4
Antocha 4
Culicoides 4
Epeorus 4
Ephemerella 4
Epiphragma 4
Haploperla 4
Oulimnius 4
Paraleptophlebia 4
Psephenus 4
Pteronarcys 4
Serratella 4
Atherix 3
Baetis 3
Cheumatopsyche 3
Cinygmula 3
Diphetor 3
Dubiraphia 3
Ectopria 3
Ephemera 3
Habrophlebiodes 3
Hydracarina 3
Hydropsyche 3
Isonychia 3
Leucrocuta 3
Phylocentropus 3
Ptychoptera 3
Remenus 3
Agnetina 2
Anchytarsus 2
Anthopotamus 2
Chimarra 2
Drunella 2
Podura 2
Rhithrogena 2
Stenelmis 2
Yugus 2
Caecidotea 8
Cambarus 8
Chironomidae 8
Hemerodromia 8
Heteroplectron 8
Hydroporus 8
Hydroptila 8
Leuctra 8
Paracapnia 8
Parapsyche 8
Peltoperla 8
Phantolabis 8
Polycentropus 8
Ptilostomis 8
Rhyacophila 8
Siphlonurus 8
Soyedina 8
Tabanus 8
Taeniopteryx 8
Acerpenna 7
Agapetus 7
Apatania 7
Attenella 7
Chelifera 7
Cordulegaster 7
Dicranota 7
Diplectrona 7
Diploperla 7
Dolophilodes 7
Eccoptura 7
Eurylophella 7
Acid
Tolerance
Values
[0 to 10]

14. The results!
Can now calculate the ATI score, which is the weighted
mean value of all ATV scores in sample.
Example:
• 100 X Leuctra (ATV = 8) = 800
• 50 X Baetis (ATV = 3) = 150
• 25 X Epeorus (ATV = 4) = 100
• 15 X Hydropsyche (ATV = 3) = 45
• 10 X Isonychia (ATV = 3) = 30
1125/200 = 5.63 average ATV, or the sample’s Acid
Tolerance Index (ATI).

15. On to the IBA!
With the ATV and ATI (both empirically indices to
measured invertebrate responses to acidification), we
can design better metrics and build a multi-metric
Index of Biotic Acidification (IBA).
By the way, the ATI alone can be used as a measure of
acidification, but is not sensitive enough to
differentiate between AMD and natural, chronic
acidification… and between borderline episodic (at risk)
and more neutral streams.

16. Index of Biotic Acidification (IBA) [βeta v.1]
• 7 Metric Scores summed and averaged
• 5 are unique, 4 of these require ATV or ATI derived information
• Shannon Diversity and Taxa Richness use PA DEP IBI benchmark values
• 0-35 ≈ non acidic, 36-70 ≈ episodic, 71-90 ≈ chronic & AMD influenced, <90 ≈ AMD
Metric
Scores
βIBA-----> 45.21

17. 1
2
ILS
ILS
ILS

18. Glade Run Headwaters: Index of Biotic Acidification 1998-2007
Site 03GR is an
untreated, AMD-
influenced control site
above one of the three
ILS dosing sites; an
upstream ALD went
online in 2001, which the
IBA seems to have picked
up.
Site 02FRR (Flat Rock Run) is an
untreated chronically acidified
control site upstream from 03GR.
1

19. 1
2
ILS
ILS
ILS

20. 2

21. 14GR
16DC
(400m
down-
stream
from 17DC)
2

22. 0
200
400
600
Y1998 Y1999 Y2000 Y2001 Y2002 Y2003 Y2004 Y2005 Y2006 Y2007 Y2008 Y2009 Y2010 Y2011 Y2012 Y2013
Instream Limestone Sand (MT) 1998-2013
3 year bug sampling & ILS dosing gap
3 year bug sampling & ILS dosing gap
3- and 2- year ILS dosing gap
X = no ILS before bugs,  = ILS before | red bar = chronic, orange bar = episodic range
Dunbar Creek: Index of Biotic Acidification 1998-2013
Glade Run: Index of Biotic Acidification 1998-20132
a
a
b
b
c
c

23. In 2008, I asked this:

24. Source: National Atmospheric Deposition Program (1978-2012)
Since 2008, acidic deposition has
dropped dramatically across the
Mid-Atlantic, from a mean pH of
~4.6 to ~4.9—a 50% decrease in H+
ion concentration in 5 years.
pH 4.6
pH 4.6
pH 4.5
pH 4.5
pH 5.2
pH 4.9
pH 4.9
pH 4.9

25. US Electricity Generated by Source by 2003-2012
Nat. Gas
Nuclear
Hydro
“Green”
Since 2008, coal-fired electricity generation
has decreased 468k KW, or 23.6%
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Coal
Source: US Energy Information Administration, www.eia.govImage: Wikipedia Commons
MW

26. Questions?