Macroinvertebrate samples were collected from streams tributary to Honnedaga Lake and from the Middle Branch of the Black River during 2012-2016 and analyzed for methylmercury concentrations and for stable isotope ratios of nitrogen and carbon. Macroinvertebrates were identified in the field, and the level of taxonomic resolution varied from order to species; most taxa were identified to the family level. Specimens were field-processed into composite samples, field-frozen, and submitted to the mercury laboratory for freeze-drying and analysis. Subsamples were then submitted to the stable isotope laboratory for analysis of nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios. This database contains the resulting data and associated information for these composite samples of whole macroinvertebrates.

A data release containing information on benthic macroinvertebrate communities and sediment toxicity in the Eighteenmile Creek Area of Concern and a nearby reference area at Oak Orchard Creek. Bed sediments were collected during summer 2021 at 8 sites on Eighteenmile Creek and at 6 sites on Oak Orchard Creek using a petite Ponar dredge for macroinvertebrate identification and sediment toxicity testing. Macroinvertebrates were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic resolution and used to calculate metrics of biological integrity following standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation procedures. 10-day sediment toxicity tests were conducted using two test species, Chironomus dilutus and Hyalella azteca, following USEPA test methods 100.2 and 100.1, respectively. In situ habitat measurements and sediment samples for determination of grain size distribution and total organic carbon concentration were also taken at the time of sample collection at all sites. The data release has four separate tables: one containing site locations and habitat information, one containing the results of sediment toxicity tests, one containing macroinvertebrate identifications, and one containing standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation metrics of macroinvertebrate community integrity calculated from the macroinvertebrate identifications.

A data release containing information on benthic macroinvertebrate communities and sediment toxicity in the Eighteenmile Creek Area of Concern and a nearby reference area at Oak Orchard Creek. Bed sediments were collected during summer 2021 at 8 sites on Eighteenmile Creek and at 6 sites on Oak Orchard Creek using a petite Ponar dredge for macroinvertebrate identification and sediment toxicity testing. Macroinvertebrates were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic resolution and used to calculate metrics of biological integrity following standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation procedures. 10-day sediment toxicity tests were conducted using two test species, Chironomus dilutus and Hyalella azteca, following USEPA test methods 100.2 and 100.1, respectively. In situ habitat measurements and sediment samples for determination of grain size distribution and total organic carbon concentration were also taken at the time of sample collection at all sites. The data release has four separate tables: one containing site locations and habitat information, one containing the results of sediment toxicity tests, one containing macroinvertebrate identifications, and one containing standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation metrics of macroinvertebrate community integrity calculated from the macroinvertebrate identifications.

This dataset describes biomass and methylmercury concentrations in zooplankton, other invertebrates, fish, and coarse and fine detritus samples collected at the outflow locations of Brownlee and Oxbow Reservoirs in the Snake River Hells Canyon Complex. Based on the sampling locations, the sampled materials were presumed to have flowed through the dam turbines or over the spillway, thereby representing biological export from the reservoirs. Samples were collected biweekly at each location over a sixteen-month period, June 2018 – September 2019. Sampling and analysis methods are described in the Processing Steps section of the metadata.

This dataset describes biomass and methylmercury concentrations in zooplankton, other invertebrates, fish, and coarse and fine detritus samples collected at the outflow locations of Brownlee and Oxbow Reservoirs in the Snake River Hells Canyon Complex. Based on the sampling locations, the sampled materials were presumed to have flowed through the dam turbines or over the spillway, thereby representing biological export from the reservoirs. Samples were collected biweekly at each location over a sixteen-month period, June 2018 – September 2019. Sampling and analysis methods are described in the Processing Steps section of the metadata.

A data release containing information on macroinvertebrate communities and sediment toxicity in the Niagara River and adjacent areas collected during a sampling effort conducted between 2019 and 2020, and a sampling effort conducted in 2022. During the first sampling effort, bed sediments were collected at 60 sites in the Niagara River, 5 sites on lower Smoke Creek, and 6 sites on Hoyt Lake for use in sediment toxicity testing and determination of grain size distribution and total organic carbon concentration. Additionally, macroinvertebrate samples were collected from the 60 sites on the Niagara River. During the second sampling effort, bed sediments were collected at 10 sites on lower Smoke Creek (5 of which were repeated from the first sampling effort), 5 reference sites on upper Smoke Creek, and 6 sites on Hoyt Lake (all of which were repeated from the first sampling effort) for toxicity testing, macroinvertebrate community assessment, and and determination of grain size distribution and total organic carbon concentration. Additionally, sediments were collected at 10 sites in the Black Rock Canal, 5 reference sites in the upper Black Rock Canal, and 5 sites in Erie Basin Marina for macroinvertebrate community assessment. The selection of site locations and analyses was done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation based on existing data gaps and prior sediment chemistry data. For both sampling efforts, in situ habitat measurements were taken at the time of sample collection at all sites. All sediment samples were collected using a petite Ponar dredge. Ten-day sediment toxicity tests were performed using two test species, Chironomus dilutus and Hyalella azteca, following standard USEPA test methods. Macroinvertebrates were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic resolution and used to calculate metrics of biological integrity following standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation procedures. A morphological deformity analysis was also conducted on the mentum mouthpart of midge larvae in the genus Chironomus as an additional measure of toxicity following standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation procedures. The data release has five separate tables: one containing site locations and habitat information, one containing the results of sediment toxicity tests, one containing macroinvertebrate identifications, one containing standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation metrics of macroinvertebrate community integrity calculated from the macroinvertebrate identifications, and one containing the results of the morphological deformity analysis.

