Long-term studies of seasonal variability enable evaluation of macroinvertebrate response to an acute oil spill in an urban Mediterranean-climate stream

摘要: Benthic macroinvertebrates show seasonal fluctuations with variability in hydrologic conditions. Coastal northern California (USA) is located a Mediterranean-climate area, which characterized by predictable wet and dry seasons, consequently stream flows. Monthly sampling over multiple years (2004–2005, 2010–2013) was used to examine taxonomic composition abundances of benthic at three sites Strawberry Creek, an urban on the University California, Berkeley campus. Although seasons all had similar taxa occurrences, variation evident two sites. The effects accidental oil spill winter 2011 were examined using Before–After design. Three days post-spill, macroinvertebrate richness impacted site decreased dramatically compared pre-spill levels; recovered one year later. Resilience likely from drift via unaffected fork flushing combination monthly opportunistic evaluation responses acute disturbance enabled us identify five that are common, abundant, easily identified, can be as framework for enhancing future volunteer-based biomonitoring research projects.