Lab Report - MacroinvertebratesIntroduction Biological monit.docx

Lab Report - Macroinvertebrates
Introduction
Biological monitoring, the study of biological organisms and
their responses , is used to determine environmental conditions.
One type of biological monitoring , the biological survey or bio
survey, is described over here. Comment by PlagScan: Possible
sources:
http://water.epa.gov/type/rsl/monitoring/vms40.cfm
http://www.krisweb.com/aqualife/insect.htm
http://www.readbag.com/epa-owow-monitoring-volunteer-
stream-stream
http://www.academia.edu/8491337/An_Introduction_to_Watersh
ed_Restoration_Processes_and_Approaches_Module_2
Comment by PlagScan: Possible sources:
stream-stream
http://www.uidaho.edu/~/media/Files/Extension/Forestry/Water/
Water Quality/Dont Let Water Quality Bug You Out.pdf
The bio surveyinvolves collecting, processing, and analyzing
aquatic organisms to determine the health of biological
community in a stream. Comment by PlagScan: Possible
sources:
stream-stream
http://www.slideshare.net/JPoore/bioassessment-approach-to-
ms4-evaluation-and-assessment
In wadable streams ( streams that can be easily walked across,

with water no deeper than about thigh-high), the three most
common biological organisms studied are fish, algae and macro
invertebrates. Comment by PlagScan: Possible sources:
stream-stream
But here we discuss macro invertebrates monitoring only.
Macro invertebrates are organisms that are large (macro)
enough to be seen with the naked eye and lack a backbone
(invertebrate).They inhabit all types of running waters, from
fastflowing mountain streams to slow moving muddy
rivers.Examples of aquaticmacro invertebratesinclude insects in
their larval or nymph form, crayfish, clams, snails, and
worms.Most live part or most of their life cycle attached to
submerged rocks, logs, and vegetation. Comment by PlagScan:
Possible sources:
stream-stream
http://kcwaters.org/macroinvertebrate.html
http://omicsonline.org/scientific-reports/2157-7625-SR158.pdf
http://omicsonline.org/scientific-reports/srep158.php
http://technolabelbahaagp.googoolz.com/t179-topicComment by
PlagScan: Possible sources:
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http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=20004NN2.TXT
stream-stream
stream-stream

stream-stream
http://technolabelbahaagp.googoolz.com/t179-topicComment by
stream-stream
http://technolabelbahaagp.googoolz.com/t179-topic
Habitat Conditions of macro invertebrates: Habitat, as it relates
to thebio-survey,is defined as the space occupied by living
organisms. In a stream, habitat formacro-invertebratesincludes
the rocks and sediments of the stream bottom, the plants in and
around the stream, leaf litter and other decomposing organic
material that falls into the stream, and submerged logs, sticks,
and woody debris. Macro-invertebratesneed the shelter and food
these habitats provide and tend to congregate in areas that
provide the best shelter, the most food, and the most dissolved
oxygen. A habitat survey examines these aspects and rates the
stream according to their quality.This chapter includes both
simple and intensive habitat surveys volunteers can conduct.

stream-stream Comment by PlagScan: Possible sources:
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https://prezi.com/lfezbqdzeipx/untitled-prezi/ Comment by
stream-stream
stream-stream
Monitoring for water quality conditions such as low dissolved
oxygen, temperature, nutrients, and pH helps identify which
pollutants are responsible for impacts to a stream. Comment by
stream-stream

Macro-invertebrates and relation with water quality:
Aquatic macroinvertebrates are good indicators of stream
quality because: Comment by PlagScan: Possible sources:
stream-stream
http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/aascd/Manuals_etc/Bio_Chem/BC_Ch_1.
pdf
http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/aascd/db/Macros.asp
· They are affected by the physical, chemical, and biological
conditions of the stream. Comment by PlagScan: Possible
sources:
stream-stream
pdf
· They can't escape pollution and show the effects of short- and
long term pollution events. Comment by PlagScan: Possible
sources:

stream-stream
pdf
· They may show the cumulative impacts of pollution.
stream-stream
· They may show the impacts from habitat loss not detected by
traditional water quality assessments. Comment by PlagScan:
Possible sources:
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· They are a critical part of the stream's food web. Comment by

