1. 1 Citizens’ Environment Watch Water Quality Monitoring with Benthic Macroinvertebrates Spring 2009

2. 2 Citizens’ Environment Watch Mission CEW empowers people to take an active role in protecting and sustaining nature. We give people the tools for education, monitoring and influencing positive change. Since 1996, CEW has: –Worked with over 6,000 volunteers including over 3,500 youth –Led over 100 environmental monitoring sessions in 10 watersheds across Ontario –Held over 10 multi-stakeholder community forums

3. 3 Our Programs CEW has a diverse set of programs to maximize the impact of our volunteers to protect and sustain nature.

4. 4 Changing Currents One of CEW’s longest running programs In over 10 watersheds Standardized protocols

5. 5 Students in Action! “I signed up because I heard the course would be mostly outside and I thought it would be fun, but it was really much more than that. It gave us the tools to go out and actually change something.” Grade 11 student participant

6. 6 Roles and Responsibilities CEW: –Provide training & equipment –Aid in scheduling and project planning –Help with finding and ‘adopting’ sites –Provide leadership during field study –Data management –Guidance in developing community projects

7. 7 Roles and Responsibilities Teachers: –Deliver in-class components of the program (see CEW’s Teacher & Student Guide) –Determine sample site(s) –Scheduling field study (transportation and permission forms) –Provide CEW with copies of the datasheets –Ensure timely equipment return –Send CEW materials related to your field study (e.g. pictures, comments, action plans, etc.)

8. 8 What are we doing today? Monitoring: The Foundation (20 mins) Study Techniques (40 mins) Break (15 mins) Identification Workshop (45 mins) Lunch (30 mins) Field Study (1hr & 30 mins) Break (15 mins) Understanding your Data (15 mins) Debrief and Overview (15 mins)

9. 9 Why Monitor? To understand the state of your local environment Monitoring is a process, or a means to an end All monitoring needs to be informed by a goal, or a study question Sample Study Questions: What is the water quality of my local stream? (baseline monitoring) Is this golf course affecting water quality? (upstream and downstream) Do these new houses have an impact on water quality? (before and after)

10. 10 Why Monitor? Benefits of monitoring: Improve understanding within your community Raise a red flag Inform stewardship projects Link to local decision- making process It’s fun!

11. 11 Site Selection Wadable stream close to your school Enough space to accommodate a large group Should have 40 metres length of stream Should be pre-scouted for safety

12. 12 Safety & Equipment Do not trespass Make sure there are multiple safe access points to the stream Be aware of water levels, poisonous plants and adverse weather Don’t monitoring in deep areas Bring a cell phone & first aid kit (provided by CEW)

13. 13 What indicators can we use? TypeExamplesProsCons Physical Water temperature, turbidity, stream channel dimensions, Direct, simple equipment Frequency, duplication Chemical pH, dissolved oxygen, phosphates, nitrates Direct, set standardsFrequency, duplication, expense, technical Biological Benthic macroinvertebrates, fish, plant biomass Frequency, integrated/ cumulative effects, ecosystem approach, inexpensive Indirect, training, standards

14. 14 Benthic Macroinvertebrates Benthic Macroinvertebrates (BMIs) are: Aquatic Bottom-dwelling (benthic) Visible to the naked eye (macro) Lacking a “backbone” (invertebrate) Include both adult and immature forms

15. 15 Why Use BMI? Sedentary mode of life (i.e. narrow ecological range) Integrate the effects of both long- and short-term environmental impacts (i.e. ecosystem health) Relatively easy to sample (e.g. D-nets) and identify (i.e. coarse taxonomy) Are abundant in most streams and are a primary food source to many important fish Standardized – applied by many different groups (government, conservation authorities, academics)

16. 16 Data Collection: In Brief Choosing a site and setting up the transects Data collection and sieving Datasheet completion Working with large groups Sampling options and steps Filling in Data Sheet 3

17. 17 Choosing a Site Identifying riffles and pools Site must be 40 m or greater – mark downstream and upstream limits

18. Setting Up Transects 18 Measure the wetted width Determine # transects: Minimum Stream Width # of Transects Less than 1 m10 1 m to 1.5 m8 Greater than 1.5 m6 Greater than 3 m5 Calculate distance between transects = site length / (# transects - 1)

19. Example 19 Stream Width: 4 m Site Length: 40 m Direction of Flow Upstream Limit Downstream Limit 10m

20. 20 Direction of Flow Upstream Limit Downstream Limit Data Collection and Sieving 1 Start at downstream limit Travel along transect (see next slide) Transfer to next transect

21. 21 Hold D-net so that flow goes into net Kick upstream of net ~5cm deep as travel along transect After 1 or two transects, sieve sample, transfer to sample bucket, continue sampling Pick-up unembedded rocks and dislodge any attached bugs MUST collect bugs from ALL transects before subsampling! Data Collection and Sieving 2

