Making the Most of Y M i i U iYour Monitoring Using

M i bMacroinvertebrates

Benthic MacroinvertebratesBenthic MacroinvertebratesBenthic MacroinvertebratesBenthic Macroinvertebrates

What are they?What are they?What are they?What are they?

Why are they important?Why are they important?y y py y p

Provide food for fish and other organismsProvide food for fish and other organismsProvide food for fish and other organismsProvide food for fish and other organismsFeed on algae, organic matter, and each Feed on algae, organic matter, and each otherotherR t t i t t th t f thR t t i t t th t f thReturn nutrients to the water for other Return nutrients to the water for other organisms when they dieorganisms when they die

TTThe Middlemen of the Food Chain!The Middlemen of the Food Chain!

Benthic Macros are Benthic Macros are Indicator OrganismsIndicator Organisms

Many species spend a large amount (or all) Many species spend a large amount (or all) of their life cycles in the water.of their life cycles in the water.

They cannot easily “swim away” from They cannot easily “swim away” from pollution.pollution.pp

Can reflect past or cumulative pollutants in Can reflect past or cumulative pollutants in the waterthe waterthe water.the water.

Some are very sensitive to pollution, others Some are very sensitive to pollution, others are notare notare not.are not.

It’s all about theIt’s all about theIt s all about the It s all about the

HHHH22

vs.

Gilled Snail Pouch SnailGilled Snail Pouch Snail

Rat-tailed Maggot

Bl d MidBlood Midge

Where would you

hide?

Riffl R kRiffl R kRiffles, Rocks, Riffles, Rocks, Roots, and Refuse!Roots, and Refuse!

P ll i T lP ll i T lPollution Tolerance Pollution Tolerance IndIndIndexIndex

**Pictures and text of macroinvertebrates have beenPictures and text of macroinvertebrates have beenPictures and text of macroinvertebrates have been Pictures and text of macroinvertebrates have been

taken from an educational presentation given the by taken from an educational presentation given the by Franklin County Soil and Water DistrictFranklin County Soil and Water DistrictFranklin County Soil and Water DistrictFranklin County Soil and Water District

Group One TaxaGroup One TaxaGroup One TaxaGroup One Taxa

Pollution sensitive organisms found Pollution sensitive organisms found only in high quality wateronly in high quality waterg qg q

Stonefly NymphStonefly NymphStonefly NymphStonefly Nymph

1/2” 1/2” -- 1 1/2” in length1 1/2” in lengthd bd bPredator or herbivorePredator or herbivore

Wing pads on thoraxWing pads on thorax6 legs with hooked tips6 legs with hooked tipsLong antennaeLong antennae2 hair like tails2 hair like tails

Stonefly AdultStonefly AdultStonefly AdultStonefly Adult

Mayfly NymphMayfly NymphMayfly NymphMayfly Nymph

1/4”1/4” 1” i l th1” i l th1/4”1/4”--1” in length1” in lengthHerbivore or scavengerHerbivore or scavengerPlPl lik fillik filPlatePlate--like or filament like or filament gills on sides of bodygills on sides of bodyWi d tWi d tWing pads present on Wing pads present on thoraxthoraxUsually 3 long hairUsually 3 long hair likelikeUsually 3 long, hairUsually 3 long, hair--like like tailstails

Mayfly AdultMayfly AdultMayfly AdultMayfly Adult

Water Penny Beetle LarvaeWater Penny Beetle LarvaeWater Penny Beetle LarvaeWater Penny Beetle Larvae

1/4” in length1/4” in length1/4 in length1/4 in lengthHerbivore Herbivore 6 tiny legs on bottom6 tiny legs on bottom6 tiny legs on bottom 6 tiny legs on bottom side of bodyside of bodyFlat, saucerFlat, saucer--shaped bodyshaped bodyFlat, saucerFlat, saucer shaped body shaped body with a fringe of fine hairs with a fringe of fine hairs around the outer edgearound the outer edge

Water Penny Beetle AdultWater Penny Beetle AdultWater Penny Beetle AdultWater Penny Beetle Adult

Gilled SnailGilled SnailGilled SnailGilled Snail

Shell opens on the rightShell opens on the rightp gp gOpening covered by thin Opening covered by thin plate called operculumplate called operculumBreathes through a gill Breathes through a gill inside body shellinside body shellH bi d i iH bi d i iHerbivore or detritivoreHerbivore or detritivore

