By Brad Dougherty & TJ Hunton The Neshaminy Creek

Our Project Our mission was to collect macroinvertebrates in the Neshaminy Creek to determine the water quality. We researched the macroinvertebrates that we found in our samples, to determine the environment each one was capable of living in. This identified the quality of the creek.

Our mission was to collect macroinvertebrates in the Neshaminy Creek to determine the water quality.

We researched the macroinvertebrates that we found in our samples, to determine the environment each one was capable of living in.

This identified the quality of the creek.

Collection Sites We collected samples from: George School, near the train bridge Tyler Park, the upper dam Playwicki Park

We collected samples from:

George School, near the train bridge

Tyler Park, the upper dam

Playwicki Park

Collection Sites Coordinates of collection sites at Tyler Park and Playwicki Park: N 40 ° 13.933’ W 74 ° 58.449’ 88 ft N 40 ° 13.935’ W 74 ° 58.449’ 89 ft N 40 ° 13.893’ W 74 ° 58.435’ 109 ft N 40 ° 10.655’ W 74 ° 57.389’ 34 ft N 40 ° 10.663’ W 74 ° 57.389’ 53 ft

Coordinates of collection sites at Tyler Park and Playwicki Park:

N 40 ° 13.933’ W 74 ° 58.449’ 88 ft

N 40 ° 13.935’ W 74 ° 58.449’ 89 ft

N 40 ° 13.893’ W 74 ° 58.435’ 109 ft

N 40 ° 10.655’ W 74 ° 57.389’ 34 ft

N 40 ° 10.663’ W 74 ° 57.389’ 53 ft

Types of Macroinvertebrates

Types of Macroinvertebrates

Types of Macroinvertebrates

Types of Macroinvertebrates

Types of Macroinvertebrates

Specimens We found three types of macroinvertebrates: Zygoptera (Damselflies) Hydropsychidae (Caddisflies) Oligoneuriidae (Mayflies)

We found three types of macroinvertebrates:

Zygoptera (Damselflies)

Hydropsychidae (Caddisflies)

Oligoneuriidae (Mayflies)

Zygoptera (Damselflies) Damselflies are found in good or fair quality water and are somewhat pollution sensitive.

Damselflies are found in good or fair quality water and are somewhat pollution sensitive.

Damselfly Facts Develop over one to four years There are more than 4,700 species worldwide Begin life underwater, hatching from eggs and spending their first stage of life as aquatic larva or nymphs During this stage of their lives they breath through gills and are ferocious aquatic predators, feeding on other aquatic larva, tadpoles and small minnows Damselflies are very similar to dragonflies and are hard to tell apart

Develop over one to four years

There are more than 4,700 species worldwide

Begin life underwater, hatching from eggs and spending their first stage of life as aquatic larva or nymphs

During this stage of their lives they breath through gills and are ferocious aquatic predators, feeding on other aquatic larva, tadpoles and small minnows

Damselflies are very similar to dragonflies and are hard to tell apart

Damselfly Description Large eyes Large scoop-like lower lip No gills on the sides or underneath the abdomen Six long segmented legs on upper middle section of body Long spindly legs Narrow body with three oar-shaped tails (gills) that look like fans

Large eyes

Large scoop-like lower lip

No gills on the sides or underneath the abdomen

Six long segmented legs on upper middle section of body

Long spindly legs

Narrow body with three oar-shaped tails (gills) that look like fans

Hydropsychidae (Caddisflies) Caddisflies are very pollution sensitive and are found only in good quality water.

Caddisflies are very pollution sensitive and are found only in good quality water.

Caddisfly Facts Some make houses or cases for themselves out of different materials such as rocks, sand, gravel, twigs or leaves using a glue-like substance secreted from their back end Some spin webs to trap food from the flowing water One generation hatches per year Although most species are very sensitive to pollution, some are pollution tolerant

Some make houses or cases for themselves out of different materials such as rocks, sand, gravel, twigs or leaves using a glue-like substance secreted from their back end

Some spin webs to trap food from the flowing water

One generation hatches per year

Although most species are very sensitive to pollution, some are pollution tolerant

Caddisfly Description Up to 1 1/2 inches long Very small or no antennae Six segmented legs on upper middle section of body Filamentous gills may be on the end of the body or on the underside Two small, thick extensions at the end of the body and each has a single hook at the end

Up to 1 1/2 inches long

Very small or no antennae

Six segmented legs on upper middle section of body

Filamentous gills may be on the end of the body or on the underside

Two small, thick extensions at the end of the body and each has a single hook at the end

Oligoneuriidae (Mayflies) Mayflies are also pollution sensitive and found in good quality water.

Mayflies are also pollution sensitive and found in good quality water.

Mayfly Facts About 700 species in North America Develop in the stream over period of two weeks to two years Live on exposed rock surfaces in fast current or buried in soft stream beds Large numbers of flying adults may emerge from stream at the same time

About 700 species in North America

Develop in the stream over period of two weeks to two years

Live on exposed rock surfaces in fast current or buried in soft stream beds

Large numbers of flying adults may emerge from stream at the same time

Mayfly Description Platelike or feathery gills along the side of the abdomen Two or three long hairlike tails Six segmented legs on middle section of body Each leg has one claw on the end The body can be up to one inch long Body is usually flat Undeveloped mayflies are called nymphs

Platelike or feathery gills along the side of the abdomen

Two or three long hairlike tails

Six segmented legs on middle section of body

Each leg has one claw on the end

The body can be up to one inch long

Body is usually flat

Undeveloped mayflies are called nymphs

Stroud Water Research Center We consulted the Stroud Water Research Center’s Leaf Packet to identify the macroinvertebrates we found The packet included flashcards and information on all types of stream macroinvertebrates

We consulted the Stroud Water Research Center’s Leaf Packet to identify the macroinvertebrates we found

The packet included flashcards and information on all types of stream macroinvertebrates

End

Bibliography http://www.people.virginia.edu/~sos-iwla/Stream-Study/Key/MacroKeyIntro.HTML http://www.vtmnh.vt.edu/sos/page14.html

http://www.people.virginia.edu/~sos-iwla/Stream-Study/Key/MacroKeyIntro.HTML

http://www.vtmnh.vt.edu/sos/page14.html