MICORPS MONITORING MACROINVERTEBRATE
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
MICORPS MACROINVERTEBRATE MONITORING
WATERSHED
Muskegon River Watershed
Drains ~2,723 mi2 of land
Starts at
Houghton/Higgins Lakes
down to its mouth at
Muskegon Lake and,
eventually, Lake Michigan
AQUATIC MACROINVERTEBRATES
Small organisms that you can see without a microscope
that lack an internal skeletal system and live part or all of their
lives in water.
Why Collect Macros?
Good Indicators Good for Volunteers
o Good indicators of stream conditions o Easy to sample
(live there all the time)
o Generally abundant communities
o Macro diversity = Healthy stream
o It is a unique experience
o Threats to bug diversity
o Sedimentation
o Habitat loss
o Chemical/organic pollution
NEW DATA SHEET Ordered from sensitive to tolerant 0 = Least tolerant; 10 = most tolerant Only 19 to know! Need at least 100 specimens < 30 – These are the worst of the worst samples. If you can't get 30 bugs in an hour's work, the stream is heavily degraded. Score a 10. < 60 – Certainly a problematic stream that should not be given a good score. Score a 7. 60-100 – No penalty, but always strive to get over 100 insects per site.
MICORPS SAMPLING PROCEDURES
SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR STREAM
WORK
Keep your collector in Move slowly and
sight cautiously
Beware of instream
items that could be
scientific equipment or Wear life jackets if
dangerous (like rebar appropriate
and chunks of
concrete)
COLLECTION PROCEDURE
Collector gets in the water
Wadable water
35-45 minutes of total effort
300-foot stream section
Work upstream, always heading toward
clean water (for visibility purposes)
Sample all representative microhabitats:
•Riffles • Stream Margins
•Pools • Leaf packs
•Cobbles • Undercut banks
•Aquatic plants • Overhanging vegetation
•Runs • Woody debris
COLLECTION PROCEDURES Shuffling, pulling, scraping, dragging, grabbing with hands The collector is not stopping to examine their net and never dumps debris back into the river...that's not their job! Collectors bring debris over to the team for immediate picking or put debris into a bucket for later picking Muck is miserable. Minimize muck mass.
PICKERS DUTIES
Place macroinvertebrates into small
jars of 70% ethanol or 70% isopropanol
Strive for at least 60 creatures (>100 is
preferable)
They don't need to count them, just
have a good general sense
Keep everything found within the 60-
minute picking time limit
Aside: a head picker or Leader (with
experience or trained), is a very
helpful person to have on the stream
bank.
DIRECT YOUR PICKERS TO...
Don't prefer one type of creature over
another
Optional: If they pass >150
macroinvertebrates, you can have them
stop
Count and release any clam, mussel, snail,
fish, and crayfish
Exception: Provide New Zealand
Mudsnail pictures. They should keep
these snails and tell you about them if
they saw them
If you find a New Zealand Mudsnail, get
in touch with an EGLE biologistDECONTAMINATION
New from 2021: Equipment
decontamination with dilute
bleach or other chemical like
409 is a required component
of MiCorps samplingIDENTIFICATION
Don't do identification during
picking except for light education
purposes; the goal of this time is to
pick
An ID expert needs to confirm or do
all identifications
You can do ID after collection, or
hold a different ev ent in the
following weeks
You should NOT...
Do the official ID in the field
Do the official ID on liv e creatures
Hav e the v olunteers only sav e a
few insects of each type
Aside: sav e all samples for at least 5
yearsSCORING-
What is organic pollution? HILSENHOFF METHOD
Pollution delivered to a stream
through both point and non-point
method
• Strongly connected to oxygen Scores are secondarily
Measures sensitivity to
levels organic pollution (0-10)
connected to
habitat quality and flow
• From natural, agricultural, and
urban sources
• Waste-water Areas with higher organic
pollution will have More bank erosion; fine
degraded habitat through sediment; flashy water
• Fertilizers and nutrients landuse/development flows
impacts
• PesticidesWATER QUALITY RATING
(WQR)
1. Add Total Abundance
2. Multiply: Count x Sensitivity for each
line
3. Sum the Count x Sensitivity Column
4. Divide that Sum (Count x Sensitivity)
by the Total AbundanceVARIATION IN PROCEDURE AND
LOGISTICS
Total collection effort should be 35-
45 minutes no matter the number
of collectors
Collectors must be trained ahead
of time w/ practice sampling
session
300-foot stream sections
Follow MiCorps collection
procedures:
Don't pick for more than an hour
(can be less if full time isn't
needed)
Don't do your official ID's out in the
field. Kill the specimens in alcohol,
ID in a controlled setting with an
expert. Keep the specimens.
