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Natural History of Stream Invertebrates: Using and Making Sense of Biotic Indices, and Beyond Slide 2 Natural History The study and description of organisms and natural objects, especially their origins, evolution, and interrelationshipsThe study and description of organisms and natural objects, especially their origins, evolution, and interrelationships caddisfly sowbug Slide 3 Natural History Some examples related to aquatic macroinvertebrates might include:Some examples related to aquatic macroinvertebrates might include: Ecology ( relationships between living organisms and the non-living components of the environment in which they live) Behavior Functional feeding groups Slide 4 What Problems Must Macroinvertebrates Solve Because They Live In Streams? Aqueous medium (tough to get O 2 )Aqueous medium (tough to get O 2 ) Medium that is generally moving upstream-downstreamMedium that is generally moving upstream-downstream Diel variation in physio-chemical characteristicsDiel variation in physio-chemical characteristics Seasonal variation in hydrologySeasonal variation in hydrology Connected to upstream conditionsConnected to upstream conditions Linked to land-water interfaceLinked to land-water interface black flies Slide 5 Feeding Groups or Guilds Shredders - Coarse woody or plant associated materialsShredders - Coarse woody or plant associated materials Filtering Collectors - Suspended particulates, microbes, phytoplanktonFiltering Collectors - Suspended particulates, microbes, phytoplankton Gathering Collectors - Deposited particulatesGathering Collectors - Deposited particulates Grazers/Scrapers - Peryiphyton & fungiGrazers/Scrapers - Peryiphyton & fungi Predators - especially invertebratesPredators - especially invertebrates caddisfly stonefly Slide 6 Some Guiding Principles for Classification Everyone can classify objectsEveryone can classify objects Ways macroinvertebrates may be classified:Ways macroinvertebrates may be classified: Functional feeding groups Morphology Locomotion Microhabitat Type of metamorphosis Means of obtaining oxygen Need for oxygen / Ability of stream to provide that oxygen net spinning caddisfly Slide 7 Biotic Indices A way to classify based on macroinvertebrates tolerance to pollutionA way to classify based on macroinvertebrates tolerance to pollution Generally this means organic pollution Or that which affects oxygen levels in the streamOr that which affects oxygen levels in the stream Slide 8 Biotic Indices Some organisms require water with a lot of oxygen in itSome organisms require water with a lot of oxygen in it Others have adaptations to obtaining the oxygen they needOthers have adaptations to obtaining the oxygen they need Slide 9 Adaptations for Obtaining Oxygen Morphological Tubes Soft tissue between segments & gills Hair-like/Plate-like wings Behavioral -Body pumping -Swimming to surface -Construct burrows or tubes Slide 10 Biotic Indices Assign pollution tolerance values to organisms based on their oxygen needsAssign pollution tolerance values to organisms based on their oxygen needs Order levelOrder level Fairly Simple: Excellent, Good, Fair, PoorFairly Simple: Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor Tolerance values 1, 2, 3 and 4Tolerance values 1, 2, 3 and 4 # Group 1 * tolerance value (4)= # Group 2 * tolerance value (3)= # Group 3 * tolerance value (2)= # Group 4 * tolerance value (1)= SUMA SUM B SUM B/SUM A = Biotic Index ScoreSUM B/SUM A = Biotic Index Score Slide 11 Biotic Indices More tricky: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, Very PoorMore tricky: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, Very Poor Weighted average: Each individual is counted (rather than just counting types)Weighted average: Each individual is counted (rather than just counting types) Tolerance values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10Tolerance values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 If 100 organisms in sampleIf 100 organisms in sample Number of inverts in family * tolerance 1*9=9 10*8=80 16*7=112 14*6=84 5*5= 25 39*4=156 5*3=15 10*2=20 100501 Answer: 501/100 = 5.01Answer: 501/100 = 5.01 Gives specific types of macroinvertebrates individual credit for being in the streamGives specific types of macroinvertebrates individual credit for being in the stream Slide 12 Diversity of Families of Aquatic Insects in Wisconsin Generally find 10 OrdersGenerally find 10 Orders Approximately 89 FamiliesApproximately 89 Families riffle beetlewater penny Slide 13 Order Common Name Number of Families DipteraFlies19 TrichopteraCaddisflies14 EphemeropteraMayflies13 ColeopteraBeetles11 Hemiptera True Bugs 11 Odonata Dragonflies and Damselflies 9 PlecopteraStoneflies8 Megaloptera Fishflies, Hellgrammites, and Alderflies 2 Lepidoptera Aquatic Moths 1 NeuropteraSpongflies1 Slide 14 What are tolerances, feeding strategies, and presence of different families in Wisconsin streams like? Slide 15 Mayflies use abdominal gills to obtain oxygen FamilyTolerance Feeding Guild BaetidaeModerateCollector/Scraper BaetiscidaeLowCollector CaenidaeHighCollector/Scraper EphemerellidaeLowCollector EphemeridaeModerateCollector HeptageniidaeModerateScraper IsonychiidaeLowFilterer LeptophlebidaeLowCollector