Title: Multiple stressors influence benthic macroinvertebrate communities in central Appalachian coalfield streams 
Description: Headwater streams impacted by surface coal mining and valley fill in the central Appalachian region of the eastern U.S. have characteristics not shared by reference-quality streams in the region. These include elevated salinity, often measured using specific conductance (SC) and often cited as a primary stressor of benthic macroinvertebrate communities. The objective of this study was to determine if benthic macroinvertebrate community composition differences from reference condition in mining-influenced streams could be attributed to potential stressors other than SC. Stream habitat characteristics were measured and calculated, and benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled from 12 central Appalachian streams. Multiple benthic macroinvertebrate community metrics, including Ephemeroptera density, richness, and composition were correlated strongly and negatively with SC. Predator density and scraper richness were correlated strongly and negatively with streamwater selenium concentrations. Clinger richness was correlated strongly and positively with large cobble-to-fines ratios in stream substrate and relative bed stability. These correlations are consistent with known ecotoxicological mechanisms revealed by prior studies. Improved understanding of how multiple habitat features are altered by mining and, in turn, impact community structure in headwater streams can inform water resource management in mining areas.
	
Authors: Damion Drover
	
Keywords: fine sediment, mining, multiple stressors, temperature, habitat, Appalachian streams, selenium, Drover, Appalachian coal mining, specific conductance, Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation, salinity , quantitative sampling, Benthic macroinvertebrate
	
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Publisher: University Libraries, Virginia Tech

	
Items in this dataset:

Title: SC_Temperature.zip
Description: Specific conductance and temperature data for the water columns of reference and test streams were collected at 15-minute intervals from HOBO loggers. The first three letters of each file name indicates the site identifier of the stream from which the logger readings were taken.
	
Authors: droved16@vt.edu
	
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License: CC BY 3.0 US
	
Keywords: specific conductance, temperature, Appalachian streams, Appalachian coal mining
	
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Date Uploaded: 2018-07-13

Title: Streamflow.xlsx
Description: Solinst Edge Leveloggers (Solinst Canada Ltd.) were installed in each stream in September 2013 to measure stage at 15-minute intervals. Six times during the study, stream velocity, wetted width, and water depth were measured along lateral transects at two-to-three points in each stream, from which mean discharge was calculated using a velocity-area method. Stage was measured at the Leveloggers simultaneous to measurements of discharge components. Rating curves were developed from stage measurements and discharge calculations and applied to the Levelogger stage records from February to April 2014 to produce time-series of discharge.
	
Authors: droved16@vt.edu
	
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License: CC BY 3.0 US
	
Keywords: multiple stressors, Appalachian streams, Appalachian coal mining
	
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Date Uploaded: 2018-07-13

Title: Water-column chemistry April 2014.csv
Description: Samples of stream water were collected from one point in the thalweg of the stream at the time of benthic macroinvertebrate sampling using a syringe, and filtered streamside using a Fisherbrand PVDF cellulose ester disposable filter with a nominal pore size of 0.45μm. Two 60-mL samples (one for metals analysis and one for backup) were stored in Fisherbrand sample bags, put on ice, brought back to the lab and stored at 4°C until analyses. Samples were acidified to pH < 2 with 1+1 concentrated nitric acid in the field. An ICP-MS (Perkin-Elmer, Norwalk, CT) was used to measure concentrations of nickel, manganese, selenium, zinc, aluminum, and iron. For each of the analytes, a method detection limit (MDL) and method reporting limit (MRL) were calculated. The analyte concentrations measured at < MRL but ≥ MDL were modeled using the instrument-measured values. MRL and MDL are indicated in the top two rows under each element in the table, followed by data from the 12 study sites. Specific conductance (SC) for each site is also included.
	
Authors: droved16@vt.edu
	
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License: CC BY 3.0 US
	
Keywords: multiple stressors, Appalachian streams, Appalachian coal mining
	
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Date Uploaded: 2018-07-13

Title: Pebble_counts_March2014.csv
Description: In March 2014, a count of 200 pebbles was performed from lateral transects along a 100-m reach in each stream. Ten pebbles were collected from each of 20 transects, which were randomly chosen across run sections of the streams. Only pebbles within the wetted channel were collected and measured. Measurement of each pebble size was taken as the length of the “B-axis” (i.e. 2nd longest axis) of the pebble using a meter stick. The column names are the stream site identifiers and the numbers in the columns are the B-axis lengths of each pebble, ordered from smallest to largest, in millimeters.
	
Authors: droved16@vt.edu
	
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License: CC BY 3.0 US
	
Keywords: multiple stressors, Appalachian streams, Appalachian coal mining
	
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Date Uploaded: 2018-07-13

Title: Site characteristics.csv
Description: Stream characteristics derived from GIS sources and in-stream measurements collected over a 150-m stream reach.
	
Authors: droved16@vt.edu
	
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License: CC BY 3.0 US
	
Keywords: multiple stressors, Appalachian streams, Appalachian coal mining
	
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Date Uploaded: 2018-07-13

Title: Benthic macroinvertebrate counts Apr2014.xlsx
Description: Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled in April 2014, using a Hess sampler (Wildco; Yulee, FL, U.S.A.) with a 363μm Nitex mesh. Six sub-samples were collected from run habitat sections below randomly selected riffles. For each sub-sample collection, a Hess sampler was driven into the streambed sediment, completely enclosing 0.086 m2 of stream bottom as needed to prevent organisms from drifting in or out. Complete sub-samples were sorted quantitatively and identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level (to genus level unless specimens were either too immature or damaged to key to genus) using a dissecting microscope and keys. As exceptions, regardless of condition of the specimen, Ceratopogonidae and Chironomidae were keyed to family level and Oligochaeta were keyed to class level.
	
Authors: droved16@vt.edu
	
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License: CC BY 3.0 US
	
Keywords: Benthic macroinvertebrate, Drover
	
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Date Uploaded: 2018-07-11