A data release containing information on macroinvertebrate communities and sediment toxicity in the Niagara River and adjacent areas collected during a sampling effort conducted between 2019 and 2020, and a sampling effort conducted in 2022. During the first sampling effort, bed sediments were collected at 60 sites in the Niagara River, 5 sites on lower Smoke Creek, and 6 sites on Hoyt Lake for use in sediment toxicity testing and determination of grain size distribution and total organic carbon concentration. Additionally, macroinvertebrate samples were collected from the 60 sites on the Niagara River. During the second sampling effort, bed sediments were collected at 10 sites on lower Smoke Creek (5 of which were repeated from the first sampling effort), 5 reference sites on upper Smoke Creek, and 6 sites on Hoyt Lake (all of which were repeated from the first sampling effort) for toxicity testing, macroinvertebrate community assessment, and and determination of grain size distribution and total organic carbon concentration. Additionally, sediments were collected at 10 sites in the Black Rock Canal, 5 reference sites in the upper Black Rock Canal, and 5 sites in Erie Basin Marina for macroinvertebrate community assessment. The selection of site locations and analyses was done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation based on existing data gaps and prior sediment chemistry data. For both sampling efforts, in situ habitat measurements were taken at the time of sample collection at all sites. All sediment samples were collected using a petite Ponar dredge. Ten-day sediment toxicity tests were performed using two test species, Chironomus dilutus and Hyalella azteca, following standard USEPA test methods. Macroinvertebrates were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic resolution and used to calculate metrics of biological integrity following standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation procedures. A morphological deformity analysis was also conducted on the mentum mouthpart of midge larvae in the genus Chironomus as an additional measure of toxicity following standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation procedures. The data release has five separate tables: one containing site locations and habitat information, one containing the results of sediment toxicity tests, one containing macroinvertebrate identifications, one containing standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation metrics of macroinvertebrate community integrity calculated from the macroinvertebrate identifications, and one containing the results of the morphological deformity analysis.

The data represent counts and presence of stream-dwelling aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in nine watersheds within the non-connected stormwater region in Kansas City, Missouri. Samples were collected from 3 stream habitats (coarse substrate in cobble riffles, depositional non-flow habitat in pools, and rootmats along shoreline areas). Macroinvertebrate organisms were enumerated and identified to the lowest practical taxonomic unit.

The data represent counts and presence of stream-dwelling aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in nine watersheds within the non-connected stormwater region in Kansas City, Missouri. Samples were collected from 3 stream habitats (coarse substrate in cobble riffles, depositional non-flow habitat in pools, and rootmats along shoreline areas). Macroinvertebrate organisms were enumerated and identified to the lowest practical taxonomic unit.

This dataset is comprised of water quality data and benthic macroinvertebrate data collected from basins in Colorado, USA, and Finland. The data includes ancillary water quality characteristics but also a suite of trace metals observed at each site. Also included are modeled outputs that characterize the bioavailability of each trace metal to a biotic ligand. These data were used to explore the importance of metal toxicity and pH as stressors on benthic macroinvertebrates characterized as the number of unique Ephemeroptera + Plecoptera + Trichoptera genera observed at each site. An interpretive summary of the work follows. One of the primary goals of biological assessment of rivers is to identify whether contaminants or other stressors limit the ecological potential of running waters. Quantitative relationships between species richness and environmental gradients are useful to better understand biodiversity patterns. Many studies have focused on the effects of pH and high metals concentration on freshwater macroinvertebrate community but, due to data limitation and the lack of tools, the ecological effects of metals mixture in streams are less studied and still unclear. We address an old question: is it the low pH or the metals that are deleterious for stream ecosystems? With new tools, we can achieve improved understanding of the true importance of the two stressors. Our study quantified the limiting effects of pH and chronic metal toxicity for macroinvertebrate community richness. We verified that current environmental quality standards for metals are protective of aquatic biodiversity and proved that pH has a direct limiting effect on richness and it not acts only via modifying the availability and the toxicity of metals. These questions were applied to a dataset spanning two continents and diversity of geologies and ecosystems providing a broad basis for understanding how physico-chemical conditions limit global freshwater biodiversity.