Date of Award
12-2004
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Geography
First Advisor
Dr. David Dickason
Second Advisor
Dr. Gregory Veeck
Third Advisor
Dr. Charles W. Emerson
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Habitat and fish assemblage data were collected on 12 streams in northern Michigan to assess the applicability of a habitat rating system developed for low gradient streams in Wisconsin in determining stream health in low gradient coldwater streams in northern Michigan. An Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) developed for coldwater streams in the upper Midwest was used as the measure of stream health. Principal components analysis was used to select a small subset of habitat variables to describe the variation in IBI scores. The seven habitat variables chosen to describe the variation in IBI scores in the final model included: total instream cover, percent run, standard deviation of thalweg depth, shade, buffer vegetation, rubble/cobble, and sand. Multiple ordinary least squares linear regressions were performed for each model. The model developed in this study described 85.3% of the variation in IBI scores as opposed to the Wisconsin model which described 67.5% of the variation.
Recommended Citation
Forward, Eric Lawrence, "The Applicability of a Habitat Rating System for Low Gradient Streams in Wisconsin to Low Gradient Coldwater Streams in Northern Michigan" (2004). Masters Theses. 4414.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4414