annexc - Newmont Mining Corporation

Annex C2 – Aquatic Resources Supplemental Information C2 - 4
Blay (2008a and 2008b) also collected benthic invertebrate samples at the 11 fish sampling
stations in the Study Area (Geomatrix 2008c). Almost all the samples were dominated by
the larvae of true flies (Diptera), mayflies (Ephemeroptera) and worms (oligochaeta). The
diptera larvae were dominated by the family chironomidae that are abundant in most aquatic
habitats and are generally tolerant of degraded habitat and water quality conditions. They
are well adapted to the fine sediment that dominates most of the sampled habitats. The
mayfly larvae were from the family Caenidae which is adapted to quiet and even stagnant
environments by virtue of their gills being adapted to function in silty environments. The
oligochaete worms are segmented worms like earthworms but in this case are aquatic and
commonly inhabit streams, marshes and other freshwater environments. All of these groups
are adapted for the silty and degraded conditions common to Study Area streams and
rivers. In general, dry season samples have higher densities of organisms than was found
during the wet season. It was sometimes difficult to sample in the main channels at some of
the study sites during the wet season because of high flow levels. Thus, it is possible that
marginal or flood plain habitat was sampled during the wet season with less established
benthic fauna. All dry season samples were taken from the main channels of the stream or
river in an area that was permanently wetted and therefore may be more representative of
conditions at these sites. In general, dry season samples were also more diverse than wet
season samples in the number of taxa represented in the samples.
Akyem Gold Mining Project November 2008 FINAL EIS