Exploratory analysis of population genetic assessment as a water quality indicator. II. Campostoma anomalum.

Biological monitoring programs to assess contaminant-induced impacts in aquatic systems are being developed and implemented by several federal agencies and many states. Genetic diversity and allozyme frequency may be valuable indicators of such impact because they are both sensitive to exposure and ecologically relevant in populations. The purpose of this study was to examine whether genetic diversity and structure of Campostoma anomalum populations could serve as effective biomarkers of exposure to anthropogenic stress by comparing genetic measures with other biological indicators of water quality. Fish were collected from 14 sites on seven streams by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency as part of their stream water quality evaluation program. Values for the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) and the Invertebrate Community Index (ICI) were determined for these 14 sites. Starch gel electrophoresis was used to collect genetic data for eight variable enzyme loci. Genetic diversity measures were not associated with site IBI or ICI values. However, the range of site IBI and ICI values was limited. Allele and genotype frequencies were significantly different at the point source compared to sites upstream and downstream indicating that genetic structure may be an indicator of water quality that is sensitive enough to detect change prior to species loss.