Post on 29-Mar-2015
Michael Clapp - nwnature.netMichael Clapp - nwnature.netCAM Jr/Sr High ~ Battle Ground, WACAM Jr/Sr High ~ Battle Ground, WA
October 2010October 2010
Know Your Macros!Know Your Macros!
What are Benthic Macroinvertebrates?What are Benthic Macroinvertebrates?
Commonly called: “macros”Commonly called: “macros” Benthic = bottom dwellingBenthic = bottom dwelling Macro = large enough to be seen Macro = large enough to be seen
without aid of a microscopewithout aid of a microscope Invertebrate = without a Invertebrate = without a
backbonebackbone
Why Study Macros?Why Study Macros?
Macros have different tolerances to pollution -- some Macros have different tolerances to pollution -- some are sensitive, others are tolerant are sensitive, others are tolerant
They’re used as bio-indicators of water qualityThey’re used as bio-indicators of water quality They live in habitat continuously over an extended They live in habitat continuously over an extended
period of timeperiod of time affected by sporadic changes (spills, temp. spikes)affected by sporadic changes (spills, temp. spikes) affected by seasonal variations of streamaffected by seasonal variations of stream
Macros are COOL!Macros are COOL! Learn about classification, life cycle, adaptations, Learn about classification, life cycle, adaptations,
energy roles, environmental factors, and more …energy roles, environmental factors, and more …
Identifying MacrosIdentifying Macros Based on observable physical characteristicsBased on observable physical characteristics Organisms are identified using keys, requires …Organisms are identified using keys, requires …
awareness of distinguishing features awareness of distinguishing features knowledge of life cycle (larva, pupa, adult)knowledge of life cycle (larva, pupa, adult)
Classification of organismsClassification of organisms Different levels of classification (taxa)Different levels of classification (taxa) Levels progress from general groupings to more specificLevels progress from general groupings to more specific Field ID to Class & Order level … possibly FamilyField ID to Class & Order level … possibly Family
Scientific Name =Scientific Name = Genus species Genus species Based on Latin/GreekBased on Latin/Greek
E-P-T: Important IndicatorsE-P-T: Important IndicatorsOrders:Orders: Ephemeroptera = mayfliesEphemeroptera = mayflies
TT olerance levels vary by typeolerance levels vary by type Richness (diversity) in families more important Richness (diversity) in families more important
than quantity of just one or two speciesthan quantity of just one or two species
Plecoptera = stonefliesPlecoptera = stoneflies Generally sensitive to water pollutionGenerally sensitive to water pollution
Tricoptera = caddisfliesTricoptera = caddisflies Tolerance levels vary by typeTolerance levels vary by type Netspinners are tolerant; others mostly moderateNetspinners are tolerant; others mostly moderate Richness (diversity) in families more important Richness (diversity) in families more important
than quantity of just one or two speciesthan quantity of just one or two species
Mayflies (Order Ephemeroptera)Mayflies (Order Ephemeroptera)
Six legs attached to thoraxSix legs attached to thorax Thorax does not appear Thorax does not appear
divideddivided Gills along the abdomen Gills along the abdomen 2 or 3 tails 2 or 3 tails 1 pair wing pads, if present1 pair wing pads, if present Generally collector Generally collector
gatherers and shreddersgatherers and shredders Sensitive or moderately Sensitive or moderately
tolerant of pollution tolerant of pollution
head
thorax
abdomen
2 plates
gills
tails orcerci
adult
Mayflies (Order Ephemeroptera)Mayflies (Order Ephemeroptera)
Common Families:Common Families: AmeletidAmeletid Small MinnowSmall Minnow FlatheadedFlatheaded Spiny CrawlerSpiny Crawler PronggilledPronggilled
Stoneflies (Order Plecoptera)Stoneflies (Order Plecoptera)
Thorax divided into 3 partsThorax divided into 3 parts Pair of legs for each partPair of legs for each part 2 claws at end of each leg2 claws at end of each leg
2 pair wing pads, if present2 pair wing pads, if present Only 2 tailsOnly 2 tails Gills Gills maymay be visible on be visible on
thorax (“hairy armpits”) or thorax (“hairy armpits”) or under neckunder neck
Shredders and predatorsShredders and predators Mostly sensitive to pollutionMostly sensitive to pollution
2 tails
abdomen
thorax
head
3 plates
sometimes gills visible on thorax
2 claws
adult
Stoneflies (Order Plecoptera)Stoneflies (Order Plecoptera)
Common Families:Common Families: GoldenGolden Little Yellow Little Yellow Little Green Little Green Slender WinterSlender Winter Little BrownLittle Brown Roach-likeRoach-like GiantGiant
wing pads
Caddisflies (Order Trichoptera)Caddisflies (Order Trichoptera) 6 legs attached to thorax6 legs attached to thorax Fleshy abdomen; some with hair-Fleshy abdomen; some with hair-
like gillslike gills Prolegs with hooks at end of Prolegs with hooks at end of
abdomen; some have tufts of hair abdomen; some have tufts of hair Some build cases from rocks Some build cases from rocks
and/or plant material (case-makers)and/or plant material (case-makers) Some spin nets as a retreat and to Some spin nets as a retreat and to
collect detritus (netspinners)collect detritus (netspinners) Some crawl around in search of Some crawl around in search of
prey (free-living)prey (free-living) Sensitive or moderately sensitive Sensitive or moderately sensitive
to pollutionto pollution
headthorax
abdomen
abdominal gills (Netspinner)
prolegs with hooks
netspinner
casemakeradult
Caddisflies (Order Trichoptera)Caddisflies (Order Trichoptera) Common Families: Common Families:
Northern casemaker Northern casemaker Saddle casemakersSaddle casemakers Lepidostomatid casemakerLepidostomatid casemaker Humpless casemakerHumpless casemaker Netspinner Netspinner Freeliving (gr. rockworm)Freeliving (gr. rockworm) FingernetFingernet Lepidostomatid - two case styles
Other Common Taxa Other Common Taxa of Aquatic Macrosof Aquatic Macros
Worms: flatworms, earthworms, & leechesWorms: flatworms, earthworms, & leeches Mollusks: snails, mussels, & clamsMollusks: snails, mussels, & clams Arachnids: water mitesArachnids: water mites Crustaceans: aquatic sowbugs, scuds, & Crustaceans: aquatic sowbugs, scuds, &
crayfishcrayfish Insects: true bugs, beetles, dragonflies & Insects: true bugs, beetles, dragonflies &
damselflies, dobsonflies & alderflies, midges, damselflies, dobsonflies & alderflies, midges, black flies, & crane fliesblack flies, & crane flies
Flatworms (Class Turbellaria)Flatworms (Class Turbellaria)
Flattened body; not Flattened body; not segmentedsegmented
Eyespots (usually visible)Eyespots (usually visible) ““Glides” over surfacesGlides” over surfaces Somewhat tolerantSomewhat tolerant
Aquatic Earthworm Aquatic Earthworm (Class Oligochaeta)(Class Oligochaeta)
Round, segmented Round, segmented bodybody
Small hair-like bristles Small hair-like bristles along bodyalong body
Tolerant of pollutionTolerant of pollution
SuckersSuckersat frontat front& rear& rear
Aquatic earthworm
Leech (Class Hirudinea)Leech (Class Hirudinea)
leech
Snails (Class Gastropoda)Snails (Class Gastropoda) Hard spiral shellHard spiral shell Gilled snails (right-side opening Gilled snails (right-side opening
with narrow end up) are somewhat with narrow end up) are somewhat sensitivesensitive
Pouch snails (left-side opening) are Pouch snails (left-side opening) are toleranttolerant
Limpet - small, dome-like shellLimpet - small, dome-like shellright-side
left-side
limpet
Clams & Mussels (Class Clams & Mussels (Class Bivalvia) Bivalvia)
2 shells hinged together2 shells hinged together Clams are smaller and Clams are smaller and
rounder than musselsrounder than mussels Somewhat tolerant of Somewhat tolerant of
pollutionpollution Important for stream Important for stream
health because they health because they filter feed and clean the filter feed and clean the waterwater
mussel
clams
Water Mites (Class Arachnids)Water Mites (Class Arachnids) Round body with no visible Round body with no visible
segmentssegments 8 legs8 legs 2 finger-like pedipalps project 2 finger-like pedipalps project
forward forward Small (usually 1-3 mm); look like Small (usually 1-3 mm); look like
moving dots moving dots Most are predators, piercing their Most are predators, piercing their
prey with fang-like mouth parts; prey with fang-like mouth parts; others consume plants or carrion others consume plants or carrion or feed as external parasitesor feed as external parasites
Generally tolerant to somewhat Generally tolerant to somewhat toleranttolerant
pedipalps
Sowbugs & Scuds (Class Crustacea)Sowbugs & Scuds (Class Crustacea)
Aquatic Sow bug (Order Isopoda)Aquatic Sow bug (Order Isopoda) Tan, brown, or greyish in colorTan, brown, or greyish in color 7 pair of segmented legs7 pair of segmented legs Body flattened top-to-bottomBody flattened top-to-bottom Crawls flat on bottom of trayCrawls flat on bottom of tray
Scud (Order Amphipoda)Scud (Order Amphipoda) Curved, shrimp-like bodyCurved, shrimp-like body 7 pair of segmented legs7 pair of segmented legs Flattened from side-to-sideFlattened from side-to-side Swims on its sideSwims on its side
sow bug
scud
Crayfish (Order Decapoda)Crayfish (Order Decapoda)
CrustaceansCrustaceans 5 pairs of walking legs5 pairs of walking legs Enlarged claw at end of first Enlarged claw at end of first
pair of legspair of legs Wide flipper at end of Wide flipper at end of
abdomenabdomen Somewhat tolerant of pollutionSomewhat tolerant of pollution Omnivore - mostly eats plant Omnivore - mostly eats plant
material, but also consumes material, but also consumes carrion, scrapes algae, and carrion, scrapes algae, and preys on live macrospreys on live macros
Branchiobdellid (Crayfish) Worm
Water Beetles (Order Coleoptera)Water Beetles (Order Coleoptera) Diverse Order of insectsDiverse Order of insects Includes Riffle beetles, Includes Riffle beetles,
Predaceous beetles, Water Predaceous beetles, Water Penny, & WhirligigsPenny, & Whirligigs
Sensitive to PollutionSensitive to Pollution
Predaceous beetle
Riffle beetle
Whirligig beetle
larva
adult
adult
larva
Water penny
Scavenger beetle
Dragonflies & Damselflies Dragonflies & Damselflies (Order Odonata)(Order Odonata)
DragonfliesDragonflies Large abdomen tapers to Large abdomen tapers to
point(s), but no tailpoint(s), but no tail Internal gills are not visibleInternal gills are not visible
Damselflies Damselflies Narrow abdomen ends with 3 Narrow abdomen ends with 3
paddle-like gillspaddle-like gills Dragonflies & DamselfliesDragonflies & Damselflies
PredatorsPredators Extendable, hinged jaw Extendable, hinged jaw
captures preycaptures prey Somewhat tolerantSomewhat tolerant
gills
dragonflies
damselfly
Dobsonflies & AlderfliesDobsonflies & Alderflies(Order Megaloptera)(Order Megaloptera)
AlderfliesAlderflies Large gill filaments along Large gill filaments along
abdomenabdomen Abdomen ends with single, long, Abdomen ends with single, long,
pointed tail filamentpointed tail filament More tolerant of pollution than More tolerant of pollution than
dobsonfliesdobsonflies Dobsonflies Dobsonflies
Stout, flexible filaments, extend Stout, flexible filaments, extend from abdomenfrom abdomen
Long, somewhat flattened bodyLong, somewhat flattened body 2 prolegs at the end, with two 2 prolegs at the end, with two
claws on each prolegclaws on each proleg Sensitive to pollutionSensitive to pollution
alderfly
dobsonfly
Midges (Order Diptera)Midges (Order Diptera)
Worm-like, but with Worm-like, but with definite head and definite head and prolegs (usually)prolegs (usually)
““Twitchy” swimmersTwitchy” swimmers Pollution tolerantPollution tolerant
head prolegs
pupa
Blackflies (Order Diptera)Blackflies (Order Diptera)
Shaped like bowling pin Shaped like bowling pin Two fans on top of head Two fans on top of head
for filteringfor filtering Attaches to substrate Attaches to substrate
with ring of hookswith ring of hooks Single proleg beneath Single proleg beneath
headhead Tolerant of pollutionTolerant of pollution
proleg
pupa
Craneflies (Order Diptera)Craneflies (Order Diptera)
Long, fleshy abdomenLong, fleshy abdomen Head often withdrawn & Head often withdrawn &
concealed by thoraxconcealed by thorax Some have pairs of prolegs Some have pairs of prolegs
beneath abdomenbeneath abdomen Somewhat tolerant (other Somewhat tolerant (other
Diptera are more tolerant)Diptera are more tolerant) Some are shedders, other Some are shedders, other
predatorspredatorsprolegs
head
pupa
Water Boatman & Backswimmer Water Boatman & Backswimmer (Order Hemiptera)(Order Hemiptera)
Water StriderWater Strider ““Skates” around on top of waterSkates” around on top of water Front legs grab & beak pierces preyFront legs grab & beak pierces prey
Water BoatmanWater Boatman Oval body with wavy lines Oval body with wavy lines
across a dark colored backacross a dark colored back Oar-like legsOar-like legs
Backswimmer Backswimmer Similar to boatman; swims upside downSimilar to boatman; swims upside down Dark underside & light-colored backDark underside & light-colored back CAUTION -- can bite!CAUTION -- can bite!
water strider
water boatman
backswimmer
Credits & ResourcesCredits & Resources Slideshow & Photos:Slideshow & Photos:
by Michael Clapp by Michael Clapp
Websites:Websites: www.nwnature.netwww.nwnature.net
Email:Email: mclapp@nwnature.net
Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements: Judy Bufford & the Water Resources Judy Bufford & the Water Resources
Education Center (Vancouver, WA)Education Center (Vancouver, WA) Jeff Adams (formerly with Xerces)Jeff Adams (formerly with Xerces) Patrick Edwards (Portland State U.)Patrick Edwards (Portland State U.)
Resources:Resources: Macroinvertebrates of the Pacific Macroinvertebrates of the Pacific
NorthwestNorthwest (CD & booklet) (CD & booklet)by Jeff Adams and Mace Vaughanby Jeff Adams and Mace Vaughan
Freshwater Macroinvertebrates Freshwater Macroinvertebrates from Streams in WA & ORfrom Streams in WA & OR by Michael R. Clappby Michael R. Clapp
Stream Insects of the Pacific Stream Insects of the Pacific NorthwestNorthwest by Patrick Edwards by Patrick Edwards
Freshwater Invertebrates of N. Am.Freshwater Invertebrates of N. Am. by J. Reese Voshell, Jr.by J. Reese Voshell, Jr.
Stream SceneStream Scene by Oregon Dept. of by Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW)Fish & Wildlife (ODFW)