Amphipod Transplant Study

• Peyton Goodrich

  Juniata College

  Author

• Jocelyn Santos

  Juniata College

  Author

• Elizabeth Bailey

  Juniata College

  Author

• Alexis Benner

  Juniata College

  Author

In this report, our research team conducted a transplant study to investigate the potential impact of water quality and the accumulation of pollutants on the survivorship of Gammarus minus. Given the sensitivity of this particular amphipod species to changes in the quality of water within its habitat, we hypothesized that heavy residential land use and traffic might lead to differential water quality in different sections of the Muddy Run stream, thereby affecting the survivorship of the amphipods. Specifically, ninety amphipods were transplanted in three different locations, with thirty remaining in their harvest location of Petersburg Spring and the other sixty being divided among two sites in Muddy Run, one directly outside the East Houses bridge and one the near Weis Markets parking lot. It was expected that the East Houses location would have higher pollution levels and thus lower survivorship due to heavier residential use and foot traffic. Over the course of two consecutive weeks, the survivorship of amphipods at each site was monitored by visiting once a week and counting the number of alive versus dead individuals. Our results revealed unexpected findings, with higher mortality observed among the amphipods at the Weis Parking site, contrary to our initial hypothesis. Despite this discrepancy, our study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between water quality and the survivorship of amphipods in Muddy Run stream.

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