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· Some are very intolerant of pollution. Comment by PlagScan:
Possible sources:
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· They are relatively easy to sample and identify. Comment by
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pdf
Principle: The basic principle behind the study of

macroinvertebrates is that some are more sensitive to pollution
than others. Therefore, if a stream site is inhabited by
organisms that can tolerate pollution and the more pollution
sensitive organisms are missing a pollution problem is likely.
stream-stream
pdf
http://technolabelbahaagp.googoolz.com/t179-topic
https://www.scribd.com/doc/48861842/CHAPTER-2-WATER-
QUALITY
http://vaughanrockets.typepad.com/christy_garvin/lifes-a-river/
http://vaughanrockets.typepad.com/christy_garvin/2011/11/bent
hic-macroinvertebrates.html
For example, stonefly nymphs aquatic insects that are very
sensitive to most pollutants cannot survive if a stream's
dissolved oxygen falls below a certain level. If a bio
surveyshows that no stoneflies are present in a stream that used
to support them, a hypothesis might be that dissolved oxygen
has fallen to a point that keeps stoneflies from reproducing or
has killed them outright. Comment by PlagScan: Possible
sources:
stream-stream

pdf
stream-stream
pdf
This brings up both the advantage and disadvantage of the
biosurvey. The advantage of the biosurvey is that it tells us very
clearly when the stream ecosystem is impaired, or "sick," due to
pollution or habitat loss. It is not difficult to realize that a
stream full of many kinds of crawling and swimming "critters"
is healthier than one without much life. The disadvantage of the
biosurvey, on the other hand, is that it cannot definitively tell
us why certain types of creatures are present or absent.
stream-stream
pdf
http://www.jstor.org/stable/175392 Comment by PlagScan:
Possible sources:

pdf
stream-stream
pdf
http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/aascd/db/Macros.asp Comment by
pdf
ms4-evaluation-and-assessment Comment by PlagScan:
Possible sources:
stream-stream
pdf
In this case, the absence of stoneflies might indeed be due to
low dissolved oxygen.But is the streamunder-
oxygenatedbecause it flows too sluggishly or because pollutants
in the stream are damaging water quality by using up the
oxygen? The absence of stoneflies might also be due to other
pollutants discharged by factories or running off farmland,
water temperatures that are too high, habitat degradation such
as excess sand or silt on the stream bottom that has ruined

stonefly sheltering areas, or other conditions. Thus a bio-
surveyshould be accompanied by an assessment of habitat and
water quality conditions in order to help explainbio-survey
results. Comment by PlagScan: Possible sources:
stream-stream
pdf
stream-stream
pdf
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pdf
Materials and methods:
1. The sites were selected for sample collection.
2. The description for the sites was collected.
3. The conditions of humidity, sand content, shade and rate of
flowing water were recorded.
4. The macroinvertebrates were analyzed and counted.
5. The macroinvertebrates were classified under the various
groups and the final data chart was prepared which is available
in the next section.
DATA:
Discussion (Analysis) and Conclusions:
Uses of the Bio survey and Habitat Assessment
The bio survey’s findings and the different habitat assessments
can be summarized and can be used as follows;
· Bio surveys is a tool to be used to define the problem, where
the habitat assessment if there is a problem can occur for
example poor river conditions.
· To identify the impact of pollution and of pollution control
activities. Because macro invertebrates are considered to be
essential and sensitive impact to the degree of pollution,
changes in the abundance and severity of pollution impact on
the rivers. Loss of macro invertebrates in the water stream ,
trees and different community environment. For example, when
a pollution acitivty take place , fences are shut to avoid cows
out of the streams . A bio surveymay show that the
sensitivemacro invertebrateshave returned and a habitat

assessment might find that the formerly eroded stream banks
have recovered. Comment by PlagScan: Possible sources:
stream-stream
Water Quality/Dont Let Water Quality Bug You Out.ashx
stream-stream
· To determine the severity of the pollution problem and to rank
stream sites. To use biological data properly, water resource
analysts generally compare the results from the stream sites
under study to those of sites in ideal or nearly ideal condition
(called a reference condition). Individual stream sites can then
be ranked from best to worst, and priorities can be set for their
improvement. Comment by PlagScan: Possible sources:
stream-stream

stream-stream
· To determine support of aquatic life uses. All states designate
their waters for certain specific uses, such as swimming or as
cold water fishery. States establish specific standards (limits on
pollutants) identifying what concentrations of chemical
pollutants are allowable if designated stream uses are to be
maintained. Increasingly, states are also developing biological
criteria essentially, statements of what biological conditions
should be in various types of streams throughout the state.
States are required by the Clean Water Act to report on those
waters which do not support their designated uses. Biological
surveys directly examine the aquatic organisms in streams and
the stressors that affect them. Therefore, these surveys are ideal
tools to use in determining whether a stream's designated
aquatic life uses are supported. Comment by PlagScan:
Possible sources:
stream-stream
stream-stream

