APPENDIX B
Appendix B is a list of selected benthic macroinvertebrates of the United States in phylogenetic order.
Included are the Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN) and the Parent Taxonomic Serial Number for each of the
taxa listed according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). The ITIS generates a national
taxonomic list that is constantly updated and currently posted on the World Wide Web at
<www.itis.usda.gov>. If you are viewing this document electronically, this page is linked to the ITIS web site.
This Appendix displays regional tolerance values, primary and secondary functional feeding group
information, and primary and secondary habit designations for selected benthos. In an effort to provide
regionally accurate tolerance information, lists included in the Appendix were taken from the following states
(and workgroup); Idaho (Northwest), Ohio1 (Midwest), North Carolina (Southeast), Wisconsin (Upper
Midwest), and the MACS workgroup (Mid-Atlantic Coastal Streams). Tolerance values are on a 0 to 10 scale,
0 representing the tolerance value of an extremely sensitive organism and 10 for a tolerant organism. For
functional feeding group and habit/behavior designations, primary and secondary designations are listed, if
both are known. The following are lists of the designations used in this appendix. Each designation is based
on the organisms= larval characteristics, except a group of beetles (listed as >adult=) that are aquatic mostly
as adults.
FUNCTIONAL FEEDING DESIGNATIONS
PA=parasite
PR=predator
OM=omnivore
GC=gatherer/collector
HABIT/BEHAVIOR DESIGNATIONS
cn=clinger
cb=climber
sp=sprawler
bu=burrower
FC=filter/collector
SC=scraper
SH=shredder
PI=piercer
sw=swimmer
dv=diver
sk=skater
Sources For Benthic Tolerance, Functional Feeding Group, and Habit/Behavior
Designations (a)
ID= Idaho DEP (Northwest)
OH= Ohio EPA (Midwest)
NC = North Carolina DEM (Southeast)
WI = Wisconsin DNR (Upper Midwest)
MACS= Mid-Atlantic Coastal Streams Workgroup (NJ DEP, DE DNREC, MD DNR, VA
DEC, NC DEM, SC DHES)
(a)
Habit/Behavior information is primarily based on Merritt and Cummins (1996) and pertains
to insect larval forms (except for Dryopidae adults) and is mostly at genus level.
1
Ohio traditionally uses an inverted 60-point scale compared to the other states in this list. In order to be
comparable to the other listed states, the Ohio values were converted to a 0-10 scale as discussed above.