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Macro Invertebrates Wednesday – November 13, 2009
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Bell Ringer 11/17/09 In your notebook, arrange the following items into created groups, and why those groups: Fork Spoon Shovel Toothpick Ice cream scoop Bucket Spear
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Aquatic Macroinvertebrates
A presentation created by: CREEK CONNECTIONS Box 10, Allegheny College Meadville, PA When people think about aquatic life, they think about frogs, fish, crayfish, and lily pads. Many people don’t think about aquatic insects. There are thousands of species. Of the 91,000+ North American insects, 7% are aquatic or semi-aquatic. They can be found in every type of waterway, from a small temporary pond to a forested creek to a large river passing through a city. Illustration source: Microsoft Office Clip Art
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Aquatic Insect Feeding
Detritus Shredders Decomposers Illustrations Source: Aquatic Entomology by W. Patrick McCafferty, 1998 Coarse Particulate Organic Matter (CPOM) Cranefly Larva Illustration Source: Stream Ecology: Structure and Function of Running Waters by J. David Allan, 1995.
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Shredders Shredders – help to breakdown the clumps of organic materials and detritus Detritus: dead leaves, plants parts, twigs and other organic matter Examples of shredders: Cranefly larvae Case-building caddisfly larvae Scuds Aquatic sowbugs Some small stonefly nymphs
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Aquatic Insect Feeding
Fine Particulate Organic Matter (FPOM) Collectors Filtering Collectors Gathering Collectors Brushlegged Mayfly Nymph Source of photo: unknown Blackfly Larva Illustrations Source (both): Aquatic Entomology by W. Patrick McCafferty, 1998
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Filtering and Gathering Collectors
Filtering Collectors – obtain food from bits and pieces in the water column. Examples of filtering collectors: Mayfly nymphs Net-spinner caddisfly larvae Blackfly larvae Mussels Some midge larvae
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Filtering and Gathering Collectors
Gathering Collectors – obtain food from the stream bottom Examples of gathering collectors: Some mayfly nymphs Some caddisfly larvae Some midge larvae
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Aquatic Insect Feeding
Grazers or Scrapers Periphyton - algae on rocks Water Penny Case-building Caddisfly Larva macroinv/caddiscase.jpg Illustration Source: Stream Ecology: Structure and Function of Running Waters by J. David Allan, 1995.
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Grazers/Scrapers Grazers/Scrapers – feed on algae on rocks
Examples of grazers/scrapers: Water pennies Flathead mayfly nymphs Snails Casebuliding caddisfly larvae
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Aquatic Insect Feeding
Predators Dragonfly Larva Giant Water Bug Giant Water Bug Illustrations Source (two above): Aquatic Entomology by W. Patrick McCafferty, 1998
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Predators Predators – feed on other aquatic insects
Examples of predators: Dobsonfly larvae Fishfly larvae Dragonfly nymphs Water bugs Most beetles Crayfish Water striders Some stonefly nymphs
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