ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES
ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY
13 JULY – 7 AUGUST, 2007
INSTRUCTOR AND QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COURSE
Dr. Brad Taylor
Dartmouth College
Biological Sciences
Hanover, NH 03755
Phone: 603-646-1525; E-mail: brad.taylor@dartmouth.edu
*You can also find me more quickly in Willey Lab 101 or Willey cabin.
GOALS OF THIS COURSE
By the end of this course, you should:
-be able to identify aquatic invertebrates to genus and use invertebrates to ask ecological
or conservation questions.
-understand the phylogeny, life histories, behaviors, trophic importance, adaptations to
life in water, and conservation significance of aquatic invertebrates.
-be familiar with methods for measuring invertebrate density, biomass, and diversity.
-be able to use invertebrate bioassessment protocols to test for environmental impacts.
-know that aquatic invertebrate ecology isn’t rocket science - it’s harder and more fun!
TIME ALLOTMENT
10% formal classroom-style lectures, 50% field research and field-based lectures, and 40% field
& lab identifying and collecting.
GRADING
Take home final: 20% (focusing on topics covered in lecture, lab, and the field)
Collection and Project: 50% (voucher collection of invertebrates identified to genus and a paper)
5 Quizzes: 15% (Sight identification of taxa and unique traits)
Lab Practical: 20% (Sight identification of taxa to family level)
PROJECT AND COLLECTION
You will use the invertebrates you collect and identify as part of your invertebrate collection and
to answer an ecological or conservation oriented question. You are required to turn in a paper
that describes the project in a standard scientific format, with appropriate graphs, tables, and
references. In addition, you are required to turn in a collection of voucher specimens
(representative specimens of the taxa, identified to genus, that you find at each site). The
collection will be an important product from the course demonstrating your mastering of aquatic
invertebrate taxonomy, and the paper will demonstrate your ability to synthesize and interpret
ecological data using invertebrates. More detailed instructions on the collection and papers will
be provided, and I will work with you to develop field methods and provide additional handouts
with directions on how to do the appropriate data analyses, find relevant references, etc. Potential
group projects include, but are not limited to: Investigating possible changes due to climate, land
use, etc. of the distribution of aquatic invertebrates along an elevation gradient in Cement Creek,
Colorado, the site of a classic study done 35 year ago. Also, their are a number of current and
pending changes in the area (e.g., mines, land development, ski area water extraction, dams, etc.)
that would be good topics for a biomonitoring project investigating possible effects on the
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ecosystem and water quality of a local stream(s), pond(s), or wetland(s). I am receptive to any
other feasible project ideas as well.
LABORATORY
Labs are scheduled in the afternoons when rain and thunderstorms typically occur at RMBL.
Each lab session will start with a short (15 minute) introduction of characters used to identify
various taxa, and demonstrations of difficult morphological characters using local taxa will be
provided. You will use microscopes to identify taxa during the remainder of the lab, and I will
assist with identification and difficult characters (on the invertebrates).
REQUIRED TEXT
Ward, J.V., B.C. Kondratieff, R.E. Zuellig. 2002. An Illustrated Guide to the Mountain Stream
Insects of Colorado. University of Colorado Press, Boulder, USA (~$19.95). Other taxonomic
keys will be provided to supplement Ward et al., but students will not be required to purchase
these.
SUPPLIES
A packet of supplies (vials, boots or waders, and the textbook) is available in the Gothic Store.
Other supplies for the course will be provided by RMBL.
PREPARING FOR AN AQUATIC FIELD COURSE
Collecting trips will involve hiking at high elevations (>9000 ft) and sampling in cold streams,
wetlands, and ponds. On days that we are in the field, we will eat a sack lunch from the dining
hall. Students are encouraged to bring hip waders or purchase lightweight stockingfoot waders
(Cabela's Three Forks™ Stockingfoot Hip Wader, Item:XG-830085, Price $34.95), which must
be worn with old sneakers or short rubber boots. Students should bring a raincoat, a warm wool
or synthetic-fiber sweater, daypack, water bottles, and plenty of extra socks – we’ll get our feet
wet!
