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Extreme Benthics Extreme Benthics AcademyAcademy
““Benthic Macroinvertebrates 101”Benthic Macroinvertebrates 101”
What are Benthic What are Benthic Macroinvertebrates?Macroinvertebrates?
Benthic = bottom dwellingBenthic = bottom dwelling
Macro = large enough to see with the naked eyeMacro = large enough to see with the naked eye
Invertebrate = without a backbone (could be a clam, a worm, a Invertebrate = without a backbone (could be a clam, a worm, a crab, or an insect, for example)crab, or an insect, for example)
Often refer to them as “stream bugs”
Big Diversity of Benthic Big Diversity of Benthic MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates
Leech
Black fly larva
Midge
Dragonfly
CrawdadCranefly Mosquito
CaddisflyMayfly
Stonefly
Gilled snail
Why Do We Monitor Why Do We Monitor Stream Bugs?Stream Bugs?
Chemical WQ data offers good, but limited Chemical WQ data offers good, but limited information.information. Only a “snapshot” view of conditionsOnly a “snapshot” view of conditions Doesn’t measure “biology”Doesn’t measure “biology”
NitratespH D.O.
Fecal coliform
Temperature T.S.S
Biological Biological AssessmentAssessment
Use living organisms to tell us something Use living organisms to tell us something about the environmentabout the environment
Why Use “stream bugs” in Why Use “stream bugs” in Bioassessment of StreamsBioassessment of Streams
AbundantAbundant
DiverseDiverse
SedentarySedentary
Stream Bugs = excellent indicator Stream Bugs = excellent indicator of the stream’s of the stream’s biologicalbiological health. health.
Populations reflect Populations reflect cumulativecumulative impacts . impacts .
They are easy to sample.They are easy to sample.
They have the same habitat needs as salmon .They have the same habitat needs as salmon .
Habitat Needs for Salmon and Habitat Needs for Salmon and Stream Bugs:Stream Bugs:
Clean, cold, oxygenated waterClean, cold, oxygenated water Connected migration pathsConnected migration paths Habitat features for spawning and features for spawning and
rearingrearing Dependable stream flows stream flows
Habitat Features for Spawning and Habitat Features for Spawning and RearingRearing
Dependable Stream FlowDependable Stream Flow
High FlowsHigh Flows
Smothered Salmon Eggs
Stream Bugs Stream Bugs Tell A StoryTell A Story
No “good” or “bad” bugsNo “good” or “bad” bugs
Presence or absence indicates healthPresence or absence indicates health
Diversity (not total number of bugs) = Healthier Diversity (not total number of bugs) = Healthier samplesample
How Do They Tell The Story?How Do They Tell The Story?
B.I.B.I.B.I.B.I.
““Benthic Index of Biological Integrity”Benthic Index of Biological Integrity”
10 “metrics” indicating stream health10 “metrics” indicating stream health
10 Metrics10 Metrics Taxa richnessTaxa richness # mayfly taxa (Ephemeroptera)# mayfly taxa (Ephemeroptera) # stonefly taxa (Plecoptera)# stonefly taxa (Plecoptera) # caddisfly taxa (Trichoptera)# caddisfly taxa (Trichoptera) # long-lived taxa# long-lived taxa # intolerant taxa# intolerant taxa % tolerant taxa% tolerant taxa % predators% predators # clinger taxa# clinger taxa % dominance (3 taxa)% dominance (3 taxa)
Mayfly larva
Stonefly larva
Caddisfly larva
Caddisfly case
Taxa RichnessTaxa Richness
Leech
Black fly larva
Midge
Dragonfly
CrawdadCranefly Mosquito
CaddisflyMayfly
Stonefly
Gilled snail
% Dominance (3 taxa)% Dominance (3 taxa)
Ephemeroptera
Plecoptera
Trichoptera
leech
bloodworm
netspinner caddisfly
Intolerant speciesTolerant species
Plecoptera
Number of Intolerant TaxaNumber of Intolerant Taxalepidostomatidae caddisfly
ephemerellidae mayfly nymphcapniidae stonefly nymph
Gilled snailDobsonfly larva
Riffle beetle
Water penny
% Tolerant Taxa% Tolerant Taxa
leech
black fly larva
bloodworm
netspinner caddisflybaetidae mayflies
Midge larva
Number of Clinger TaxaNumber of Clinger TaxaWater penny
Stonefly nymph Mayfly nymph
Caddisfly larvae – Caddisfly
Alderfly
Riffle beetle larva
Number of Long-Lived TaxaNumber of Long-Lived Taxa
Dragonfly nymph
Alderfly larva Gilled snail
Pteronarcys stonefly
Dragonfly nymph
Number of Mayfly TaxaNumber of Mayfly Taxa(Ephemeroptera)(Ephemeroptera)
Number of Caddisfly TaxaNumber of Caddisfly Taxa(Trichoptera)(Trichoptera)
Number of Stonefly TaxaNumber of Stonefly Taxa(Plecoptera)(Plecoptera)
% Predators taxa% Predators taxa
water beetle
Dragonfly larva
Great diving beetle
Stonefly larva
Rhycophila caddisfly
Computing the B.I.B.I.Computing the B.I.B.I. Example: Taxa RichnessExample: Taxa Richness
0-20 taxa = low (0-20 taxa = low (11)) 21-40 taxa = moderate (21-40 taxa = moderate (33)) 40+ taxa = high (40+ taxa = high (55))
Computing the B.I.B.I.Computing the B.I.B.I. Taxa richnessTaxa richness 1 1 33 5 5 # mayfly taxa (Ephemeroptera)# mayfly taxa (Ephemeroptera) 1 3 1 3 55 # stonefly taxa (Plecoptera)# stonefly taxa (Plecoptera) 1 1 33 5 5 # caddisfly taxa (Trichoptera)# caddisfly taxa (Trichoptera) 11 3 5 3 5 # long-lived taxa# long-lived taxa 11 3 5 3 5 # intolerant taxa# intolerant taxa 1 1 33 5 5 % tolerant taxa% tolerant taxa 11 3 5 3 5 % predators% predators 1 1 33 5 5 # clinger taxa# clinger taxa 1 3 1 3 55 % dominance (3 taxa)% dominance (3 taxa) 1 3 1 3 55
Computing the B.I.B.I.Computing the B.I.B.I. Taxa richnessTaxa richness 33 # mayfly taxa (Ephemeroptera)# mayfly taxa (Ephemeroptera) 55 # stonefly taxa (Plecoptera)# stonefly taxa (Plecoptera) 33 # caddisfly taxa (Trichoptera)# caddisfly taxa (Trichoptera) 11 # long-lived taxa# long-lived taxa 11 # intolerant taxa# intolerant taxa 33 % tolerant taxa% tolerant taxa 11 % predators% predators 33 # clinger taxa# clinger taxa 55 % dominance (3 taxa)% dominance (3 taxa) 55 TOTAL:TOTAL: 30 30
Final B.I.B.I. Scores*Final B.I.B.I. Scores*
10 – 16 = Very Poor10 – 16 = Very Poor 18 - 26 = Poor18 - 26 = Poor 28 – 36 = Fair28 – 36 = Fair 38 – 44 = Good38 – 44 = Good 46 - 50 = Excellent46 - 50 = Excellent
*10 Metric B-IBI Score used by Mindy Allen*10 Metric B-IBI Score used by Mindy Allen
Stonefly
Caddisfly
When in the Field….When in the Field….
Observe: land use, canopy cover…etc.
