Date post: | 18-Jan-2016 |
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Why Assess Biological Why Assess Biological Water Quality?Water Quality?
Role in government decision makingRole in government decision making Decide which areas need help firstDecide which areas need help first Provide baseline dataProvide baseline data Gauge effect of changes to Gauge effect of changes to
watershedwatershed
Biological MonitoringBiological Monitoring Biological monitoring involves Biological monitoring involves
collecting, identifying and collecting, identifying and counting macroinvertebratescounting macroinvertebrates
The purpose of biological The purpose of biological monitoring is to quickly assess monitoring is to quickly assess both both water and habitat qualitywater and habitat quality
Healthy streams are characterized Healthy streams are characterized by by abundant and diverseabundant and diverse macroinvertebrate populations macroinvertebrate populations Monitoring involves Monitoring involves quarterly quarterly samplingsampling by volunteers by volunteers
Macros are aquatic insects, mollusks Macros are aquatic insects, mollusks and crustaceansand crustaceans
Macros live in various stream habitats Macros live in various stream habitats and and derive their oxygen from the derive their oxygen from the waterwater
These organisms are impacted by all the These organisms are impacted by all the stresses that occur in a stream stresses that occur in a stream environment, both man-made and environment, both man-made and naturally occurringnaturally occurring
What are What are MacroinvertebratesMacroinvertebrates
Macros as Indicators of Macros as Indicators of Water QualityWater Quality
NotNot very mobile very mobile
Present during ALL stream events (though Present during ALL stream events (though recent recent heavy rainsheavy rains can affect resultscan affect results))
Relatively easy to catch, view and identifyRelatively easy to catch, view and identify
They are affected by the physical, chemical They are affected by the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the streamand biological conditions of the stream
Their absence provides early warning Their absence provides early warning signalsignal
Water Penny
Aquatic Sowbug
Rat-tailed maggot
Right-handed snail
or gill snail
Leech
Blood Midge Larva
Planaria
Freshwater mussels
A
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D
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I
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