Biology
Lacks/Cole
Name:__________________________________
Period ______
Macroinvertebrate Data Analysis
due Wednesday, May 29th
Directions: In our study of invertebrate animals, we learned how macroinvertebrates can be a good
indicator of stream and wetland health. Using our class data from invertebrate sampling in our wetland
and the information in this packet, answer the following questions about the aquatic macroinvertebrates
that live right here at our school.
Class Data Sheet: Your teacher will hand you the ccombined class data. Use it to answer the questions
in this packet.
Questions:
1. Order/Family Richness
a. “Richness” doesn’t refer to money in this case, but the amount of different orders and families you
may find in an area. How many different types of macros did we find in the stream (example: a
scud and a crayfish are two different types, 3 different crayfish are only one type)
b. The more richness found, the higher the biodiversity of the area. Why is biodiversity so important?
(Remember we learned several reasons for this in the fall. Try to remember at least two here.)
c. In the fall, the environmental science class found only 6 different types of macros. Is this less or
more than what you found in the spring? Why do you think this is? Explain 2 reasons why this
could be.
d. The Clackamas River is a fast-moving river on the east side of Portland that originates from Mt.
hood snowmelt. The richness that is usually found in that river and its tributaries, using similar
methods to ours, is 15-20. Our wetland feeds into the Tualatin River on the west side of Portland.
What was the difference between the findings in these two areas (if any)? Why do you think this
is? Explain 2 reasons why this could be.
e. What do you think our richness data says about the health of our wetland?
2. Pollution Tolerance:
a. Using the Macroinvertebrate Table at the end of this packet, figure out how many individuals
our class found in each of the categories below.
Pollution Tolerance
Number of individuals
Pollution Intolerant (can't live in polluted water)
Pollution Sensitive (can live with a little bit of pollution)
Pollution Tolerant (can live with a fair amount of pollutiondoes NOT mean that it prefers pollution)
b. Did we find the most macros in the Pollution Intolerant, Sensitive, or Tolerant group?
c. What do you think our findings say about the health of our wetland? (Think about the
combination of individuals from the different categories.)
3. Life Span:
a. Using the Macroinvertebrate Table at the end of this packet, figure out how many individuals
our class found in each of the categories below.
Life Span
Number of individuals
Long (1 year or more)
Medium (more than 1 month, up to 1 year)
Short (1 day- 1 month)
b. Did we find the most macros in the long, medium, or short lifespan?
c. What do you think our findings say about the health of our wetland? Really think about his
one!!!!
4. Feeding Habits
a. Using the Macroinvertebrate Table at the end of this document, figure out how many
individuals we found in each of the categories below.
Feeding Habit
Predator – feed on other invertebrates
(e.g., dragonflies)
Omnivore – generalist feeders able to feed on both
dead and living organic matter (e.g., crayfish)
Collector/Filterer – consume fine pieces of
organic matter like leaf fragments suspended in
the water (e.g., mussels).
Scraper/Grazer – feed on attached plants and algae
located on submerged underwater surfaces
(e.g., snails)
Shredder – consume coarse organic matter such as
leaves (e.g., sowbugs)
Piercer – feed by piercing the tissues of other
organisms (true bugs - hemiptera)
Number of individuals
b. In which feeding group did we find the most macros?
c. Was there a large or small variety of feeding habits?
d. What do you think our findings on feeding habits say about the health of our wetland? (Think
about what we learned about ecosystems and communities back at the beginning of the year.)
Taxonomic Groups:
-How many organisms in the Phylum Mollusca did we find?
-How many organisms in the Phylum Arthropoda did we find?
Macroinvertebrate Table
Macro Name
Pollution
Sensitivity
Life Span (in
water)
Feeding Habit
Alderfly Larva
Aquatic Sowbug
or Isopod
Intolerant
Tolerant
1-3 years
1-2 years
Predator
Shredder
Backswimmer
Black Fly larva
Bristle Worm
Caddisfly Larva
Copepod
Tolerant
Tolerant
Tolerant
Sensitive
Sensitive
1-2 years
3 weeks
1-2 years
2-7 months
1 month – 6
months
Crane Fly Larva
Crawling Water
Beetle
Sensitive
Tolerant
3 days
1-2 years
Collector/filterer
Scraper/grazer
Crayfish
Damselfly Larva
Diving beetle
Larva
Dobsonfly Larva
Dragonfly Larva
Fishing Spider
Flatworm or
Planaria
Sensitive
Tolerant
2-3 years
1-2 years
Omnivore
Predator
Intolerant
Tolerant
Tolerant
Intolerant
1-3 years
1-3 years
1-2 years
1-3 years
Predator
Predator
Piercer
Omnivore
Tolerant
3-10 years
Collector/filterer
Tolerant
Tolerant
Tolerant
Tolerant
Tolerant
Tolerant
Tolerant
Sensitive
Tolerant
1-2 years
3-5 years
1-3 years
3-6 years
2-10 years
3-10 years
1-2 years
2-4 months
3 days
Piercer
Scraper/grazer
Predator
Predator
Piercer
Collector/filterer
Piercer
Scraper/grazer
Scraper/grazer
Tolerant
Tolerant
Tolerant
3-5 years
3-10 years
3-5 years
Scraper/grazer
Collector/filterer
Scraper/grazer
Freshwater
Mussel
Giant Water Bug
Gilled Snail
Horse Fly Larva
Horsehair Worm
Leech
Limpet
Marsh Treader
Mayfly Larva
Midge Larva or
Pupa
Orb Snail
Pill Clam
Pouch Snail
Piercer
Collector/filterer
Omnivore
Scraper/grazer
Collector/filterer
Predaceous
Diving Beetle
Larva
Predaceous
Diving Beetle
Sensitive
1-3 years
Predator
Intolerant
1-2 years
Predator
Pyralid Caterpillar
Rat Tailed
Maggot Larvae
Tolerant
Tolerant
2-3 years
1 to 2 years
Scraper/grazer
Collector/filterer
Riffle Beetle
Riffle Beetle
Larva
Scud or
Amphipod
Stonefly Larva
Tubifex Worm
Water boatman
Water Mite
Water penny
Water Scavenger
Beetle
Intolerant
Sensitive
1-5 years
1-2 years
Scraper/grazer
Scraper/grazer
Sensitive
Omnivore
Intolerant
Tolerant
Tolerant
Sensitive
Intolerant
Tolerant
6 months- 1
year
1-3 years
3-5 years
1-2 years
1 month
1-2 years
1-2 years
Omnivore
Collector/filterer
Piercer
Predator
Scraper/grazer
Omnivore
Water Scorpion
“nepa”
Tolerant
1-2 years
Piercer
Water Scorpion
“ranatra”
Tolerant
1-2 years
Piercer
Water Snipe Fly
Larva
Intolerant
10-11 months
Predator
Water Strider
Whirligig beetle
Tolerant
Sensitive
1-2 years
1-2 years
Piercer
Predator
Resources used in making the above table:
http://tolweb.org/Trichoptera/8230
http://www.weloveteaching.com/hopepond/macrobug/macrobug.htm
http://www.epa.gov/bioiweb1/html/benthosclean.html
http://bugguide.net/node/view/63/bgpage