Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities in the Lower Illinois River Basin

Benthic macroinvertebrate community samples were collected at eight stream stations during 1996 and 1997 as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment program (NAWQA), in the lower Illinois River Basin. Invertebrate collections were made in accordance with the NAWQA protocols for quantitative (Richest-Targeted Habitat) and qualitative (Qualitative-Multiple Habitat) samples (Cuffney and others, 1993).

During each station visit, one quantitative and one qualitative sample were collected. The quantitative sample was a composite of macroinvertebrates from about 10 submerged tree branches. Branches were cut underwater, gathered in a 425µm mesh net, and all invertebrates were washed or picked from the branches. The average length and average diameter of each branch were measured and used to calculate an approximate surface area. The qualitative sample was collected from many habitat types within the sampling reach to obtain as complete a list of invertebrate taxa as possible. All samples were preserved in formalin, and processed by the USGS National Water-Quality Laboratory.

Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities During September 1997

Samples were collected from six stream reaches, one reach at each of six streams in the lower Illinois River Basin. Below are data from samples collected during September 1997. Data are also available for September 1996. Phylum, Class, Order, Suborder, Family, Subfamily, and Tribe are listed and arranged according to the current USGS National Water-Quality Laboratory taxonomic hierarchy.

[Qn, quantitative sample; Ql, qualitative sample; sp., species; A, Adults; LV, Larvae; P, Pupae; *, present; -, not found]
  05553800
Illinois River near lock and dam at Starved Rock, Ill.
9/10/1997		 05568800
Indian Creek near Wyoming, Ill.
9/3/1997		 05584500
La Moine River at Colmar, Ill.
9/4/1997		 05567000
Panther Creek near El Paso, Ill.
9/2/1997		 05572000
Sangamon River at Monticello, Ill.
9/5/1997		 05586100
Illinois River at Valley City, Ill.
9/8/1997
 
