The overarching research is about local streams and rivers in western New York that are so small they periodically dry up. While not often the focus of much aquatic research, this type of stream typically makes up the majority of a watershed (all land area that drains to a particular river or lake), even in the wettest environments. We will deploy sensors in these streams to track water availability and water chemistry and will collect samples to characterize stream habitats and biota. Specifically, we will address differences in the physical, chemical, and biological structure of these streams in western New York as they relate to development (e.g., urban vs. agricultural), environmental integrity, and other human-induced stressors. 

Our assessment of such streams in the Buffalo-Niagara River Watersheds will be the first of its kind in this area. We will produce data via the deployment of sensors left at the field sites for passive data collection, collection of physical samples from the river sediments to identify aquatic organism assemblages and evaluate water chemistry at non-perennial vs. perennial sites. This project will produce baseline data on which future studies of non-perennial streams in western New York can be based. 

Below are links to materials that will help set the stage for your understanding of the overall project goals. This includes one general paper about the topic, one that references relevant methods we will use, and one that discusses the biota of these systems.

ecology, river, stream, fish, invertebrate, statistics, field work, lab work, data, biology, College of Arts and Sciences