PACKET OF SUPPLIES TO BE PURCHASED BY EACH STUDENT
● rubber boots or Cabela’s lightweight stockingfoot waders, only included if you send an email
to me with their shoe size. (e.g., Cabela's Three Forks™ Stockingfoot Hip Wader, Item:XG830085, www.cabelas.com).
● 50 scintillation vials.
● Ward, J.V., B.C. Kondratieff, R.E. Zuellig. 2002. An Illustrated Guide to the Mountain Stream
Insects of Colorado. University of Colorado Press, Boulder, USA. Included in packet unless
you email me stating you have found another source.
● 1 pair soft forceps (Bioquip Featherweight forceps, Item: 4750, www.bioquip.com)
● 1 pair hard forceps (Bioquip Featherweight forceps, Item: 4531, www.bioquip.com)
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SCHEDULE
Subject to change depending on weather.
WEEK I
Day 1, Friday, July 13th
8:15
Field: Invertebrate sampling for project and collection (East River and Copper Creek,
local beaver ponds, maybe the Kettle Ponds)
1:15
Lab: Process samples from field trip and learn the aquatic insect orders
3:30
Lecture: Introduction to aquatic invertebrates and their habitats (Phylogeny, origins,
and evolution of aquatic invertebrates)
WEEK II
Day 2, Wednesday, July 18th
8:15
Field: Cement Creek Drainage *Bring a sack lunch
1:15
Lab: QUIZ on sight identifications of aquatic insect orders. Process samples from
field trip and learn Ephemeroptera (Mayflies), Plecoptera (Stoneflies), Odonata,
and Hemiptera families
3:30
Lecture: Problems and solutions to living in water: (morphology, physiology,
osmoregulation, respiration, sensory system)
Day 3, Thursday, July 19th
8:15
Field: Invertebrate sampling for project and collection *Bring a sack lunch
1:15
Lab: Process samples from field trip, work on collections, and learn Trichoptera
(Caddisflies) and Coleoptera (Beetles) families
3:30
Lecture: Aquatic invertebrate life histories (life cycles, mating, diapause, emergence,
oviposition)
WEEK III
Day 4, Wednesday, July 25th
8:15
Field: Invertebrate sampling for project and collection *Bring a sack lunch
1:15
Lab: QUIZ on various families TBA. Process samples from field trip and learn
Diptera families
3:30
Lecture: Aquatic invertebrate behavior (feeding behavior, defensive behavior,
parasites & pathogen alteration of behavior, dispersal behavior)
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WEEK III cont.
Day 5, Thursday, July 26th
8:15
Field: Invertebrate sampling for project and collection *Bring a sack lunch
1:15
Lab: Process samples from field trip, work on collections, and learn via slides the
aquatic Lepidoptera (moths), Neuroptera (spongilla flies) and Megaloptera
families (Dobson flies)
3:30
Lecture: Using invertebrates for biological assessment and as indicator organisms
(Motivation, theory, and methods; computer lab to calculate indices and estimate
species diversity by rarefaction)
WEEK IV
Day 6, Wednesday, August 1st
8:15
Field: Sampling and collecting of hyporheic (subterranean) invertebrates
1:15
Lab: Process samples from field trip and work on collections, and learn other noninsect taxa (Worms, Leeches, Water Mites, Crustacea, Molluscs)
3:30
Lecture: Conservation of freshwater invertebrates and linkages between terrestrial and
aquatic food webs
Day 7, Thursday, August 2nd
8:15
Lecture or field: TBA
10:00 Work on project and collections
1:15
Work on collections
5:00
Final project paper due
WEEK V
Day 8, Tuesday, August 7th
8:00
Practical: Sight identification of insect orders and families and some genera
RMBL Research Symposium
5:00
Written: Take to your cabin comprehensive exam
End-of-class social and aquatic invertebrate charades!
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