Surface area (m2) of quantitative sample 0.63 0.31 0.33 0.30 0.44 0.33
Taxon Life Stage
Qn
Ql
Qn
Ql
Qn
Ql
Qn
Ql
Qn
Ql
Qn
Ql
Cnidaria
Hydridae
Hydra sp. - - - - 2 - - - - - 164 -
Platyhelminthes
Turbellaria
Turbellaria - - - * - - - * - - - -
Nematoda
Nematoda - * 32 - - - - - 6 - - -
Bryozoa
Bryozoa 3 - - - - - - - 6 - 4 -
Mollusca
Gastropoda
Viviparidae
Campeloma sp. - - - - - - - - - - - *
Pleuroceridae
Pleurocera sp. - - - - - - - - - - - *
Ancylidae
Ancylidae - - - - - - 2 - - - - -
Lymnaeidae
Lymnaeidae - - - - - * 2 * - - - -
Physidae
Physidae - - - - - * 2 - - - - -
Physella sp. - * - * - - - * - - - -
Bivalvia
Dreissenidae
Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas) - * - - - - - - - - - *
Unionidae
Unionidae - - - - - - - - - - 16 -
Fusconaia sp. - * - - - - - - - - - -
Obliquaria reflexa Rafinesque - * - - - - - - - - - *
Corbiculidae
Corbicula sp. - * - - - - - - - - - -
Sphaeriidae
Sphaeriidae - * - * - - - - - - - -
Annelida
Oligochaeta
Oligochaeta - - 8 - - - 5 - - - - -
Naididae
Naididae 9 * 24 - 2 - 2 - 24 - 84 -
Tubificidae
Tubificidae - * - * - * - * - * - *
Branchiura sowerbyi Beddard - * - - - * - - - * - *
Enchytraeidae
Enchytraeidae - - - - - - 2 * - - - -
Hirudinea
Glossiphoniidae
Glossiphoniidae - - - - - - - - - - - *
Arthropoda
Acari
Hydrachnidia - - 64 - - - 2 - 36 - - -
Malacostraca
Decapoda
Palaemonidae
Palaemonetes kadiakensis Rathbun - - - - - - - - - - - *
Cambaridae
Cambaridae - - - * - - - * - - - -
Orconectes sp. - - 1 * - - - - - - - -
Isopoda
Asellidae
Caecidotea sp. - - - - - - - - - * - -
Amphipoda
Crangonyctidae
Crangonyx sp. - - - - - * - - - - - -
Gammaridae
Gammarus sp. - * - * - - - * - - - -
Hyalellidae
Hyalella azteca (Saussure) - * - * - - - - - * - *
Collembola
Collembola - - - - - - - - - - - 4 -
Collembola A - - - - - - - * - - - -
Insecta
Ephemeroptera
Ephemeroptera LV 3 - 248 - - - - - 6 - - -
Furcatergalia
Leptophlebiidae
Leptophlebiidae LV - - - - 2 - - - - - - -
Ephemeridae
Hexagenia sp. LV - - - - - - - - - * - -
Caenidae
Caenis hilaris (Say) LV - * - - - - - - - - - -
Caenis sp. LV 6 - - - 12 - - - 6 - - -
Leptohyphidae
Tricorythodes sp. LV - - 128 * 53 - 7 * 342 * 24 -
Pisciforma
Baetidae
Baetidae LV - - 529 * 139 - 5 * 108 - 36 -
Baetis sp. LV - - 264 * 62 * - * 60 * - -
Baetis flavistriga McDunnough LV - - - - - - - - - - - -
Baetis intercalaris McDunnough LV - - 80 - - - 5 - - - - -
Callibaetis sp. LV - - - - - - - - - - - -
Labiobaetis sp. LV - * - - - * - - - - - *
Procloeon sp. LV - * - - - - - - - - - -
Setisura
Heptageniidae
Heptageniidae LV - - 32 - 58 * 2 - 18 - - -
Heptagenia flavescens (Walsh) LV - - - - 7 - - - 12 * - -
Leucrocuta sp. LV - * - - - - - - - - - -
Stenacron sp. LV - - - - 17 - 2 - - - - -
Stenacron interpunctatum (Say) LV - - - * 2 * - * - * - -
Stenonema sp. LV - - - - 50 - - - 48 * - -
Stenonema exiguum Traver LV - - - * 2 * - - - * - -
Stenonema mexicanum (Ulmer) LV - * - - - - - - - - 4 *
Stenonema terminatum (Walsh) LV - * - - 14 * - - 6 - - -
Isonychiidae
Isonychia sp. LV - - 8 * 2 * - - - * - -
Odonata
Zygoptera
Zygoptera LV - - - - - - 5 - - - - -
Calopterygidae
Calopteryx sp. LV - - - * - - 5 * - - - -
Calopteryx maculata (Beauvois) LV - - - * - - - - - - - -
Hetaerina sp. LV - - 1 - 2 - - - - - - -
Hetaerina americana (Fabricius) LV - - - * - - - - - - - -
Coenagrionidae
Coenagrionidae LV - - - * - - 2 * 12 - - -
Argia sp. A - - - - - - - - - * - -
Argia sp. LV - * - * 2 * 5 * 6 * - *
Enallagma sp. LV - - - - - - - * - - - -
Anisoptera
Aeshnidae
Aeshnidae LV - - - - - - - - - * - -
Boyeria vinosa (Say) LV - - - * - - - * - * - -
Corduliidae
Neurocordulia molesta (Walsh) LV - - - - - - - - - - - *
