We read that Mylo, Suzi and Angelina weren’t finding the animals they expected to see at the creek by their school. But just how closely did they look? Sometimes the best indicators that a body of water is healthy are the smallest creatures: macroinvertebrates!
From Cobb County Water: “Freshwater macroinvertebrates include aquatic insects, worms, and other invertebrates with limited mobility that live on or within the sediment or other substrates in streams, rivers, and lakes. These organisms spend all, or significant portions, of their lives immersed in water, therefore, aquatic insects are particularly susceptible to localized short-term water quality changes.
The population size and population structure of these macroinvertebrates respond to the effects of acute and chronic pollution as well as changes in the physical environment; therefore, macroinvertebrates serve as continual monitors of environmental quality.”
These macroinvertebrates serve as bioindicators. What is that? Check out this video from the St. John’s River Water Management District to learn more. (Fun fact: These guys were right down the street from where I went to college).
I went on a hunt for macroinvertebrates in creek behind my house! What did I find? Is my creek healthy?
Open this Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Field Guide for Georgia's Streams to try and figure out what I found. Be sure to put your guesses in the comments below!
Family Art Project:
Create your own macroinvertebrate with all the built in adaptations necessary for it to survive in its habitat! Download this PDF for material suggestions and structural adaptation examples!
Be sure to share pictures of your creations (with a design key) with me via email and I will post them to this website!
