What Lives in Our Water?

Fish

Minnow

Bluegill

Amphibians

Leopard Frog

Tadpole

Bull Frog and Green Grog

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Amphibians

– retains gills throughout life

– loses its gills to live on land

Reptiles

Newly hatched Snapping turtle

Red-eared slider

Adult Snapper

Reptiles

– common in our area - non-venomous

aggressive but non-venomous

None of the previous animals are used to indicate the quality of water in an area – they are nice to find, but are often the first to go if the water is not good.

Indicators of Water Quality

Macroinvertebrates – without backbones, large enough to be seen

Many of the macroinvertebrates are insect larvae that spend part of their life cycle as aquatic organisms (note the gills on the pictures)

The macroinvertebrates are divided into groups based on their tolerance of poor water conditions.

Group 1 – indicators of good water quality. These have low tolerance of pollutants.

Group 2 – indicators of fair water quality. These have moderate tolerance of pollutants.

Group 3 – indicators of poor water quality. These have high tolerance of pollutants.

1Food for many fish

1Food for many fish

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Food for many fish – good bait too!

1Found in little cases of sand and sticks on the bottom of rocks.

1Found on the bottom of rocks.

Riffle Beetle adults

1These are not the water striders that might also be found.

2Adults hold wings together when resting.

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Larvae are voracious predators – often catching fish and tadpoles!

Adults hold wings parallel when resting.

Crane Fly larvae

Crane Fly adult

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Might also find horsefly larvae – similar but larger!

These are not giant mosquitoes! They are harmless and lousy flyers.

Beetle larvae

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2Crustacean – shell on the outside.

2Crustacean – shell on the outside. Look like tiny shrimp

2Crustacean – related to the “roly-pollies” found under rocks on land.

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3Segmented worms – only some are blood suckers. Good bait too!

3This insect larva lives in the silt and is often called a “blood worm” due to its red color.

3This insect larva has a suction cup on one end to ancor it to rocks.

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– have gills and need water with higher oxygen levels

– have lungs and breathe air - can live in polluted water