22. Empty D-net into sieve over waste water bucket Inspect rocks for bugs (return rocks to stream) Pour waste water through sieve Transfer sieved sample to sample bucket (add water) Scoop sub sample into smaller tray Identify until you have 100 bugs 22 Data Collection and Sieving 3

23. 23 Datasheet Completion Datasheet 1: Group info, Riparian data, Stream width, substrate type, overhead cover Datasheet 2: Site observations, photographs, sketch Datasheet 3: Bug count

24. 24 Working with large groups Split students into groups Give students specific “jobs” –Sample collection –Sieving –Completion of each datasheet –Picking up garbage, etc.

25. 25 Sampling Options In-field processing and ID with hand lenses In-class processing and ID with hand lenses or microscopes for a closer look Preserve the sample and ID in-class/lab (required for first monitoring session - QA/QC) Take note of your method at the top of Datasheet 3

26. 26 Steps In your kit, you have… Sub-sampling using the 125 ml scoop Swirl the sample, take ONE scoop and put it into your white tray Scan the tray and pick out bugs Can’t find any more bugs in your sub-sample? Look again (about 2 min), then dump the remains and get another scoop Collectively pick out AT LEAST 100 bugs – you MUST finish the last scoop!

27. 27 Steps, cont’d Options: A) Pick and sort at the same time OR B) Pick all the bugs, then sort Use the tweezers and pipettes to pick up bugs, the petri dishes and hand lenses to take a closer look and the ice cube tray to sort TIP: assign different people in your group different tasks: ie picker, sorter, recorder TIP: use CEW resources to help you ID, sort bugs into similar groups, then narrow it down, remember the major identification techniques

28. 28 Filling in Datasheet #3 Fancy scientific number recording system:............. 12345678. 91011

29. Break 29

30. Citizens’ Environment Watch Benthic Macroinvertebrate Identification

31. 31 BMI Indicators The CEW protocol uses a suite of 27 BMI indicators that vary in their tolerance levels to pollution BMIs include organisms in different developmental stages (e.g. adult and immature forms - larvae and nymphs) An organism is a larvae or nymph depending on its type of metamorphosis

32. Larvae vs. Nymphs Egg ↓ Larva ↓ Pupa ↓ Adult Egg ↓ Nymph (instars) ↓ Adult Complete Metamorphosis Incomplete Metamorphosis

33. Larvae vs. Nymphs Complete metamorphosis 4 stages: egg/larva/pupa/adult 88% of insects Larvae: worm-like, don’t resemble adults Incomplete metamorphosis 3 stages: egg/nymph/adult 12% of insects Nymphs: resemble adults

34. 34 BMI Breakdown Adult BMI: no legs Larval BMI: no legs Larval BMI: legs Nymph BMI: legs Adult BMI: legs

35. 35 BMI Breakdown Adult BMI, no legs (7) – Shells: Clams (Pelecypoda) Snails (Gastropoda) –Tentacles: Hydras (Coelenterata) –Flat Body: Flatworms (Turbellaria) Leeches (Hirudinea) –Round Body: Roundworms (Nematoda) Aquatic Earthworms (Oligochaeta)

36. 36 Gastropoda (Snail) Size range: 2 - 70 mm Movement: none (found floating or at bottom of tray) Colour: grey, brown or black Hard shell Spiral shaped Do not count empty shells Tolerance Value: 8

37. 37 Pelecypoda (Clam) Size range: 2 - 250 mm Movement: none (found at bottom of tray) Colour: white, yellow, brown, grey, black Hard shell Flat, two halves hinged Do not count empty shells Tolerance Value: 6

38. 38 Coelenterata (Hydras) Size range: 2-25 mm long Movement: sessile Colour: variable, often clear to whitish Inconspicuous, tube with tentacles Asexual reproduction through budding Tolerance Value: 8

39. 39 Turbellaria (Flatworm) Size range: 5-30 mm Movement: creep slowly on bottom Colour: greyish brown, colourless Very flat, eyespots on head Tolerance Level: 8 http://www.microscopyu.com/moviegallery/pondscum/platyhelminthes/dalyellia/

40. 40 Hirudinea (Leech) Size range: 5-400 mm Movement: inch along bottom with the aid of suckers at either end of body Colour: brown, black, green on top/orange on bottom Segmented body Often with several pairs of eyes on head Tolerance Value: 8

41. 41 Nematoda (Roundworms) Size range: usually <1 cm long Movement: Rapid, whip- like movements Colour: frequently clear Unsegmented, head usually tapered, tail pointed Tolerance Value: 8

