know your macros!
DESCRIPTION
Know Your Macros!. Michael Clapp CAM Jr/Sr High ~ Battle Ground, WA revised: September 2006. What are Benthic Macroinvertebrates?. Commonly referred to as: “macros” Benthic = bottom dwelling Macro = large enough to be seen without aid of a microscope Invertebrate = without a backbone. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Michael ClappMichael ClappCAM Jr/Sr High ~ Battle Ground, WACAM Jr/Sr High ~ Battle Ground, WA
revised: September 2006revised: September 2006
Know Your Macros!Know Your Macros!
What are Benthic Macroinvertebrates?What are Benthic Macroinvertebrates?
Commonly referred to as: Commonly referred to as: “macros”“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 pollutionMacros have different tolerances to pollution Some are sensitive, others are tolerant Some are sensitive, others are tolerant They’re used as bio-indicators of water They’re used as bio-indicators of water
qualityquality 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 (chemical leaks, …)affected by sporadic changes (chemical leaks, …) affected by seasonal variations of streamaffected by seasonal variations of stream
Macros are COOL!Macros are COOL!
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 ID to Class & Order level (possibly Family)ID to Class & Order level (possibly Family)
Professional Scientists use scientific namesProfessional Scientists use scientific names Binomial (two names)Binomial (two names) Based on Latin/Greek languageBased on Latin/Greek language Scientific Name =Scientific Name = Genus species Genus species
E-P-T: Important Indicators SpeciesE-P-T: Important Indicators Species
Ephemeroptera - mayfliesEphemeroptera - mayflies
Plecoptera - stonefliesPlecoptera - stoneflies
Tricoptera - caddisfliesTricoptera - caddisflies
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
Mayflies (Order Ephemeroptera)Mayflies (Order Ephemeroptera)
Common Families:Common Families: AmeletidAmeletid Small MinnowSmall Minnow Flat-headedFlat-headed Spiny CrawlerSpiny Crawler Prong-gilledProng-gilled
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
Stoneflies (Order Plecoptera)Stoneflies (Order Plecoptera)
Common Families:Common Families: GoldenGolden Little Yellow Little Yellow Little Green Little Green Little BrownLittle Brown Slender WinterSlender Winter 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 materialand/or plant material Some spin nets as a retreat and to Some spin nets as a retreat and to
collect detrituscollect detritus Some crawl around in search of Some crawl around in search of
preyprey Sensitive or moderately sensitive Sensitive or moderately sensitive
to pollutionto pollution
headthorax
abdomen
abdominal gills (Netspinner)
prolegs with hooks
Caddisflies (Order Trichoptera)Caddisflies (Order Trichoptera)
Common Families: Common Families: Northern casemaker Northern casemaker Saddle casemakersSaddle casemakers Humpless case-makerHumpless case-maker Netspinner Netspinner
(Hydropsychidae)(Hydropsychidae) Freeliving (green rock Freeliving (green rock
worm)worm) FingernetFingernet
Freeliving (predators)
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
FlatwormsFlatworms
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
Snails (Class Gastropoda)Snails (Class Gastropoda) Hard spiral shellHard spiral shell Gilled snails (right-side Gilled snails (right-side
opening with narrow opening with narrow end up) are somewhat end up) are somewhat sensitivesensitive
Pouch snails (left-side) Pouch snails (left-side) are tolerantare tolerant
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
clam
mussel
Water Mites (Arachnids)Water Mites (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 (Crustacea)Sowbugs & Scuds (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
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
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
Rifflebeetle
Whirligigbeetle
larva larva
adult
adult
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
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
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
headprolegs
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
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
predatorspredators prolegs
head
Water Boatman & Water Water Boatman & Water Striders (Order Hemiptera)Striders (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 across a Oval body with wavy lines across a
dark colored backdark colored back Oar-like legsOar-like legs
Backswimmer (not shown)Backswimmer (not shown) Similar to boatman but swims upside Similar to boatman but swims upside
downdown Dark underside & light-colored backDark underside & light-colored back CAUTION -- can bite!CAUTION -- can bite!
water strider
waterboatman
Credits & ResourcesCredits & Resources PhotosPhotos
by Michael Clapp & Jr CAM by Michael Clapp & Jr CAM science studentsscience students
Websites:Websites: www.nwnature.netwww.nwnature.net Information on CAM Jr/Sr Information on CAM Jr/Sr
High School water quality High School water quality monitoring and monitoring and macroinvertebrate study can macroinvertebrate study can be found on the web: be found on the web: www.bgsd.k12.wa.us/hml/macroswww.bgsd.k12.wa.us/hml/macros
Email:Email: [email protected]@bgsd.k12.wa.us
Resources:Resources: Macroinvertebrates of the Pacific Macroinvertebrates of the Pacific
NorthwestNorthwest 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
Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Field Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Field Guide and Biomonitoring Reference Guide and Biomonitoring Reference Manual for the Willamette ValleyManual for the Willamette Valley by Patrick Edwardsby Patrick Edwards
Freshwater InvertebratesFreshwater Invertebrates by J. Reese Voshell, Jr.by J. Reese Voshell, Jr.
Guide to Pacific Northwest Aquatic Guide to Pacific Northwest Aquatic MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates by Rick Hafele & Steve Hinton by Rick Hafele & Steve Hinton