Fresh Water Macroinvertebrates

Fresh Water
Macroinvertebrates
A Book About the
Upper Esopus Creek
by Mrs. Babcock's
7th Grade Class
Spring 2013
Made possible by a grant
from Dutchess County Arts Council
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Riffle Beetle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Dragonfly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Alderfly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Netspinner Caddisfly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Damselfly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Midge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Mayfly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Gilled Snail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Crayfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Caddisfly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Crane Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Introduction
Our book shows freshwater macroinvertebrates
of the Upper Esopus Creek in Boiceville, NY.
It is researched, written, and illustrated by the
students of Alyssa Babcock's 7th-grade biology
classes at Onteora Middle School. Local children's
book illustrator Durga Yael Bernhard worked with
the students to create a class field guide to the
animals studied through direct observation, internet
research, and library research.
This residency was made possible by a grant from
Dutchess County Arts Council. Special thanks to
Eve Madalengoitia.
Riffle Beetle
by Mia Gullo
Scientific name: Elmidae
Related or similar creatures: House
Beetle
Size: 1-8mm long
Appearance: 1-8mm long, dark,
elongate, hard bodies, long legs, tarsal
claws, small, the antennae are most
slightly cubed. Body parts that help it
survive: Legs, antennae, hard body.
Behaviors that help the beetle survive:
In the fast moving water they swim so
it is hard for fish to catch them.
Life cycle: Complete metamorphosis.
Stage while is the stream: Whole life.
Where it lives in the stream: On the
rocks in fast moving water.
What kind of eater: Herbivore
What it eats: Most riffle beetles are
believed to feed on small particles of
dead plant material, other organic
debris, and periphyton, A few feed on
living plant material.
Three interesting facts:
Once they return to the water they no
longer fly. They clinging to the substrate
as water moves by. Females lay single
eggs or small groups of eggs in crevices
on solid objects on the bottom of the
stream where they live.
Dragonfly
by Olivia Ingalsbe
Scientific name: Odonata
Appearance
The dragonfly larva is 1-4 inches in length. It has six (6) legs, a long abdomen,
big eyes, and three (3) tails.
Adaptations
The dragonfly larva has three (3) pairs of segmented legs, and gills at the end
of the body. One thing that helps it survive is that it hangs on to rocks.
Life Cycle
The dragonfly goes through incomplete metamorphosis. While it is in the stream
it is a nymph.
Role in the Stream
The dragonfly larva lives in
still water. It is a carnivore,
it eats mosquitoes, flies,
zooplankton and small fish.
Ecosystem
The dragonfly larva lives in
still water. It is a carnivore,
it eats mosquitoes, flies,
zooplankton and small fish.
Interesting Facts
Dragonfly ancestors
appeared 280-350 million
years ago.
Named for their fierce
appearance and their bold,
aggressive flight.
Moderately pollution
intolerant.
Alderfly
Scientific name: Sialidae
Appearance
The Alderfly is less than an inch.
It is long and has jaws and has
6 legs and has 14 spikes on its
abdomen. Their head has three
segments of the thorax and they
are hard.
Adaptations
It has pinchers that kill its food
and claws to hold their prey while they eat it.
Life cycle
The life cycle is they undergo complete metamorphosis. This involves
passing through 4 complete life stages, which are the egg, larvae,
pupa, and adult stages.
Role in the Ecosystem
Megaloptera larvae are an important predator in aquatic ecosystems;
they eat many types of aquatic organisms and are eaten by many
species of fish.
Interesting facts
Megaloptera are among the largest of the aquatic insect larvae.
by Tomas Pesko-West
Netspinner Caddisfly
by John Dwyer
Scientific name: Phylum Arthropoda
Appearance
Size: About the size of a really big dragonflyLooks like a really fat centipede and
can roll up like a roly poly. Most of them are either light or dark green, and some
have a tail at the end
Adaptations
The Netspinner Caddisfly does not retreat, but makes a web from different materials
and puts it together with silk
Life Cycle
The Caddisflyís green egg is dropped into water then about a week and a half later
it hatches. Once hatched, it eats ìorganic debrisî from the floor of the body of water
theyíre in when they hatch.† After this stage is the pupa stage, and after that the
mature pupa stage. This is the longest of stages in its life. When it is ready, it breaks
out of its case and heads toward land. At the most, once the caddisfly is mature it will
only live, at most, as long as two months, and continues the process of laying eggs
before it dies. This creature is in water for almost all of its life.
Role in the Ecosystem
The caddisfly lives in streams, and eats aquatic plants, larvae, and nymphs, so itís an
omnivore. It can be eaten by trout underwater at any of the four stages in its life, and
can also be eaten by birds or other insect predators once itís a full grown fly.
Interesting Facts
When the caddisfly is a larvae,
it can be mistaken for a
caterpillar.
Its long antennae are ways to
tell it apart from a moth
Adult Caddisflies are only found
for a few weeks each year
Damselfly
by Emma Teruna
Scientific name: Zygoptera
Appearance
Size: 16-33 mm
A large bulbous head with pronounced black
eyes, cricket-like legs with stripes, scaly
abdomen, and 3 featherlike gills as a tail.
Adaptations
Body Parts: Tail helps gather oxygen from water,
gills on abdomen allow them to breathe air outside
of water, expendable jaw helps them catch food,
wing pads provide protection for their wings to fly,
and last is their lip captures food.
Behaviors: It hangs around rivers to catch prey and
perches on vegetation to lay eggs. On the early
stages, it uses molting to gradually become
bigger and stronger.
Life Cycle
Incomplete metamorphosis
Lay eggs 2. 10-12 moltings until adults 3. Sheds exoskeleton 4. Prepares for mating
Stages Of Life: Egg, Larvae, Nymph, Adults.
