Development of a Qualitative Model for Investigating Benthic Community Response to Anthropogenic Activities

The quality of stream ecosystems in many areas of the world is significantly degraded as a result of conversion of natural landscapes to urban and agricultural uses. Impacts of these activities can be observed in the organization of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities, which have distinct responses to physical, chemical, and biological disturbances. However, the information relating anthropogenic activities to benthic communities is fragmented and temporally inconclusive. Qualitative reasoning introduces a technique for resolving these deficiencies and increasing the understanding and prediction of stream ecosystem quality and function. By modeling these complex systems qualitatively, we develop a comprehensive understanding of the underlying processes that control benthic communities and thus provide a tool for education and minimization of the impacts to these sensitive systems. This study summarizes the development of this qualitative model for describing the impacts of watershed development and riparian deforestation activities on benthic macroinvertebrate communities. The model provides insight both into the response of stream ecosystems to destructive watershed activities and how restoration can assist in their recovery.