stream-stream
· To identify water quality trends. In any given site, biological
data can be used to identify water quality trends (increasing or
decreasing) over several years.Comment by PlagScan: Possible
sources:
stream-stream
stream-stream
· Stonefly nymphs aquatic insects that are very sensitive to most
pollutants cannot survive if a stream's dissolved oxygen falls
below a certain level. If a bio survey shows that no stoneflies
are present in a stream that used to support them, a hypothesis
might be that dissolved oxygen has fallen to a point that keeps
stoneflies from reproducing or has killed them outright
· The absence of stoneflies might indeed be due to low
dissolved oxygen.But is the stream under-oxygenated because it
flows too sluggishly or because pollutants in the stream are
damaging water quality by using up the oxygen? The absence of
stoneflies might also be due to other pollutants discharged by
factories or running off farmland, water temperatures that are

too high, habitat degradation such as excess sand or silt on the
stream bottom that has ruined stonefly sheltering areas, or other
conditions. Comment by PlagScan: Possible sources:
stream-stream
pdf
http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/aascd/db/Macros.asp Comment by
pdf
1. Aquatic Macroinvertebrates – Highly Sensitive to Pollution
http://insects.about.com/od/water-quality-monitoring/qt/Water-
Quality-Monitoring-Using-Aquatic-Macroinvertebrates.htm
http://www.ggu.ac.in/download/IT/Botany B.Sc-VI LBC-604
_AR-7820_.pdf
Certain macroinvertebrates serve as bioindicators of good water
quality.
These organisms tend to require high dissolved oxygen levels.
When present in large numbers, these macroinvertebrates
suggest the stream is in good condition.If these organisms were
once abundant, but subsequent sampling shows a decline in
numbers, it may indicate that a pollution incident occurred.
These organisms include: Comment by PlagScan: Possible
sources:

_AR-7820_.pdf
http://www.creditvalleyca.ca/watershed-science/plants-animals-
communities/plants-and-animals-of-the-credit/aquatic-
macroinvertebrates/ Comment by PlagScan: Possible sources:
_AR-7820_.pdf
· mayflies (nymphs)
· riffle beetles (adults)
· caddisflies (larvae)
· stoneflies (nymphs)
· water pennies
· gilled snails
· hellgrammites (dobsonfly larvae)
2. Aquatic Macroinvertebrates – Somewhat Tolerant of
Pollution
This group of macroinvertebrates tends to tolerate some
degradation of water quality. Their abundance and diversity
indicates a stream is in fair to good condition. These
macroinvertebrates include:
· alderflies (larvae) Comment by PlagScan: Possible sources:
_AR-7820_.pdf
· dragonflies and damselflies (nymphs)
· whirligig beetles (larvae)
· riffle beetles (larvae)
· fishflies (larvae)
· sowbugs
· scuds
· crayfish

· clams
· mussels
3. Aquatic Macroinvertebrates – Pollution Tolerant Comment by
_AR-7820_.pdf
http://www.creditvalleyca.ca/watershed-science/plants-animals-
communities/plants-and-animals-of-the-credit/aquatic-
macroinvertebrates/
Certain macroinvertebrates thrive in poor quality water. An
abundance of these organisms suggests environmental
conditions in a stream have deteriorated.Some of these
invertebrates use"snorkels"to access oxygen at the water's
surface, and are less dependent on dissolved oxygen to breathe.
These macroinvertebrates include: Comment by PlagScan:
Possible sources:
_AR-7820_.pdfComment by PlagScan: Possible sources:
_AR-7820_.pdf
· black flies (larvae)Comment by PlagScan: Possible sources:
_AR-7820_.pdf
· midge flies (larvae)
· lunged snails
· aquatic worms
· leeches
From the data collected in the table we conclude that:

Group 1: 1 aquatic earthworm , 3 sowbugs, 2 stoneflies , 3
mayflies, 1 possible larvae case of caddisfly, water pennies; 1
water beetle, 5 snails, 1 crane fly ,1 leach; 8 chiggars; 1 spider.
The organisms present show that the wate is polluted to great
extent, as it contains weak pollution resisting organisms like
worms, larvae as well as a large no. of other micro organisms..
Group 2:
9 sowbugs
2 stoneflies
1 mayfly
1 crane fly
12 crayfish
1 water boatman (true bug, Hemiptera)
The large no of sowbugs show that the water is polluted to a
some extent indicating a stream is in fair to good condition than
group 1.
Group 3
The main composition is of the scuds which are fairly pollution
reisting. So the water is in better condition than group 1 and 2.
Group 4:
This is the cleanest and pollution free water due to the absence
of micro organisms in it. The water is cleaner than group 1, 2,
and group 3 samples.
The samples and its result match fairlyto a great extent to the
theoreticaldata discussed above. Comment by PlagScan:
Possible source:
http://www.uoz-krg.org/node/430

Lab Report - MacroinvertebratesIntroduction Biological monit.docx

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