Caddisfly LarvaeCaddisfly LarvaeUp to 1/2” in lengthUp to 1/2” in lengthMostly detritivore or Mostly detritivore or y vy vherbivore.herbivore.6 hooked legs on upper 6 hooked legs on upper g ppg ppthird of bodythird of body2 hooks at back end2 hooks at back endGreen or brown with Green or brown with dark headdark headMay be found in rock, May be found in rock, stick, or leaf casestick, or leaf case

Caddisfly AdultCaddisfly AdultCaddisfly AdultCaddisfly Adult

Dobsonfly Larvae Dobsonfly Larvae (Hellgrammite)(Hellgrammite)

//3/4” 3/4” -- 4” in length4” in lengthPredator Predator 6 segmented legs6 segmented legsMany feelers on lower Many feelers on lower half of bodyhalf of body4 hooks at back end4 hooks at back endFan shaped gill tufts on Fan shaped gill tufts on sidessidesChewing mouth partsChewing mouth parts

Dobsonfly AdultDobsonfly Adult MaleDobsonfly AdultDobsonfly Adult

Female

Riffle BeetleRiffle BeetleRiffle BeetleRiffle Beetle

1/4” in length1/4” in length/ g/ gOval body covered with Oval body covered with tiny hairstiny hairs

Adult 6 legs6 legsAntennaeAntennae

Adult

Both larva and adult are Both larva and adult are commonly found in the commonly found in the waterwaterwaterwaterBoth are herbivoresBoth are herbivores

Larva

Group Two TaxaGroup Two TaxaGroup Two TaxaGroup Two Taxa

Moderately tolerant organisms that can Moderately tolerant organisms that can live in somewhat polluted water.live in somewhat polluted water.pp

CrayfishCrayfishCrayfishCrayfish

1/2”1/2” -- 6” in length6” in length1/2 1/2 6 in length6 in lengthScavenger or omnivoreScavenger or omnivore8 l8 l8 legs8 legs2 large claws2 large clawsResemble small lobstersResemble small lobsters“Pee” out of their faces!“Pee” out of their faces!

Dragonfly NymphDragonfly Nymphg y y pg y y p

1/2”1/2” -- 2” in length2” in length1/2 1/2 2 in length2 in lengthPredator Predator 6 hooked legs6 hooked legs6 hooked legs6 hooked legsLarge eyesLarge eyesGrasping jawGrasping jawGrasping jawGrasping jaw

Dragonfly AdultDragonfly AdultDragonfly AdultDragonfly Adult

Damselfly NymphDamselfly NymphDamselfly NymphDamselfly Nymph

1/2”1/2” -- 1” in length1” in length1/2 1/2 1 in length1 in lengthPredator Predator 6 thin hooked legs6 thin hooked legs6 thin hooked legs6 thin hooked legs3 broad oar shaped 3 broad oar shaped “tails” (gills)“tails” (gills)tails (gills)tails (gills)Large eyesLarge eyes

DamselflyDamselflyDamselflyDamselflyAdultAdult

Crane Fly LarvaeCrane Fly LarvaeCrane Fly LarvaeCrane Fly Larvae

1/3”1/3” 2” i l th2” i l th1/3” 1/3” -- 2” in length2” in lengthHerbivore or Herbivore or detritivoredetritivoredetritivoredetritivorePlump caterpillarPlump caterpillar--like like segmented bodysegmented bodysegmented bodysegmented bodyFingerFinger--like lobes at like lobes at back endback endback endback endTypically white in Typically white in color, can be green orcolor, can be green orcolor, can be green or color, can be green or brownbrown

Crane Fly AdultCrane Fly AdultCrane Fly AdultCrane Fly Adult

ClamClamClamClam

Clams in Ohio streamsClams in Ohio streamsClams in Ohio streams Clams in Ohio streams come in a variety of come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors sizes, shapes, and colors according to the species.according to the species.BivalvesBivalvesFilter feedersFilter feeders

Aquatic Sow BugAquatic Sow BugAquatic Sow BugAquatic Sow Bug

Flattened bodyFlattened body7 Pairs of legs7 Pairs of legsggScavenger or omnivoreScavenger or omnivoreBreathe through gillsBreathe through gillsg gg g

