Biological Monitoring

Biological Monitoring
Source: The Streamkeepers Field Guide
Stream Habitats
Ozark Streams
Riffles
Root Mats
Prairie & Lowland Streams
Root Mats
Snags/Woody Debris
Non-Flow
Source: The Streamkeepers Field Guide
Riffle Habitat

Several habitats found within a riffle

Referred to as “microhabitats”
Variations in rock size
Variations in flow
 Algae
 Leaf packs
 Other aquatic vegetation


Revised 12/17/04
1
Summary


Collect 3 net sets from 3
different microhabitats
Conduct Biological
Monitoring at least twice a
year


Late winter/early spring
(Feb.-Apr.)
Late summer/early autumn
(Sept.-early Oct.)
Source: The Streamkeepers Field
Guide
Example Riffle
North Fork of the White River, DNR photo
SAMPLE COLLECTION

Place the net in riffle

Ensure the bottom of net is on the stream
bottom

Rub all large stones

Dance and kick (Be sure to disturb the
substrate at least 3 to 6 inches deep)
Revised 12/17/04
2
MDC photo
 Place the net in riffle
 Ensure bottom of net is on the stream bottom
 Put large rocks on the bottom of the net
Rub all large stones
MDC photo
Do the ‘Benthic Boogie’
MDC photo
Revised 12/17/04
3
Net Removal
MDC photo
STREAM HABITATS
Ozark Streams
Riffles
Root Mats
Prairie & Lowland Streams
Root Mats
Snags/Woody Debris
Non-Flow
SAMPLING NON-RIFFLE AREAS
- Root Mats Root Mat - Matted roots of vegetation
hanging into the water or growing out of
the streambank.
Revised 12/17/04
4
Root Mat
MDC photo
Root Mat
Root
Hairs
Root
Hairs
MDC photo
Revised 12/17/04
5
Sample Collection
MDC photo
Net Removal
MDC photo
STREAM HABITATS
Ozark Streams
Riffles
Root Mats
Prairie & Lowland Streams
Root Mats
Snags/Woody Debris
Non-Flow
Revised 12/17/04
6
SAMPLING NON-RIFFLE AREAS
- A SNAG Snag - Woody debris such as tree limbs,
logs, and sticks that have fallen in water
and started to decay.
Large
Woody
Debris
“Snag”
MDC photos
Net Placement
MDC photo
Revised 12/17/04
7
‘Rub and Scrub’
MDC photo
STREAM HABITATS
Ozark Streams
Riffles
Root Mats
Prairie & Lowland Streams
Root Mats
Snags/Woody Debris
Non-Flow
Huron River Watershed Council
Revised 12/17/04
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Example
Invert
Data
Sheet
Biological Monitoring
Checklist
ALWAYS:
 Work in upstream direction
 Collect three net sets
 Indicate habitat and net type
 Record time picking
 Send in Original Data (NO COPIES)
DO NOT estimate invertebrate quantities
Revised 12/17/04
9
Instructions for
Biological Monitoring
 Prioritize
1.
2.
3.
4.
sampling of habitat:
Riffles
Root mats
Snags
Non-flow
DNR photo
Macroinvertebrates

Spend up to 99% of their lives in the water as
nymphs or larvae
TheStreamkeepers Field Guide
Incomplete Metamorphosis
(Nymphs)

Ephemeroptera (mayflies)

Plecoptera (stoneflies)

Odonata (dragonflies,
damselflies)

Hemiptera (backswimmers,
water boatmen)
egg
early instar nymph
late instar nymph
adult
Drawing from McCafferty: Aquatic Entomology
Revised 12/17/04
10
Complete Metamorphosis


(Larvae)
Trichoptera (caddisflies)
egg
Coleoptera (water pennies, riffle
beetles)

Diptera (crane flies, black flies,
midges, watersnipe flies)

Megaloptera
(dobsonflies/hellgrammites,
alderflies, fishflies)

Neuroptera (spongillaflies)

Lepidoptera (aquatic caterpillars
and moths)
larva
pupa
adult
Drawing from McCafferty: Aquatic Entomology
Invertebrate Morphology

Morph = “Body structure”

-ology = “The study of”

Morphology = “The biological study of form,
shape and structure of living organisms”
The Blue Bug Card

A visual key

Utilizes a size bar

Help match organism
to drawings

Similar to “field guide
approach”
Revised 12/17/04
11
Group I
Pollution Sensitive
Benthic Macroinvertebrates
Blue Bug Card
Mayfly Nymphs
Mayfly Nymphs
ISONYCHIDAE
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12
Mayfly Nymphs

