Habitat influence on fish community assemblage in an agricultural landscape in four East Central Indiana streams : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

The objective of this study was to relate the quality of the fish community with the quality of the habitat using the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) and Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) in Buck Creek, Bell Creek, Killbuck Creek, and Little Killbuck Creek in Delaware, Henry and Madison counties IN. The landuse in this area is primarily agriculture, which has caused the creek to be manipulated through anthropogenic practices. Evidence suggests that channelization and substrate are the most influential habitat metrics on fish community assemblage quality. Therefore, to maintain the highest quality fish community in a stream, land owners and land managers need to take steps to prevent stream manipulation through agricultural practices.