Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in Streams with Versus without Wild Trout Populations

• Beck Chickillo

  Juniata College

  Author

• Blake Hoover

  Juniata College

  Author

• Clay Spencer

  Juniata College

  Author

• Braden Whisler

  Juniata College

  Author

• Jack Dovidio

  Juniata College

  Author

• Evan Mock

  Juniata College

  Author

We compared the taxic diversity of macroinvertebrate assemblages in streams with and without wild trout populations. We hypothesized that streams containing wild trout would have the highest diversity of macroinvertebrate assemblages because these streams should have more food available and higher oxygen levels in comparison to the other sampled streams. We found no relationship between macroinvertebrate diversity and the presence of trout in all four streams in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. There were no significant differences between macroinvertebrate richness in streams containing wild trout versus streams without wild trout.

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