MetretopidaeLowPredator/Collector PolymitarcyidaeLowCollector/Filterer PotamanthidaeModerateCollector/Filterer SiphlonuridaeHighCollector Page 23 Slide 16 Representative Mayflies flathead mayflyarmored mayfly prong gill mayfly adultHexagenia Slide 17 Dragonflies obtain oxygen through soft tissue between plates; Damselflies use leaf-like abdominal gills FamilyTolerance Feeding Guild Damselflies CalopterygidaeModeratePredator CoenagrionidaeHighPredator LestidaeHighPredator Dragonflies AeshnidaeLowPredator CordulegastridaeLowPredator GomphidaeLowPredator LibellulidaeHighPredator Page 23 Slide 18 Representative Dragonflies & Damselflies broadwing damselfly adult darner dragonfly adult darner dragonfly larva broadwing damselfly larva Slide 19 Stoneflies use thoracic gills to obtain oxygen FamilyTolerance Feeding Guild CapniidaeLowShredder ChloroperlidaeLowPredator LeuctridaeLowShredder NemouridaeLowShredder PerlidaeLowPredator PerlodidaeLowPredator PternarcyidaeLowShredder TaeniopterygidaeLowShredder Slide 20 Representative Stoneflies common stoneflyperlodid stonefly Slide 21 True bugs may use atmospheric oxygen or may use hair-like or tube-like modifications on their abdomens FamilyTolerance Feeding Guild BelostomatidaeHighPredator CorixidaeHighCollector Gelastocoridae????Predator Gerridae????Predator Hebridae????Predator Hydromedtridae????Predator Mesoveliidae????Predator NaucoridaeModeratePredator NepidaeHighPredator Notonectidae????Predator Pleidae????Predator Salididae????Predator VeliidaeModeratePredator Slide 22 Representative True Bugs water strider water scorpionback swimmer giant water bug Slide 23 Dobsonflies, fishflies, hellgrammites, and alderflies obtain oxygen through diffusion across soft tissue FamilyTolerance Feeding Guild Corydalidae????Predator SialidaeModeratePredator Slide 24 Spongillaflies obtain oxygen through diffusion across soft tissue FamilyTolerance Feeding Guild Sisyridae????Predator Slide 25 Representative Hellgrammites or Alderflies (Top) & Spongillaflies (Bottom) Alderfly larva hellgrammite spongillaflyadult alderfly Slide 26 Caddisflies obtain oxygen through diffusion across soft tissues and sometimes with gills and pumping water through case FamilyTolerance Feeding Guild BrachycentridaeLow Collectors/Filterer/ Shredder GlossosomatidaeLowScraper HelicopsychidaeLowScraper HydropsychidaeModerateCollector/Filterer HydroptilidaeModerateScraper LepidostomatidaeLowShredder LeptoceridaeModerateCollector/Shredder LimnephilidaeModerateShredder Slide 27 Caddisflies obtain oxygen through diffusion across soft tissues and sometimes with gills and pumping water through case FamilyTolerance Feeding Guild MolannidaeHighScraper/Collector OdontoceridaeLowScraper PhilopotamidaeLowCollector/Filterer PhryganeidaeModeratePredator/Herbivore PolycentropodidaeHigh Collector/Filterer/ Predator PsychomyiidaeLowCollector RhyacophillidaeLowPredator SericostomatidaeLowShredder UenoidaeLowScraper Slide 28 Representative Caddisflies net spinning caddisfly humpless casemaker caddisflysaddlecase maker caddisfly Slide 29 Aquatic moths obtain oxygen through diffusion across soft tissue FamilyTolerance Feeding Guild PyralidaeModerateShredder Slide 30 Beetles obtain oxygen through diffusion across soft tissues and from the atmosphere through modified hairs and plate-like wings FamilyTolerance Feeding Guild DryopidaeModerateScraper DytiscidaeModeratePredator ElmidaeModerateScraper GyrinidaeModeratePredator HaliplidaeHighShredder HydrophilidaeModeratePredator/Collector PsephenidaeModerateScraper ScirtidaeHigh Scraper/Shredder/ Collector Slide 31 Representative Beetles Riffle beetle adult Slide 32 Flies obtain oxygen through diffusion across soft tissues including abdominal gills and atmospheric oxygen through breathing tubes FamilyTolerance Feeding Guild AthericidaeLowPredator BlepharicidaeLowScraper CeratopogonidaeModeratePredator ChaoboridaeHighPredator ChironomidaeModerate-High All guilds CulicidaeHighCollector/Filterer DixidaeLowCollector DolichopodidaeModeratePredator EmpididaeModeratePredator EphydridaeModerate Slide 33 Flies obtain oxygen through diffusion across soft tissues including abdominal gills and atmospheric oxygen through breathing tubes FamilyTolerance Feeding Guild MuscidaeModeratePredator PsychodidaeHighCollector PtychopteridaeHighCollector SciomyzidaeModeratePredator SimuliidaeModerateFilterer StratomyidaeHighCollector SyriphidaeHighCollector TabanidaeModeratePredator TipulidaeLow Shredder/Predator/ Collector Slide 34 Representative Flies midge larva cranefly larva midge adult Slide 35 Long term sampling Slide 36 Biotic Indices arent the only solution Diversity indicesDiversity indices Richness (# species)Richness (# species) Feeding guildsFeeding guilds Dont forget to think about scaleDont forget to think about scale Slide 37 Hours Days Weeks Months Years Decades Centuries MillimetersMeters KilometersSq. Kilometers Individual Organism, Particle or Grain Population/Community Microhabitat Community/Ecosystem Pool-Riffle Sequence Ecosystem Reach Ecosystem/Biome Watershed Figure 2. Scale of Sampling and Analysis in Streams Slide 38 Thought Question: What spatial and temporal scale would you choose to sample to determine changes in populations (number of individuals of the same species in a given area)?