42. 42 Oligochaeta (Aquatic Earthworm) Size range: 1 to 30 mm Movement: crawl along bottom of tray Colour: pinkish, light brown Similar appearance to earth worm, with bundles of hairs on each segment behind the first Segmented body with clitellum (swollen, glandular region) Tolerance Level: 8

43. 43 BMI Breakdown Larval BMI, no legs (7) –Chubby leathery body: Flies Horseflies (Tabanidae) Craneflies (Tipulidae) Misc. flies (Diptera) Blackflies (Simuliidae) –Thin smooth segmented body: No-see-ums (Ceratopogonidae) Midges (Chironomidae) (parapods) –Large head: Mosquitos (larvae and pupae)

44. 44 Tabanidae (Horsefly) Size range: 1.5 - 40 mm Movement: unknown Colour: white or cream pointed at both ends, leathery texture Segmented, straight or slightly curved Seven pairs of bumps on abdomen (creeping welts with hooks) Head retracted into thorax Tolerance Level: 5

45. 45 Tipulidae (Cranefly) Size range: 10-45 mm Movement: similar to a worm Colour: white, yellowish or light brown One end with finger like projection, lobes or long hairs Reduced head is retracted into thorax Soft body; may have creeping welts Tolerance Level: 3 http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegal/diptera/tipulidae/3936.94craneflylarv.html

46. 46 Misc. Diptera (Misc. True Flies) May have parapods, pseudopodia (temporary projection), creeping welts or other appendages, but no jointed thoracic legs Often maggot-like; head may be retracted into thorax Adults with one pair of wings

47. 47 Simuliidae (Blackfly) Size range: 3 - 15 mm Movement: Similar to an inch worm Colour: brown or greyish Often with labral fans Similar to flattened maggot with one end 1/3 fatter Sessile (non-motile), attached at posterior end Tolerance Level: 6

48. 48 Ceratopogonidae (no-see- ums) Size range: 3-13mm Movement: whipping motion, but stiff when picked up Very slender, pointed at both ends, segmented; small pointed sclerotized (hard) head No abdominal appendages; may have some terminal abdominal hairs http://www.junglewalk.com/popup.asp?type=v&AnimalvideoID=3160

49. 49 Chironomidae (Midge) Size range: 2 - 20 mm Movement: whip back and forth Colour: red, white or cream Shaped like letter “J” May be in tube of silt Well developed, hardened head with eyes; anterior and posterior parapods (lobed shaped body extensions) Tolerance Level: 7

50. 50 Culicidae (Mosquitos) Size range: 3-15 mm Movement: twitch when touched Colour: brown Thickened body at head Segmented body, curved at one end Tolerance Level: 5 http://insects.tamu.edu/images/insects/common/images/b-txt/bimg221.html

51. 51 BMI Breakdown Larval BMI, legs (4) –Alderflies / Fishflies (Megaloptera) –Caddisflies (Trichoptera) –Beetles (Coleoptera) –Aquatic Moths (Lepidoptera)

52. 52 Megaloptera (Helgrammite) Size range: 25-90 mm Movement: Crawl on bottom Colour: brown Large and hairy similar to centipedes Hair on first few abdominal segments Well developed mandibles Often with anal prolegs Tolerance Level: 4

53. 53 Trichoptera (Caddisfly) Size range: 2-50 mm Movement: Slow movements on bottom Colour: abdomen cream coloured Often no movement if found in cases of sticks, stone or sand (look for heads inside cases) Three pairs of legs behind head Dorsal thoracic plates variously sclerotized Anal prolegs with hooks Tolerance Level: 4

54. 54 Coleoptera (Beetle) Size range: 2 - 40 mm Movement: swimming or crawling on bottom Colour: brown, black (sometimes mottled) Most have 3 pairs of legs near head Larvae are similar to caddisfly larvae but bodies are hard, with mandibles, maxillae, labium and 2- or 3-segmented antennae; may have unsegmented terminal abdominal appendages Adults: hardened forewings protect soft hind wings, antennae with 11 or fewer segments Tolerance Level: 4

55. 55 Lepidoptera (Aquatic Moths) Size range: 10 - 25 mm Movement: crawl like a caterpillar Head with ring of ocelli (small simple eye) 3 pairs of short, segmented, thoracic legs (between head and abdomen) Ventral, abdominal prolegs http://www.nature.ca/rideau/b/b5b-e.html#synclita

56. 56 BMI Breakdown Nymph BMI, legs (4) –Dragonfly (Anisoptera) –Damselfly (Zygoptera) –Mayfly (Ephemeroptera) –Stonefly (Plecoptera)

57. 57 Anisoptera (Dragonfly) Size range: 15-45 mm Movement: slow Colour: green to greenish brown Larger than mayfly but without tail filaments; no visible external gills Modified labium for catching prey Large eyes and head Often flat Tolerance Level: 5