All macros must be collected in a
2-week window that is similar year
after yearHABITAT ASSESSMENT
Helps us understand WHY we are finding theses
macroinvertebrates or why their populations are
changing
It is a qualitative assessment, not quantitative
Your team will fill out a form answering questions on
Stream Size • Plant community
Flow • Size/condition of riparian
Presence of foam/oil/trash zone
• Sources of degradation
Stream bank condition
• Optional pebble count
**We will walk through assessment during the field sampling
dayHABITAT
ASSESSMENT
How often?
Once every 5 years
When to hold it?
After collecting
macroinvertebrates
Summer is a good time to
conduct a habitat
assessment (vegetation
types and density are part
of the assessment)HABITAT ASSESSMENT
How to hold the assessment
1. The group needs to spend some time at the
stream before answering the habitat
questions. Explore and poke around the
entire 300-foot reach
2. One person walks the group through the
data sheet
3. The group, by consensus, rates different
aspects of the habitat
4. If the group can't agree on the answer, you
take averages (when numbers) or record
commentsMACROINVERTEBRATE IDENTIFICATION
KEY BODY PARTS
ORDER – MEGALOPTERA: TWO FAMILIES
Sensitive Hellgrammite-Dobsonfly/Fishfly Alderfly Sensitive
0→
• Family-Corydalidae • Family-Sialidae
1 1
2 2
3 Characteristics Characteristics 3
4.0 →
4 • Lateral projections • Lateral projections 4
5
• Three pairs of legs • Three pairs of legs 5
6 6
• No distinct tail; prolegs • Distinct single tail
7 7
8
• Generally larger • Generally smaller
8
9 • Often found on wood • Often found in silt 9
10 10
Tolerant Tolerant
Family-SialidaeSensitive
1.3 → 1
ORDER-PLECOPTERA: STONEFLIES
2
3
Characteristics
4
• Two tails
5 • Three pairs of legs
6 • Two tarsal claws
• Long antennae
7
• Sometimes gills are on underside of thorax
8 but never running up and down the top of
the abdomen
9
• Often found in gravel or on cobble and
10 wood
TolerantSensitive
1
ORDER-TRICHOPTERA: CADDISFLIES
2
3.2 → 3
Characteristics
• Three pairs of legs
4 • Wormlike
5 • Often with plates on thorax
• Prolegs on end of abdomen with claw
6
• Often in a case (sand, leaves, twigs, etc.)
7 • Some types are free-living
8 • Found in many habitats
9
10
TolerantSensitive ORDER – EPHEMEROPTERA: MAYFLIES
1
2
Characteristics
3.5 → 3 • Three tails
4 • Long antennae
• Three pairs of legs
5
• Feathery or plate like gills on abdomen
6 NOT thorax
• Found in many habitat types
7
8
9
10
TolerantSensitive ORDER-ODONATA; SUB-ORDER:
1 ANISOPTERA (DRAGONFLY)
2
3
4.0 →
4
Characteristics
5
• Stout body
6 • Labium "mask" to catch prey
7 • Two pairs of wing pads
• Large eyes
8
• Three pairs of legs
9 • Five stiff points on end of
abdomen
10
TolerantSensitive ORDER-ODONATA; SUB-ORDER:
1 ZYGOPTERA (DAMSELFLY)
2
3
4
5 Characteristics
• Slender body
6
• Two pairs of wingpads
7.7 → 7 • Three pairs of legs
8 • Labial mask
• Three tails (gills)
9
10
TolerantTHREE TAIL CONFUSION... Damselfly Mayfly Does not have gills along abdomen Has gills along abdomen
Sensitive ORDER-COLEOPTERA:
1 BEETLES
2
Characteristics
3
• Generally harder bodies (Elytra)
4 • Oval shaped
5.1 → 5 • Chewing mouthparts
6 • Well-developed eyes
• Three pairs of legs
7
• Found in many habitats, but many like slower
8 flowing water and vegetation
9 • Both adults and larvae live in water and look
• very different
10
TolerantBEETLE LARVAE Characteristics • Eye spots and antennae usually visible • Mandibles often visible • Three pairs of segmented legs (4-5 segments of each) • Sometimes lateral appendages at end of abdomen
CONFUSION EXPECTED!! BEETLES, ALDERFLIES, AND DOBSON FLIES 1. Beetle (Hydrophilidae) 2. Beetle (Dytiscidae) 3. Alderfly (Sialidae) 4. Dobson Fly (Corydalidae) 5. Beetle (Gyrinidae)
BEETLE ,ALDERFLY OR DOBSONFLY
LARVAE?
