Ranking
All species have specific biological limits of water quality parameters that determine their habitat space. Species have a range of T, DO, or Sal that they can tolerate, with an optimal level as well as lethal limits in a bell shaped curve. This experiment looked at the lethal or median lethal limit of each species to see if they could survive in the water conditions measured throughout the season. Limits for each species are noted on the Species of Interest page. Species were ranked in a yes/no matrix as to whether they could survive at a specific station during a sampling event. Data were then compiled to determine the overall suitability of these waterways for each species throughout the season. Tributary and bay stations were analyzed separately as well as surface and bottom measurements for the 2019 and 2020 season*. Only water quality parameters were assessed to determine each species' suitability ranking. Other interactions, such as prey availability or predator deterrence, were not considered. Species were ranked with the following categories:
*2018 data was a pilot season used to test procedures but was not used for final analysis due to the August sampling events being close together. Only 2019 and 2020 sampling seasons were used to reduce data skew.