Gomphidae
Gomphidae LV - - - * - * - - - * - *
Gomphus sp. LV - - - * - - - - - * - *
Stylurus sp. LV - - - - - - - - - - - *
Libellulidae
Libellula sp. LV - - - * - - - - - - - -
Macromiidae
Macromia sp. LV - - - - - - - - - * - -
Plecoptera
Systellognatha
Perlidae
Perlidae LV - - - - - - 2 - - - - -
Hemiptera
Heteroptera
Corixidae
Corixidae LV - - - - - * - * - * - *
Corixinae
Corixini
Palmacorixa sp. A - - - - - - - * - - - -
Trichocorixa sp. A - - - - - * - - - * - *
Gerridae
Gerrinae
Aquarius sp. A - - - * - - - - - - - -
Aquarius sp. LV - - - - - - - - - - - -
Rhagodotarsinae
Rheumatobates sp. - - - - - - - 5 - - - - -
Rheumatobates sp. LV - - - - - - - * - - - -
Trepobatinae
Metrobates sp. A - - - - 2 - - - - * - -
Trepobates sp. - - - - - - - 2 - - - - -
Trepobates sp. LV - - - - - - - * - - - -
Veliidae
Rhagoveliinae
Rhagovelia sp. - - - - - - - 2 - - - - -
Rhagovelia sp. A - - - * - - - - - * - -
Rhagovelia sp. LV - - - - - - - * - - - -
Megaloptera
Corydalidae
Corydalinae
Corydalus cornutus (Linnaeus) LV - - - * 10 * - - - - - -
Trichoptera
Trichoptera LV - - 216 - - - 2 - - - 4 -
Trichoptera P 9 - - - - - - - - - - -
Spicipalpia
Hydroptilidae
Hydroptilinae
Hydroptila sp. LV - - 216 - - - - - 36 - - -
Annulipalpia
Philopotamidae
Chimarrinae
Chimarra sp. LV - - - - - * - - - - - -
Hydropsychidae
Hydropsychidae LV 135 - 556 * 367 - 12 - 162 * 124 -
Hydropsychidae P - - - - - * - - - - - -
Hydropsychinae
Ceratopsyche sp. LV - - 24 * - - - - - - - -
Cheumatopsyche sp. LV 12 * 41 * 2 * 5 - 6 * - -
Cheumatopsyche sp. P - * - - - - - - - - - -
Cheumatopsyche pettiti (Banks) P - - 8 - - - - - - - - -
Hydropsyche sp. A - - - - - - - - - * - -
Hydropsyche sp. LV - - 97 * - - - - - - - -
Hydropsyche sp. P 3 - - - 2 - - - - - 1 -
Hydropsyche betteni Ross/depravata Hagen LV - - 16 - - - - - - - - -
Hydropsyche bidens Ross LV 111 - - - 82 * - - 390 * 12 *
Hydropsyche bidens Ross P - - - - - - - - 8 - - -
Hydropsyche bidens Ross/orris Ross LV 135 - - - 12 - - - 96 - - -
Hydropsyche orris Ross LV 783 * - - - - - - - - 104 *
Hydropsyche orris Ross P 9 - - - - - - - - - 4 *
Hydropsyche rossi Flint, Voshell, and Parker/simulans Ross LV - - 8 - 82 * - - 18 * - -
Hydropsyche rossi Flint, Voshell, and Parker/simulans Ross P - - - - - - - - 1 - - -
Potamyia flava (Hagen) A - * - - - - - - - - - -
Potamyia flava (Hagen) LV 9 * - - - - - - - - - -
Potamyia flava (Hagen) P - * - - - - - - - - - -
Polycentropodidae
Polycentropodidae LV 4 - - - 5 - - - - - 236 -
Polycentropodidae P - - - - - - - - - - 12 -
Polycentropodinae
Cyrnellus fraternus (Banks) A - * - - - - - - - - - -
Cyrnellus fraternus (Banks) LV 3 - - - - - - - - - 104 *
Paranyctiophylax sp. LV - - - - 2 - - - - - - -
Integripalpia
Leptoceridae
Leptoceridae LV - - - - 12 - - - - - - -
Leptoceridae P - - - - - - - - 6 - - -
Leptocerinae
Nectopsyche sp. LV - - - - - * - - - * - -
Nectopsyche diarina (Ross) LV - - - * - - - - - - - -
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera LV - - - - 2 - 2 - - - - -
Coleoptera
Adephaga
Dytiscidae
Colymbetinae
Coptotomini
Coptotomus sp. A - * - - - - - - - - - -
Hydroporinae
Hydroporini
Hydroporini A - - - - - * - * - - - -
Laccophilinae
Laccophilini
Laccophilus sp. A - - - - - * - - - - - -
Gyrinidae
Dineutus sp. A - - - - - - - - - - - *
Gyrinus sp. A - - - - - - - - - * - *
Gyrinus analis Say A - - - - - - - - - - 4 -
Haliplidae
Peltodytes sp. A - - - - - - - * - - - -
Polyphaga
Staphylinidae
Staphylinidae A - - - * - - - - - - 4 -
Hydrophilidae
Helochares sp. A - - - - - * - - - - - -
Hydrophilidae LV - - - - - - 2 - - - - -
Laccobius sp. A - - - - - * - - - - - -
Tropisternus sp. A - * - - - - - - - - - -
