USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

 Go to:      NAWQA Home

Effects of Urbanization on Stream Ecosystems

What we measured

Overview:

Changes in the landscape as a watershed urbanizes may cause changes in stream hydrology (flow), water temperature, physical habitat, and water chemistry that are known to have profound effects on aquatic communities of algae, invertebrate, and fish which represent organisms with different life spans. In this study, response variables were measured using consistent field and sampling protocols and lab analytical procedures at all sites so that the responses to urbanization can be compared among different metropolitan study areas.

Physical

• Streamflow and water temperature
• Habitat characteristics

Chemistry

• Water Chemistry
• Chemical contaminants and potential toxicity of extracts from Semipermeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs)

Biological Communities

• Algae
• Invertebrates
• Fish

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/urban/html/whatwemeasured.html
Page Contact Information: Jerry McMahon
Page Last Modified: Wednesday, 14-May-2008 19:03:44 EDT