What Lives in or Near Our Water?

Fish

Catfish

Shiners and chubs

Bluegill

Amphibians

Leopard Frog

Tadpoles

Bull Frog

Amphibians

Salamanders – Larvae have gills, legs

Mudpuppy – retains gills throughout life

Red-eared slider

Adult Snapper

Reptiles

Reptiles

Queen Snake – common in our area - non-venomous

Northern Water Snake – aggressive but non-venomous

Birds

Eastern Kingfisher

Green HeronRed-winged

Blackbird

Mammals

RaccoonMink

Beaver Muskrat

None of the previous animals are used to indicate the quality of water in an area – they are nice to find, but are often the first to go if the water is not good.

Indicators of Water Quality

Macroinvertebrates – without backbones, large enough to be seen

Many of the macroinvertebrates are insect larvae that spend part of their life cycle as aquatic organism.

The macroinvertebrates are divided into groups based on their tolerance of poor water conditions.

Group I – indicators of good water quality. These have low tolerance of pollutants.

Group II – indicators of fair water quality. These have moderate tolerance of pollutants.

Group III – indicators of poor water quality. These have high tolerance of pollutants and low oxygen levels.

Stonefly adult

1Food for many fish

Stonefly nymph

1Food for many fish

Mayfly nymph

Mayfly adult

Adult only lives for a day or so to mate.

Dobsonfly adult

1

Dobsonfly larva

Also called a hellgrammite. Food for many fish – good bait too!

Adults only live for a few days to mate.

1Found in little cases of sand and sticks on the bottom of rocks.

Caddisfly larva

Caddisfly adult

1

Type of beetle - found on the bottom of rocks.

Water penny larva

2

Adults look like giant mosquitoes – they do not bite and are lousy fliers. These are not the water striders that might also be found.

Horsefly and deerfly larvae are similar.

Crane fly larva

Crane fly adult

2

Adults hold wings together when resting.

Adults hold wings parallel when resting.

Dragonflynymph

Damselflynymph

Larvae are voracious predators – often catching fish and tadpoles!

2

Crustacean – shell on the outside. Look like small lobsters

Crayfish or Crawdads - Decapods

Holes in the banks or “chimneys” in the fields near the stream are made by some species of crayfish

2

Crustaceans– related to the “roly-polys” found under rocks on land.

Crustaceans – shell on the outside. Look like tiny shrimp

Sow bugs - Isopods

Scuds or side swimmers - Amphipods

2

Beetlelarvae

Alderfly larva

2

Clams and Mussels – Mollusks

These are filter feeders – siphons bring water into the animal and nutrients are removed

3

Segmented worms – only some are blood suckers. Good bait too!

Leeches

Aquatic worms

Flat worms - Planaria

Simple organisms – look carefully on the bottom of rocks

3

Blackfly larva

This insect larva has a suction cup on one end to anchor it to rocks.

Midge larva

This insect larva lives in the silt and on leaves. Some are called a “blood worms” due to red color.

1

3

Right hand snails – have gills and need water with higher oxygen levels

Left hand snails – have lung-like organs and breathe air - can live in polluted water

The key to a healthy stream is its BIODIVERSITY – finding a wide variety of macroinvertebrates is best. If only Group III organisms are found, you should be concerned about the health of the stream. The Tally Sheet helps you to determine the biodiversity and health of the stream.

Macroinvertebrate Tally  

Group I Taxa Tally Group II Taxa Tally Group III Taxa TallyWater Penny Larvae Damselfly Nymphs Blackfly LarvaeMayfly Nymphs Dragonfly Nymphs Aquatic Worm, PlanariaDobsonfly Larvae Cranefly Larvae Midge LarvaeCaddisfly Larvae Beetle Larvae Left-hand SnailsRight-hand Snails Crayfish LeechesRiffle Beetle Adults Scuds (sideswimmers)

Clams/MusselsSowbugs (isopods)Alderfly Larvae

Number of Taxa present Number of Taxa present Number of Taxa present

Times Index value of (3): Times Index value of (2): Times Index value of (1):

Total Index Value: 

Biological Quality Assessment Scale 

Poor 0 - 11 Fair 12 - 16 Good 17 - 22 Excellent 23+

www.seanet.com/~leskaYou may download, copy, or distribute this guide for educational purposes but not for resale. For more information contact leska@seanet.com. 

Kentucky WaterWatch: www.state.ky.us/nrepc/water/bioindpg.htm

Sources of line drawings:

www.waterwatch.org.au/.../introduction.html

Other sites for guides:

PicturesA Golden Guide – Pond Life St. Martin’s Press