Scirtidae
Scirtidae LV - - - - - * 12 * - - - -
Dryopidae
Helichus lithophilus (Germar) A - - - - 17 - - - - * - -
Helichus lithophilus (Germar) LV - - - - - * - - - - - -
Elmidae
Elmidae LV - - 24 - 5 - - - - - - -
Ancyronyx variegata (Germar) LV - - 16 - - * - - 6 - - -
Dubiraphia sp. A - - 16 - 2 - 7 * 6 * - -
Dubiraphia sp. LV - - - * - * 2 * - * - -
Macronychus glabratus Say A - - - * 5 * - - 54 * - *
Macronychus glabratus Say LV - - 40 - 22 - 5 * 132 * - *
Stenelmis sp. A - * 9 - - - - * 24 * - -
Stenelmis sp. LV - - 1 * - * - * 6 * - *
Stenelmis decorata Sanderson A - - - - - - - - 6 - - -
Stenelmis grossa Sanderson A - * - * - - - * 30 * - -
Diptera
Nematocera
Ceratopogonidae
Ceratopogoninae
Probezzia sp. LV - - - - - - - - - * - -
Forcipomyiinae
Atrichopogon sp. LV - - - - - - 17 - - - - -
Chironomidae
Chironomidae A 12 - 16 - - - - - 6 - - -
Chironomidae LV - * 1 * - * - * - * - -
Chironomidae P 9 - 8 - - - 2 - 18 - 8 -
Chironominae
Chironominae P 6 * 8 * 12 * 14 - - * 12 -
Chironomini
Chironomini LV 6 - 8 - - * 7 * 6 - 4 *
Axarus sp. LV - - - - - - - - - * - -
Chironomus sp. LV - * - - - * - * - - - -
Cryptochironomus sp. LV - * - * - * - * - * - *
Cryptotendipes sp. LV - - - - - * - - - - - -
Dicrotendipes sp. LV 12 * - - - * 77 * 6 - 12 -
Glyptotendipes sp. LV 9 * - - 2 - 10 * 6 - 132 *
Glyptotendipes sp. P - - - - - - - - - - 4 -
Harnischia sp. LV - - - - - * - - 6 * - *
Microtendipes sp. LV - - - * - - - * - - - -
Parachironomus sp. LV - * - - - - 2 * - - - -
Paralauterborniella sp. LV - - - - - - - - - * - -
Paratendipes sp. LV - - - - - - - * - - - -
Phaenopsectra sp. LV - - - - 5 - 2 - - - - -
Polypedilum sp. LV 84 * 104 * 29 * 53 * - * 244 *
Stelechomyia sp. LV - - - - 2 - - - 6 - - -
Stenochironomus sp. LV 3 - - * 2 - 7 - 6 - 8 -
Tribelos sp. LV - - - - - * - - - * - *
Xestochironomus sp. LV - - - - - - - - 6 - - -
Tanytarsini
Tanytarsini LV - - 8 * 2 - 14 * 6 - 4 -
Tanytarsini P - - - - - - - - - - 4 -
Cladotanytarsus sp. LV - - - - 2 - - - - - - -
Paratanytarsus sp. LV - - - - - - 2 * - - - -
Rheotanytarsus sp. LV 42 * 64 * 19 * 7 - 24 * 40 *
Stempellinella sp. LV - - - - - - 2 * - - - -
Tanytarsus sp. LV - - - * 7 * 5 * - * 4 *
Orthocladiinae
Orthocladiinae LV 6 - - * - * 38 * - - - -
Orthocladiinae P - * - - 2 - 7 - - - 8 -
Brillia sp. LV - - - - - - 2 - - - - -
Corynoneura sp. LV - - - - - - 5 - - - - -
Cricotopus sp. LV - - 32 * - - 2 - - * - -
Cricotopus/Orthocladius sp. LV 24 - - * - - 5 * - * 4 -
Nanocladius sp. LV 3 - - - - - 2 * - - 44 *
Rheocricotopus sp. LV - - 8 * 7 - - * 18 * - -
Thienemanniella sp. LV - - 8 * - * - * - - - -
Tanypodinae
Tanypodinae LV - - - - - - - - - - 4 -
Tanypodinae P - * - - - - - - - * - -
Pentaneurini
Pentaneurini LV - - - - - - - * - - - -
Ablabesmyia sp. LV - - - * 2 * - * 6 * 8 -
Labrundinia sp. LV - - - - - * - - - * - -
Nilotanypus sp. LV - - - - - - - - 6 * - -
Thienemannimyia group sp. LV 3 * - * 5 * 19 * 6 - 4 *
Procladiini
Procladius sp. LV - - - - - * - * - * - -
Culicidae
Culicidae LV - - - - - - - - - * - -
Culex sp. LV - - - - - - - - - * - -
Simuliidae
Simuliidae LV - - 56 * 74 * - - 6 * - -
Simulium sp. LV - - 56 * 14 - - - - - - -
Simulium sp. P - - - - 5 - - - - - - -
Tipulidae
Tipulinae
Tipula sp. LV - - 1 - - - - - - - - -
Brachycera
Brachycera P - - - - - * - - - - - -
Empididae
Empididae LV - - - - - - - - 6 - 4 -
Empididae P - - - - - - - - - - - -
Chelifera/Hemerodromia sp. P - - - * - - - - - - - -
Hemerodromia sp. LV 6 - 16 - 10 - 5 - 12 - - -
Tabanidae
Tabanidae LV - - - - - * - * - - - -
Tabanus sp. LV - - - - - * - - - - - -


Introduction

Surface-Water Data

Ground-Water Data

Precipitation Data

Biological Data