The Science Museum of Virginia is conducting a long-term study to determine the effects of climate change on the fish community structure and ecology in streams of northern Virginia.  This study begins with assessing the current health of streams in both a pristine (little to no human impact) and urban (high amount of human impact) environments.

Streams were chosen due to their stream order (1st through 3rd), the stream’s classification as pristine or urban (to provide the opportunity to eliminate variables that are the result of human impact), and their geographic proximity to each other (to provide for similar climate).

The Science Museum is collaborating with the U.S. Park National Park Service, the U.S. Marine Corps at Quantico, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, George Mason University and the University of Richmond.  This study is funded by US Department of Energy Award #DE-FG02-08ER64625.

Pristine and impacted streams were sampled to allow for the separation of urban development effects from those effects relating to climate change.

Over 25 different types of physical, chemical and biological data are collected at 23 locations every month.  These collections are made by a crew of three to four people over a four day period during each survey.

Macroinvertebrates are collected using “D” frame dip nets. Macroinvertebrate samples are preserved and taken back to the lab to be identified.

Fish are collected using a backpack electroshocker to momentarily stun the fish so they can be netted.  Captured fish are identified, individual species are recorded and fish are then released back into the stream.