Rapid Bio Assessment

Assessing biodiversity of aquatic invertebrates in the Provo River, Utah, using the species-effort curve and determining the water quality using the bioindicator score.  

Abstract:

On September 6th, 2014, Dr. C. R. Nelson took the Biology 100 class down to the Provo River at the 2230 North Bridge, N 40.26408 degrees by W 111.66390 degrees. We did this in order to assess the biodiversity of the invertebrates and define the water quality. We preformed a quick sampling of the aquatic invertebrates and later preformed a lab with a sampling size of 503 specimen. Through application of the species-effort curve in relation to the collection results, we are able to assess the biodiversity while also using the bioindicator score to determine that the Provo River quality is fair.

Key words: species-effort curve, aquatic invertebrates, bioindicator score, Provo River, biodiversity.

Introduction:

The world is full of biodiversity, which is essential. Biodiversity influences ecosystem services, that is, the benefits provided by ecosystems to humans that contribute to making human life both possible and worth living. E. O. Wilson said, “We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity” (Wilson 1999). One of the most useful methods for assessing biodiversity is through the use of the species effort curve while analyzing collection samples. The species effort curve is a very valuable predictive tool for preservation of the natural environment and biodiversity studies. Through utilization of the species effort curve, researchers can establish the necessary sampling size for an area in order to perform needed experimentation. Researches seek efficiency and therefore, by noting the maximized species in order to get a conclusion, researchers are able to speed up the collection process while still providing an adequate representation of the biodiversity in the area. As the Biology 100...