Feathery or plate-like
gills on abdomen

Usually three tails

Six legs each ending in
one hook
NABS photos
Mayfly Nymphs

Feathery or plate-like
gills on abdomen

Usually three tails

Six legs each ending in
one hook
NABS photos
Mayfly Adult

Short lived

No functioning
mouth parts
NABS photo
Revised 12/17/04
13
Blue Bug Card
Stonefly Nymphs
Stonefly Nymphs
“Hairy
armpits”
Stonefly Nymphs

No gills on the
abdomen - may have
gills on thorax

Usually two tails
MDC photo
NABS photo
Revised 12/17/04
14
Stonefly Nymphs

No gills on the
abdomen

Usually two tails
NABS photos
Stonefly Adults

Not very strong
fliers

Spend most of
time in
streamside
vegetation
NABS photo
MDC photo
Blue Bug Card
Caddisfly Larvae
Revised 12/17/04
15
Caddisfly Larvae
Crunchy
“Mmmm,
Cream
Filled!”
Caddisfly Larvae
Caddisfly Larvae

Thorax – “crunchy”

Abdomen – “creamfilled”

May have gills

Two hooks on abdomen
MDC photo
NABS photo
Revised 12/17/04
16
Caddisfly Larvae
(free-living)
MDC photos
Caddisfly Larvae
(net-spinning)
NABS photos
Caddisfly Larvae
(case-builders)
MDC photo
NABS photo
NABS photo
Revised 12/17/04
MDC photo
17
Caddisfly Adult
NABS photo
Blue Bug Card
Water Penny

Flat like a penny

Saucer shaped

Segmented

Legs underneath
Water Penny

Flat like a penny

Saucer shaped

Segmented

Legs underneath
MDC photo
Revised 12/17/04
18
Gilled Snails
When holding the
snail with the point
up, the shell opens
to the right
Gilled Snails


When holding the
snail with the point
up and the opening
facing you, the shell
opens to the right
NABS photo
DO NOT COUNT
EMPTY SHELLS
MDC photo
Riffle Beetles

Larvae have six legs
and covered with
hard plates over
entire length of
body

Adult is tiny aquatic
beetle, has six legs
Revised 12/17/04
19
Riffle Beetles
(Larvae)

Often confused with
caddisfly larvae or
midge fly larvae

Covered with hard
plates over entire
length of body

Six legs
MDC photo
NABS photo
Riffle Beetles
(Adults)

Aquatic as an adult

Six legs

On data sheet,
combine # of adult and
larval riffle beetles!
MDC photo
NABS photo
Dobsonfly Larvae
(Hellgrammite)

Up to 4 inches long
(see size bar)

Gills under abdominal
filaments!

Large mandibles
Revised 12/17/04
20
Dobsonfly Larvae
(Hellgrammite)

Gills under the
abdominal lateral
filaments
MDC photo

Large mandibles
MDC photo
Dobsonfly Pupa
Photo courtesy of J. Abbott, U of Texas
Dobsonfly Adult
Adult Female
Photo courtesy of J. Abbott, U of Texas
Adult Male
Photo by Jim Rathert, MDC
Revised 12/17/04
21
Group II
Somewhat Pollution-Tolerant
Benthic Macroinvertebrates
Crayfish
Looks like a small
lobster
Crayfish
Looks like a small
lobster
MDC photo
Revised 12/17/04
22
Sow Bug

Looks like a “roly
poly”

Flattened “top to
bottom”
MDC drawing
Sow Bug

Looks like a “roly
poly”

Flattened “top to
bottom”
MDC photo
NABS photo
Scud

Swims sideways

Many appendages
on abdomen

Flattened “side to
side”

Often mistaken for a
freshwater shrimp
Revised 12/17/04
23
Scud

Swims sideways

Many appendages
on abdomen

Flattened “side to
side”

Often mistaken for a
freshwater shrimp
MDC photo
NABS photo
Alderfly Larvae

Lateral filaments

No visible gills

One long hair-like
tail

Tail filament may
resemble capital
letter “A”
MDC drawing
Alderfly Larvae

Lateral filaments

No visible gills

One long hair-like
tail

Tail filaments may
resemble capital
letter “A”
Revised 12/17/04
Photo courtesy of J. Abbott, U of Texas
NABS photo
24
Alderfly Adult
Wiki Commons
Fishfly Larvae

Similar to dobsonfly
larvae
Lateral filaments
Mandibles
 Generally smaller



No visible gills on
abdomen!

