Aquatic Aquatic Macroinvertebrates & Macroinvertebrates &

What They Tell Us What They Tell Us About the WaterAbout the WaterBy: Bianca, Carnecia & MarkBy: Bianca, Carnecia & Mark

Our PurposeOur Purpose

• We set out to find different Aquatic We set out to find different Aquatic Macroinvertebrates. Our plan was to Macroinvertebrates. Our plan was to study not only them but there study not only them but there environment as well. To also see just environment as well. To also see just what the types of Macroinvertebrates what the types of Macroinvertebrates we found, could tell us more about the we found, could tell us more about the water we found them in. Certain water we found them in. Certain Marcroinvertebrates are found in Marcroinvertebrates are found in certain types of water.certain types of water.

What are Aquatic What are Aquatic Macroinvertebrates??Macroinvertebrates??• Macroinvertebrates are organisms Macroinvertebrates are organisms

that are large enough to be seen with that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye and lack a backbone. the naked eye and lack a backbone. They inhabit all types of running They inhabit all types of running waters, from fast-flowing mountain waters, from fast-flowing mountain streams to slow-moving muddy rivers.streams to slow-moving muddy rivers.

• The most common The most common Macroinvertebrates are insects in Macroinvertebrates are insects in their larval or nymph form, crayfish, their larval or nymph form, crayfish, clams, snails and worms.clams, snails and worms.

HypothesisHypothesis

• The higher the water quality ,the The higher the water quality ,the higher the diversity and the quantity higher the diversity and the quantity of the Macro invertebrates. of the Macro invertebrates.

MethodsMethods

• We used nets to capture the We used nets to capture the Macroinvertebrates at ODR, Concord Macroinvertebrates at ODR, Concord and Mt. Moosilauke.and Mt. Moosilauke.

• We then identified them as a specific We then identified them as a specific class or family.class or family.

• We later compared them to the We later compared them to the water quality.water quality.

Other MethodsOther Methods

• Scoring- used to calculate the water Scoring- used to calculate the water quality, the number of Macro quality, the number of Macro Invertebrates, and the Macro Invertebrates, and the Macro Invertebrate score Invertebrate score

• We used this scoring method in the We used this scoring method in the ODR, Concord, Upper, Middle, and ODR, Concord, Upper, Middle, and Lower GorgeLower Gorge

ODR Findings……ODR Findings……

• At the ODR, we At the ODR, we came across a lot came across a lot of water striders of water striders and several aquatic and several aquatic worms.worms.

Look What We Found At Mount Look What We Found At Mount MoosilaukeMoosilauke

• We found a plenty We found a plenty of flies at the upper of flies at the upper gorge brook. Both gorge brook. Both caddis and may caddis and may flies were all over. flies were all over. There were to There were to different types of different types of mayflies but ten mayflies but ten altogether.altogether.

Middle Gorge BrookMiddle Gorge Brook

• We found one We found one small red worm small red worm and and five and and five caddisflies in the caddisflies in the middle gorge brook middle gorge brook of Mount of Mount Moosilauke.Moosilauke.

Lower Gorge BrookLower Gorge Brook

• Mostly caddisflies Mostly caddisflies and mayflies were and mayflies were found in this area.found in this area.

• These flies are in These flies are in class one which is class one which is intolerant to intolerant to pollution. They are pollution. They are very sensitive.very sensitive.

Merrimack Findings…..Merrimack Findings…..

• At Merrimack, in At Merrimack, in Concord, we Concord, we discovered a black-discovered a black-striped leech and striped leech and two different small two different small snails. These are all snails. These are all tolerant to pollution tolerant to pollution and part of the and part of the Class 3 of the Class 3 of the Macroinvertebrates Macroinvertebrates index class.index class.

ResultsResults

Comparison Of WQ and Macros

05

101520

2530354045

Upper Gorge MiddleGorge

Lower Gorge Concord ODR

# of Macro

MI

WQ Score

ConclusionsConclusions

• In conclusion the water quality does In conclusion the water quality does have a positive affect on the quantity have a positive affect on the quantity of Macro Invertebrates in the water.of Macro Invertebrates in the water.

• Because as the water quality Because as the water quality increases so does the Macro increases so does the Macro Invertebrate index number.Invertebrate index number.

ReferenceReference

• http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/35772.htmhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/35772.htmll

• http://www.bv229.k12.ks.us/bvnwbiology/fihttp://www.bv229.k12.ks.us/bvnwbiology/fieldbiology/macroinvertebrates/backgroundeldbiology/macroinvertebrates/background.htm.htm

• Mitchell, F. and J.Schloss Interpreting Mitchell, F. and J.Schloss Interpreting Water Quality Results For the Merrimack Water Quality Results For the Merrimack River. UNH Cooperated Extension July River. UNH Cooperated Extension July 19911991

• Dr. Jeff Schloss. Personal Communication Dr. Jeff Schloss. Personal Communication