58. 58 Zygoptera (Damselfly) Size range: 10 to 26 mm Movement: slow moving but more active than dragonflies Colour: green to greenish brown 3 gills present on end of tail Thinner than dragonfly Three pairs of legs Tolerance Level: 7

59. 59 Ephemeroptera (Mayfly) Size range: 3-28 mm (not including tail) Movement: Swim up and down in ‘s’ pattern Colour: brown or brownish black (sometimes mottled) 3 pairs of legs Single tarsal claw Feather-like gills under abdomen Three tail filaments (sometimes two) Tolerance Level: 5

60. 60 Plecoptera (Stonefly) Size range: 5-50mm Movement: slow Colour: yellowish, brown or blackish (sometimes mottled) Similar to mayfly but with 2 tail filaments Sometimes feather-like gills under body (not dorso-lateral on abdomen) Tarsi with 2 claws Tolerance Level: 1

61. 61 BMI Breakdown Adult BMI, legs (6) – 3 pairs of legs: True bugs (Hemiptera) Beetles (Coleoptera) –More than 3 pairs of legs: Water mites (Hydrachnidae) Scuds (Amphipoda) Sow Bugs (Isopoda) Crayfish (Decapoda)

62. 62 Hemiptera (True Bug) Size range: 15-40 mm Movement: swimming or skimming on water surface Colour: black or brownish Legs sometimes long and stick out from body Often two pairs of soft folded wings Often with well developed breathing appendages Sucking mouth parts (rostrum) Tolerance Level: 5

63. 63 Coleoptera (Beetle) Size range: 2 - 40 mm Movement: swimming or crawling on bottom Colour: brown, black (sometimes mottled) Most have 3 pairs of legs near head Larvae are similar to caddisfly larvae but bodies are hard, with mandibles, maxillae, labium and 2- or 3-segmented antennae; may have unsegmented terminal abdominal appendages Adults: hardened forewings protect soft hind wings, antennae with 11 or fewer segments Tolerance Level: 4

64. 64 Hydrachnida (Water Mite) Size range: 0.4-3 mm Movement: appear like a small moving dot - uncoordinated, scrambling Colour: bright red, green, blue or brown Body round Four pairs of legs Difficult to see Tolerance Level: 6 http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/moviegallery/pondscum/arachnids/hydracarina/

65. 65 Isopoda (Sow Bug) Size range: 5-20 mm Movement: crawl slowly on bottom Colour: brownish, red Many pairs of legs (up to 8) Dorso-ventrally compressed Often associated with organic matter Tolerance Level: 8

66. 66 Amphipoda (Scud) Size range: 5-20 mm Movement: swim on side Colour: blueish grey, brown, green, red Many pairs of legs (up to 14) Long antennae Tolerance Level: 6 http://mywebpages.comcast.net/kils/hyperia/hyperia1.htm

67. 67 Decapodae (Crayfish) Size range: 10 to 150 mm Movement: walk on bottom Colour: green, brown, blue Similar appearance to lobster Large claws Eyes on small stalks Escapes backwards by beating tail Tolerance Level: 5

68. 68 References Images and characteristics adapted from Gartner Lee Limited, 1997 and EMAN Biomonitoring Course 2003 Commonness rankings from Jacques Whitford Environmental Limited, 2001 Tolerance values taken from Watershed Report Card, 2000

69. 69 Summary – Major Identification Characteristics Colour Size Body Type/Features Movement

70. Lunch 70

71. 71 Data Entry TaxonCommon NameTolerance ValueCount (#)Pres/Abs (1 or 0) AmphipodaScud6 AnisopteraDragonfly5 CeratopogonidaeNo-see-umsNA ChironomidaeMidge7 ColeopteraBeetle4 CuclidaeMosquito5 DecapodaCrayfish5 Diptera, Misc.Misc. True FliesNA EphemeropteraMayfly5 GastropodaSnail8 HirudineaLeech8 IsopodaAquatic Sowbug8 Unknown NA Number (All Groups except Unknown) Number (Diptera) Number (Insects) Number (Most Abundant Group)

72. 72 Data Analysis in Brief Different indices: % worm, % midge, % sowbug, % snail, # of groups, % dominant group, % EPT, % diptera, % insects, Hilsenhoff Biotic Index, aggregate assessment IndexExplanationImpairedPossibly Impaired UnimpairedSource(s) % midge (Chironomidae) = 100 x Chir/N where, Chir = # of Chironomidae and N = total # of individuals > 4010 to 40< 10Griffiths (1998)

73. 73 Data Analysis & Interpretation

74. 74 Citizens’ Environment Watch 204-147 Spadina Avenue Toronto, Ontario M5V 2L7 647-258-3280 www.CitizensEnvironmentWatch.org Thank You!