Alderfly
Beetle
Beetle
Hellgrammite-
Dobsonfly
BeetleCADDISFLY BEETLE LARVAE LARVAE
ORDER-DIPTERA "TRUE FLY" Larvae General Characteristics • So many kinds!!! • Very small • Soft bodied/worm like • No legs • No visible wing pads • Many have poorly developed head • Some have fleshy or filamentous things that may look like a tail
MICORPS SIMPLIFIED TAXA LIST FOR FLIES Listed by sensitivity 0 = least tolerant 10 = most tolerant
Sensitive ORDER-DIPTERA: THREE FAMILIES OF
1.0→ 1 TRUE FLIES (SENSITIVE)
2
Water Snipe Fly (Athericidae)
3 Characteristics
4 • Found in fast flowing water
• Burrow in gravel
5
Net-Winged Midge (Blephariceridae)
6 Characteristics
Dixid Midge (Dixidae) Characteristics
• Suction cups on each body division
7 • Flat terminal lobes fringed with hair
• Prolegs with hooks on abdominal
8 sections 1-2
9 • Can see head
• Found in shallow/slow water with
10 plants
Tolerant • Found on surface of water when
pickingSensitive ORDER-DIPTERA: TRUE FLIES
1 TOLERANT TO POLLUTION
2 Mosquito (Culicidae) Characteristics
3 • Head capsule visible
• Fused thoracic segments (bulb shape)
4
• Found in slow water
5 • Breathe air with spiracle Soldier Fly (Stratiomyidae)
Characteristics
6 • Flattened body
7 • Leathery looking
• Can see head
8
8.7→ Rat-tailed Maggot/Hover Fly (Syphridae) • Found in muck
Characteristics
9 • Pollution tolerant
• Cannot see head
10 • Mouth hooks
Tolerant • Long spiracle to breathe air
• Pollution tolerantDIXID MIDGE MOSQUITO Sensitivity = 1 Sensitivity = 8.6
ORDER-DIPTERA: TRUE FLIES NOT LISTED AS
Sensitive
SENSITIVE (1) OR TOLERANT (8.7)
SOMEWHAT SENSITIVE
1
2
Black Fly (Simulidae) Characteristics
3 • Bowling pin shape
4 • Stand up in water column
• Filter fans at head
5 • Found attached to vegetation, rocks, logs
6.0 → 6
Midges (Chironomidae) Characteristics
7 • Head exposed
• Thoracic and anal prolegs
8
9 Cranefly (Tipulidae) Characteristics
• Found in leaf packs
10 • Cannot see head
Tolerant • Abdomen end varies
• Can get largeSensitive
1
ORDER-HEMIPTERA: TRUE BUGS
2
3
4 Characteristics
5 • Piercing/sucking mouthparts
• Wings hardened near the base and membranous
6 everywhere else
• Three pairs of legs
7.7 → 7
• Adults look same as young
8
• Found in many habitats, but many like slower flowing
water and vegetation
9
10
TolerantSensitive ORDER-AMPHIPODA: SCUD
1 (FRESHWATER SHRIMP, SIDESWIMMERS)
2
3
4.0 →
4
5
6
Characteristics
7 • Two pairs of antennae
8 • Seven pairs of legs
• Flattened (laterally)
9
• Often found in silt or along stream banks
10
TolerantSensitive
1
ORDER-ISOPODA: SOWBUGS
2
3
Characteristics
4
• Two pairs of antennae
5
• Seven pairs of legs
6
• Flattened (dorsally-ventrally)
7
• Leg-like gills on posterior end
8.0 →
8
• Adults look same as young
9
10
TolerantSensitive
1
ORDER-DECAPODA: CRAYFISH
2
3 Don't collect, but count them
4
5
6.0 → 6
7
8
9
10
TolerantSensitive ORDER-VARIOUS CLAMS AND
1 FRESHWATER MUSSELS (BI-VALVES)
2
3
4 Don't collect, but count them
5 Characteristics
• Very old, slow growth
6.9 →
6
• Many are special concern
7
• Place carefully back into sediment
8 the way you found them
• Don't count empty shells
9
• Some are tiny
10
TolerantSensitive
1
ORDER-VARIOUS SNAILS
2
3
4 Characteristics
• Many types
5
• Watch for New Zealand Mudsnail*
6.9 →
6 • Don't count empty shells
7
Don't collect, but count them
8
Collect zebra mussels
9
*If you suspect a mudsnail at a location that is
10 not known to be infested, please contact Paul
Steen or EGLE
TolerantSensitive
1
ORDER-VARIOUS: LEECHES
2
3 Characteristics
4
• Many, many striations (surficial only)
5
• Two suckers: front and back
6
7
8
9
10 → 10
TolerantSensitive
1
ORDER-VARIOUS: AQUATIC WORM
2
3
4
5
6
Characteristics
7
8
• Segmented
9 • May look like an earth worm
10 → 10
TolerantQUESTIONS?
NEXT TRAINING SESSION Marshall Memorial Park, Newaygo: 246 State Rd, Newaygo, MI 49337 10am-1pm Meet in parking lot Need to bring: water, sunscreen, bug spray, waders (we can supply), good walking/hiking shoes (there will be walking) Official Sampling: May 20th 11am-2pm @ Ed Henning Park, Newaygo (Wheeler Drain and Brooks Creek) SarahKrzemien@ferris.edu
You can also read