Breathing tubes
Fishfly Larvae

Similar to dobsonfly
larvae
Lateral filaments
 Mandibles
 Generally smaller


No visible gills on
abdomen!

Breathing tubes
Revised 12/17/04
MDC photos
25
Fishfly Adult
Damselfly Nymphs

Six spindly legs

Long, slender body

Three broad oarshaped tails

Positions like a
tripod when in
water
Damselfly Nymphs

Six spindly legs

Long, slender body

Three broad oarshaped tails

Positions like a
tripod when in
water
Revised 12/17/04
MDC photo
26
Damselfly Adults
Photo courtesy of B. Blake
MDC photo
Damselfly Adults
(mating)
NABS photo
Dragonfly Nymphs

Six legs

Wide, oval to round
abdomen

Large eyes

Scoop-like lower labium
NABS image
Revised 12/17/04
27
Dragonfly Nymphs

Six legs

Wide, oval to round
abdomen

Large eyes

Scoop-like lower labium
NABS photos
Dragonfly Adult
Watersnipe Fly Larvae

Caterpillar like

Two feathery
“horns” on end of
abdomen
Revised 12/17/04
28
Watersnipe Fly Larvae

Caterpillar like

Two feathery
“horns” on end
of abdomen
MDC photo
Watersnipe Fly Adult
Wiki Commons
Crane Fly Larvae

Caterpillar like

Up to 4” long

May have enlarged
lobe or fleshy finger
like extensions at
end of abdomen
Revised 12/17/04
29
Crane Fly Larvae

Caterpillar like

Up to 4” long

May have enlarged
lobe or fleshy finger
like extensions at
end of abdomen
MDC photo
NABS photos
Crane Fly Adult
MDC photo
“Other” Beetle Larvae

Six legs

Obvious mouth
parts

Diverse group

Process of
elimination
Revised 12/17/04
30
“Other” Beetle Larvae

Six legs

Obvious mouth
parts

Diverse group

Process of
elimination
NABS photos
“Other” Beetle Larvae

Six legs

Obvious mouth
parts

Diverse group

Process of
elimination
MDC photos
Mussels and Clams

> 70% of species
threatened or
endangered

Count and put back
hinge side up

DO NOT COUNT
EMPTY SHELLS
Revised 12/17/04
31
Mussels and Clams

> 70% of species
threatened or
endangered

Count and put back
hinge side up

DO NOT COUNT
EMPTY SHELLS
MDC photos
Photo by Dr. Chris Barnhart, Missouri State University
Group III
Pollution-Tolerant
Benthic Macroinvertebrates
Aquatic Worms

Aquatic earthworms

Horsehair worms
Revised 12/17/04
32
Aquatic Worms

Aquatic earthworms

Horsehair worms
MDC photos
Midge Fly Larvae

No jointed legs

Prolegs behind head
and end of
abdomen

Very small (< 1/4”)
Midge Fly Larvae

No jointed legs

Prolegs behind head
and end of
abdomen

MDC photo
Very small (< 1/4”)
NABS photo
Revised 12/17/04
33
Black Fly Larvae

Swollen abdomen
(“fat butt”) for
attachment

Fan-like projections
on head for filtering

Very small
Black Fly Larvae

Swollen abdomen
(“fat butt”) for
attachment

Fan-like projections
on head for filtering

Very small
MDC photo
Photo courtesy of J. Abbott – U. of Texas
Black Fly Adult
NABS photo
Revised 12/17/04
34
Leeches

Muscular

Suction disks on
both head and end
of abdomen
Leeches

Muscular

Suction disks on
both head and end
of abdomen
NABS photo
Photo by Jim Rathert, MDC
Pouch Snails

When holding the
snail with the
point up, the shell
opens to the left

DO NOT COUNT
EMPTY SHELLS
Revised 12/17/04
35
Pouch Snails

When holding the
snail with the
point up, the shell
opens to the left

DO NOT COUNT
EMPTY SHELLS
Opening to
the left
MDC photo
Other Snails

Has no spiral point

Flat/pond snails or
limpets

DO NOT COUNT
EMPTY SHELLS
Other Snails

Has no spiral point

Flat/pond snails or
limpets

DO NOT COUNT
EMPTY SHELLS
MDC Photos
Revised 12/17/04
36
A Sample Picture Key
Pupae

Be aware of
pupae and be
able to
recognize
them if you
find one
Walk Around Bug Test
Revised 12/17/04
37