Impact of student-induced disturbance on stream macroinvertebrates differs among habitat types.

ABSTRACT: Environmental impacts from ecotourism and outdoor recreation activities on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are well-reported in the literature, but less is known regarding the impacts of outdoor environmental education activities. Student activity during stream classes may cause substrate disruption and localized impacts on stream macroinvertebrates. We hypothesized that student activity would negatively impact macroinvertebrate community structure in three habitat types (riffle, run, pool) within a site regularly used for stream classes while no impact from student activity would occur in the same three habitat types within an unused site. We addressed the hypothesis by sampling macroinvertebrates monthly for one year in the riffles, runs, and pools at the class site and the unused sit

SUBMITTER: Bossley JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6363764 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature