Includes
• Insects
• Crustaceans
• Mollusks
• Sensitive to Changes
• Cannot easily escape changes
• Collected very easily
What do macroinvertebrates do?
Job Example
• Predators dragonfly, damselfly, beetles
• Filter feeders mussels, fly larvae, midge larvae
• Scrapers snails, mayfly larvae
• Collectors worms, planarians
• Shredders amphipods, caddisfly larvae
Group A: Very sensitive to Environmental Stresses
Stoneflies Mayflies Caddisflies Dobsonflies Water penny
Group B: Somewhat sensitive to Environmental Stresses
Dragonflies Craneflies Damselflies Crayfish Scuds
Group C: Tolerant to Environmental Stresses
Midges Leeches Snails Pouch Snails Blackfly larva
Conclusion:
• Freshwater organisms-the Biotic part of the Freshwater environment- have “Limits” or “Optimal ranges” in water quality where they prefer to live.
• The quality of water can be determined by what and how many organisms are living in that environment.
• Macroinvertebrates are used to evaluate the quality and history of the water environment.
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