SPECIFIC CONDUCTIVITY AND BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES IN HEADWATER STREAMS IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA

This study explores the relationship between specific conductivity and benthic macroinvertebrate communities, to determine the effects of increasing development on suburban headwater streams in the Piedmont of North Carolina. In order to do this, we installed stream gauges in 16 headwater streams north of Charlotte, North Carolina. At each stream site, we monitored specific conductivity data at 15-minute intervals, while also measuring temperature and discharge. Additionally, we sampled benthic macroinvertebrate populations multiple times during the study period. Our results show no statistically significant relationships between specific conductivity and benthic macroinvertebrate biodiversity, suggesting that all streams may be impaired enough to exclude sensitive species. Further, land use does not correlate with specific conductivity in these streams, indicating a more complex mechanism. If fact, stream conductivity remains enigmatic, as spikes in specific conductivity do not co-occur with precipitation events. Our study is ongoing as we work towards understanding the controls on specific conductivity and the resulting impacts on the ecosystem.