Macroinvertebrate Macroinvertebrate PresentationPresentation

Lindsay EnebakLindsay Enebak

Second Quarter ProjectSecond Quarter Project

MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates Lets take a closer Lets take a closer

look at look at Macroinvertebrates!Macroinvertebrates!

Macroinvertebrates Macroinvertebrates are small organisms.are small organisms.

When you are talking When you are talking about water quality, about water quality, the different ones can the different ones can tell you how polluted tell you how polluted or non-polluted a or non-polluted a stream is.stream is.

Some Very Sensitive Some Very Sensitive MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

These Macroinvertebrates are sensitive, or cannot live in polluted waters. These are very delicate and, when present, usually mean that the water is not polluted very badly. They are the easiest ones to die off if the water becomes too polluted.

StoneflyStonefly

Stoneflies have Stoneflies have two distinctive two distinctive tails or “sticks” tails or “sticks” out of their out of their abdomen. (Back abdomen. (Back section) This section) This distinguishes distinguishes these from the these from the Mayflies.Mayflies.

MayflyMayfly Mayflies are very Mayflies are very

sensitive to pollution sensitive to pollution and usually mean and usually mean that the stream is in that the stream is in good condition, if good condition, if they are present.they are present.

Mayflies have three Mayflies have three sticks out of their sticks out of their abdomen, unlike the abdomen, unlike the Stonefly, which has Stonefly, which has two.two.

CaddisflyCaddisfly Caddisflies are very Caddisflies are very

sensitive to sensitive to pollution. They pollution. They indicate whether or indicate whether or not water is polluted.not water is polluted.

Caddisflies resemble Caddisflies resemble worms, have four worms, have four claw-like arms, and claw-like arms, and have a pointed spear have a pointed spear at the tail.at the tail.

Hellgrammite (Dobsonfly)Hellgrammite (Dobsonfly) A Hellgrammite, or A Hellgrammite, or

Dobsonfly, also Dobsonfly, also indicate, if present, indicate, if present, non-polluted water. non-polluted water.

A Hellgrammite has a A Hellgrammite has a shelled head and a shelled head and a lot of legs. This is lot of legs. This is probably the easiest probably the easiest to identify of to identify of sensitive sensitive Macroinvertebrates.Macroinvertebrates.

PlanarianPlanarian

This is another This is another very sensitive very sensitive MacroinvertebrateMacroinvertebrate, the Planarian. It , the Planarian. It resembles a resembles a leech, to an leech, to an extent.extent.

Somewhat Sensitive Somewhat Sensitive MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates

These Macroinvertebrates are “somewhat sensitive”, or meaning that these can better withstand pollution than the pollution sensitive Macroinvertebrates that were before this. These usually mean good to okay water quality. These are somewhat harder to die off when the water becomes too polluted.

Crane FlyCrane Fly

The first somewhat The first somewhat sensitive sensitive Macroinvertebrate Macroinvertebrate is the Crane Fly. is the Crane Fly.

This is a pictures of This is a pictures of the larva stage. the larva stage. Like most of these Like most of these Macroinvertebrates Macroinvertebrates are.are.

DragonflyDragonfly This is a picture of a This is a picture of a

Dragonfly in its larva Dragonfly in its larva stage.stage.

Dragonflies are one of Dragonflies are one of the few the few Macroinvertebrates Macroinvertebrates that people normally that people normally would know and would know and usually don’t consider usually don’t consider them being them being Macroinvertebrates.Macroinvertebrates.

ScudScud

The third The third “Somewhat “Somewhat sensitive” sensitive” Macroinvertebrate Macroinvertebrate is a Scud. is a Scud.

Scuds resemble Scuds resemble crayfish or crayfish or shrimp, but are shrimp, but are much smaller. much smaller.

Not SensitiveNot Sensitive

These Macroinvertebrates are “not sensitive”, or can withstand pollution better than any other Macroinvertebrate. These can be present in any type of water. When you have a stream or body of water that has only these in it, that means that this is very polluted and won’t be very sanitary for other animals.

Aquatic WormAquatic Worm

Aquatic Worms are Aquatic Worms are the first not the first not sensitive sensitive Macroinvertebrate. Macroinvertebrate.

Aquatic Worms live Aquatic Worms live on the bottom of on the bottom of the body of water. the body of water. They usually stay in They usually stay in the water’s silt and the water’s silt and dirt at the bottom.dirt at the bottom.