Role In The Stream Ecosystem:
Habitat: Slow-moving freshwater, aquatic vegetation, rocks, blades of grass.
Diet: Carnivore and it eats mosquitoes, butterflies, spiders, insects, and small fish.
Predators: Frogs and House Sparrow (most common)
Interesting Facts
They're so tiny that in flight often all you can make out is a quivering blue blob.
Unlike Dragonflies, Damselflies can put their wings parallel to back.
Damselflies can't walk, only land on things.
Midge
by Sammy Gibson
Appearance
the midge larva is a
small worm like
creature. They are
either red green or
brown.
Adaptation
even a drop of water
can sustain the midge
larva. They survive on
bacteria.
Life cycle
the midge larva has
a complete life cycle.
In the stream the larva
is the one in the
stream.
Role in the eco system
the midge larva lives
on the bottom on the
stream floor. It eats
tiny particles of
detritus and diatoms.
Interesting facts
The feeding habits
change the size of the
larva.
It belongs to the
benthic region
As adults they eat
plant nectar
Mayfly
Scientific name: ephemeroptera
Related creatures: dune bug lakefly dayfly
Appearance: it has thin wings with veins in it has
six legs, a long abdomen, a long body, and three tails at the end.
Adaptations: body parts: its claws at the end
of the feet that help them cling to the end of rocks.
Behaviors: scratching algae off rocks to eat.
Life cycle: it goes through incomplete
life cycle.
The stages of the life cycle that are in
the stream are egg and nymph.
It lives in fast flowing streams, shallow
ponds with dissolved oxygen. It is an
herbivore - it eats algae.
Trout eat it.
There are about 2500 mayfly species
They are also called june bugs.
Mayflies are usually green.
by Clara
Gilled Snail
Scientific name: Pleuroceridae
The Gilled Snail is a little smaller than an inch but some are very small.
The shells can be different colors and different sizes.
Adaptations
Its gills help it survive because it can stay under water and breathe.
Its shell is protection from predators to survive and hide.
Life Cycle
It starts out as an egg and then when hatched it becomes a "mini" adult
and just grows to a regular size adult. It spends most of its life in the stream.
Role in the Stream
Ecosystem
It lives in calm parts of the
stream and attached to
plants and rocks.
It is an omnivore and
eats algae and dead and
decaying plants in the water.
It is eaten by crayfish, mud
minnow, leeches, etc.
Interesting Facts
Their tongue is like a chainsaw
with layers of teeth.
While developing it gets twisted
counter clockwise, 180 degrees
inside its shell.
They can move fast when getting
away from predators on top
of the water.
by Madison Jones
Crayfish
Scientific name: Decapoda
Appearance
The crayfishís body is made up of twenty body segments grouped into
two main body parts. On average, crayfish grow to 6.9 inches in length.
They have two large claws on the front of their body used to catch prey.
Adaptations
Crayfish have two claws to catch food and defend themselves. The flaps
on the end of their tails are used to propel them backwards through the
water. For self-defense, when crayfish are agitated or their legs are
grabbed, the legs may break at a certain point, the leg can be regenerated
later.
Role in the Stream Ecosystem
Crayfish are omnivores. They eat mainly fresh vegetation, along with
other invertebrates, such as insects and snails. Occasionally, they will eat
fish. They sometimes eat dead and decaying matter. Some small mammals,
like mink and raccoons, eat crayfish. Large fish and birds will eat crayfish.
Interesting Facts:
Crayfish can move their eyes independently from one another.
They can live from 20 to 30 years.
Usually crayfish eat their old exoskeleton when they molt
by Alexa Maldonado
Caddisfly
by Allison Carr
Scientific name: Trichoptera
Appearance
A caddisfly is 1 1/2" in larvae and in the adult stage they are 1" long.
The caddisfly has 6 legs, 2 antennas they have a total of 3 body parts.
The caddisfly is an invertebrate.
Adaptations
Some adaptations that help it survive are their wings and legs. Making
a little house out of sticks and stones to sleep in is one of the behaviors
that help them survive.
Lifecycle
The caddisfly goes through complete metamorphosis. The caddisfies
goes through 4 stages of life called egg, larva, pupa and adult.
Ecosystem
The caddisfly is an omnivore. They eat larvae, nymphs, and vascular
plants. Like any other creature Caddisflies have enemies that eat them
like any other animal. Some of them are bats, trout, and dragonflies.
Interesting Facts
The typical lifespan of a caddisfly is 1 year.
Caddisflies look like a caterpillar with less hair when they are in the
larvae stage.
Adult caddisflies look like small moths.
Crane Fly
Scientific Name: Tipulidae
Related Creatures: Mosquito and Daddy Long Legs
Length: 1/2 inch ‒ 3 inch
Appearance: The Crane Fly Larva has a worm-like shape. It is either
grayish, brownish, or cream colored. They also have thick skin and long
antennas.
Adaptations: They have long antennas called Spiracles. They stick the
Spiracles out of the water to help them breathe. The rear portion of the
larva also has long fleshy protection.
Life Cycle: The Crane Fly goes through complete metamorphosis. The
life cycle goes: egg, larva, pupa and finally Adult. They live in the
stream as eggs and larva. They live in damp places with sunlight.
Role In Ecosystem: The Crane Fly larva is a herbivore. It eats roots and
vegetables. Fish and other aquatic invertebrates eat the crane fly larva.
Interesting Fact
The Crane Flies does
not eat when it
becomes an adult. 2:
It takes only 72 hours
for their eggs to
hatch.3: They only
live as an adult for a
few days.
by Kayla Mastandrea