What Lives in or Near Our Water?
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Transcript of What Lives in or Near Our Water?
What Lives in or Near Our Water?
Fish
Catfish
Shiners and chubs
Bluegill
Amphibians
Leopard Frog
Tadpoles
Bull Frog
Amphibians
Salamanders – Larvae have gills, legs
Mudpuppy – retains gills throughout life
Red-eared slider
Adult Snapper
Reptiles
Reptiles
Queen Snake – common in our area - non-venomous
Northern Water Snake – aggressive but non-venomous
Birds
Eastern Kingfisher
Green HeronRed-winged
Blackbird
Mammals
RaccoonMink
Beaver Muskrat
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 organism.
The macroinvertebrates are divided into groups based on their tolerance of poor water conditions.
Group I – indicators of good water quality. These have low tolerance of pollutants.
Group II – indicators of fair water quality. These have moderate tolerance of pollutants.
Group III – indicators of poor water quality. These have high tolerance of pollutants and low oxygen levels.
Stonefly adult
1Food for many fish
Stonefly nymph
1Food for many fish
Mayfly nymph
Mayfly adult
Adult only lives for a day or so to mate.
Dobsonfly adult
1
Dobsonfly larva
Also called a hellgrammite. Food for many fish – good bait too!
1Found in little cases of sand and sticks on the bottom of rocks.
Caddisfly larva
Caddisfly adult
1
Type of beetle - found on the bottom of rocks.
Water penny larva
2
Adults look like giant mosquitoes – they do not bite and are lousy fliers. These are not the water striders that might also be found.
Horsefly and deerfly larvae are similar.
Crane fly larva Crane fly
adult
2
Adults hold wings together when resting.
Adults hold wings parallel when resting.
Dragonflynymph
Damselflynymph
Larvae are voracious predators – often catching fish and tadpoles!
2
Crustacean – shell on the outside. Look like small lobsters
Crayfish or Crawdads – Decapods (10 legs)
Holes in the banks or “chimneys” in the fields near the stream are made by some species of crayfish
2
Crustaceans– related to the “roly-polys” found under rocks on land.
Crustaceans – shell on the outside. Look like tiny shrimp
Sow bugs - Isopods
Scuds or side swimmers - Amphipods
2
Beetlelarvae
Alderfly larva
2
Clams and Mussels – Mollusks
These are filter feeders – siphons bring water into the animal and nutrients are removed
3
Segmented worms – only some are blood suckers. Good bait too!
Leeches
Aquatic worms
Flat worms - Planaria
Simple organisms – look carefully on the bottom of rocks
3
Blackfly larva
This insect larva has a suction cup on one end to anchor it to rocks.
Midge larva
This insect larva lives in the silt and on leaves. Some are called a “blood worms” due to red color.
1
3
Right hand snails – have gills and need water with higher oxygen levels
Left hand snails – have lung-like organs and breathe air - can live in polluted water
The key to a healthy stream is its BIODIVERSITY – finding a wide variety of macroinvertebrates is best. If only Group III organisms are found, you should be concerned about the health of the stream. The Tally Sheet helps you to determine the biodiversity and health of the stream.
Macroinvertebrate Tally
Group I Taxa Tally Group II Taxa Tally Group III Taxa TallyWater Penny Larvae Damselfly Nymphs Blackfly LarvaeMayfly Nymphs Dragonfly Nymphs Aquatic Worm, PlanariaDobsonfly Larvae Cranefly Larvae Midge LarvaeCaddisfly Larvae Beetle Larvae Left-hand SnailsRight-hand Snails Crayfish LeechesRiffle Beetle Adults Scuds (sideswimmers)
Clams/MusselsSowbugs (isopods)Alderfly Larvae
Number of Taxa present Number of Taxa present Number of Taxa present
Times Index value of (3): Times Index value of (2): Times Index value of (1):
Total Index Value:
Biological Quality Assessment Scale
Poor 0 - 11 Fair 12 - 16 Good 17 - 22 Excellent 23+
www.seanet.com/~leskaYou may download, copy, or distribute this guide for educational purposes but not for resale. For more information contact [email protected].
Kentucky WaterWatch: www.state.ky.us/nrepc/water/bioindpg.htm
Sources of line drawings:
www.waterwatch.org.au/.../introduction.html
Other sites for guides:
PicturesA Golden Guide – Pond Life St. Martin’s Press