ScudScudScudScud

Flattened bodyFlattened bodyFlattened body Flattened body Swims on sideSwims on sideScavenger or omnivoreScavenger or omnivoreScavenger or omnivoreScavenger or omnivore2 pair of antennae2 pair of antennaeUsually creamy gray orUsually creamy gray orUsually creamy gray or Usually creamy gray or brown brown

Group Three TaxaGroup Three TaxaGroup Three TaxaGroup Three Taxa

Fairly tolerant organisms that can Fairly tolerant organisms that can handle poorer water quality.handle poorer water quality.p qp q

White Midge LarvaeWhite Midge LarvaeWhite Midge LarvaeWhite Midge Larvae

Up to 1/4” in lengthUp to 1/4” in lengthUp to 1/4 in lengthUp to 1/4 in lengthHerbivore or omnivoreHerbivore or omnivore2 pair of legs2 pair of legs2 pair of legs 2 pair of legs WormWorm--like segmented like segmented bodybodybodybodyRapid squirming Rapid squirming movementmovement

White Midge AdultWhite Midge AdultWhite Midge AdultWhite Midge Adult

Black Fly LarvaeBlack Fly LarvaeBlack Fly LarvaeBlack Fly Larvae

Up to 1/4” in lengthUp to 1/4” in lengthUp to 1/4 in lengthUp to 1/4 in lengthFilter feederFilter feederOne end of body widerOne end of body widerOne end of body wider One end of body wider than otherthan otherSuction pad on largerSuction pad on largerSuction pad on larger Suction pad on larger endendBlack headBlack head

Black Fly AdultBlack Fly AdultBlack Fly AdultBlack Fly Adult

PlanariaPlanariaPlanariaPlanaria3 to 12 mm

Carnivore of soft bodied invertebrates

Brown flattened body

Two “eyespots” onTwo eyespots on triangular head

Move with cilia and mucusMove with cilia and mucus

Regenerate body parts

LeechLeechLeechLeech

1/4”1/4” -- 2” in length2” in length1/4 1/4 2 in length2 in lengthSuction pads on both Suction pads on both endsendsFlattened bodyFlattened bodySegmentedSegmentedSegmentedSegmentedBreathe through body Breathe through body surfacesurface

Group 4 TaxaGroup 4 TaxaVery tolerant organisms that Very tolerant organisms that

ith t d tith t d tcan withstand extreme can withstand extreme pollutionpollution

Pouch SnailPouch SnailPouch SnailPouch Snail

Shell opens on the leftShell opens on the leftNo operculum or coveringNo operculum or coveringNo operculum or coveringNo operculum or coveringStores air from the water’s Stores air from the water’s surface insurface in pulmonarypulmonarysurface in surface in pulmonary pulmonary cavitycavity

Herbivore or detritvoreHerbivore or detritvoreHerbivore or detritvoreHerbivore or detritvore

Aquatic WormAquatic WormAquatic WormAquatic Worm

1/4”1/4” -- 2” in length2” in length1/4 1/4 2 in length2 in lengthSegmented bodySegmented bodyCan be very thinCan be very thinCan be very thinCan be very thinBurrow in the mud and Burrow in the mud and debris on the riverdebris on the riverdebris on the river debris on the river bottombottom

Blood MidgeBlood MidgeBlood MidgeBlood Midge

2 mm to 20 mm2 mm to 20 mm2 mm to 20 mm 2 mm to 20 mm eats algae and other eats algae and other organic debris organic debris ggbright red bright red Uses hemoglobin andUses hemoglobin andUses hemoglobin and Uses hemoglobin and squirming to survive in squirming to survive in oxygen depleted watersoxygen depleted waters

RatRat--tailed Maggottailed MaggotRatRat tailed Maggottailed Maggot

C li d i l b dC li d i l b dCylindrical bodyCylindrical bodyScavengerScavengerT ilT il lik b hi blik b hi bTailTail--like breathing tubelike breathing tubeLives in oxygen poor Lives in oxygen poor waterswaters

Syrphid Fly Syrphid Fly (rattail maggot adult)(rattail maggot adult)

Zebra Mussels

Freshwater Mussel LifecycleFreshwater Mussel Lifecycle

Zebra Mussel Life CycleZebra Mussel Life Cycle