An insect is an invertebrate (an animal with no spine) that has three pairs of The American Biology Teacher, Volume 53, No. Use our dichotomous key to identify an aquatic macroinvertebrate you found in a stream. It is primarily meant to be used by students, citizen groups, and professionals. Key to Stream Macroinvertebrates . Marine and Freshwater Research, 2003, 54, 95-103.” Using the Macroinvertebrate Key. Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Characteristics Chart This chart was designed to aid in the identification of aquatic macroinvertebrates and is a supplement to the dichotomous key in Chapter 4 of your Introductory Notebook, Stream Insects & Crustaceans “blue bug card” and the Key to Macroinvertebrate Life in the River. A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the user to determine the identity of items in the natural world, such as trees, wildflowers, mammals, reptiles, rocks, and fish. Aquatic macroinvertebrate identifications were completed either in the field or back in the laboratory. Key: = present This macroinvertebrate identification key is intended for use by RiverWatch Citizen Scientists as a tool for accurate identification of benthic macroinvertebrates. The full manual is available for sale from the University of Minnesota's Chironomidea Research Group. AQUATIC MACROINVERTEBRATE IDENTIFICATION KEY Pea shell 3 5 Small, darker shell with ridges Little basket shell 4 Acknowledgements This key was designed by Ron Simms and Amy Blaylock, 2002. Key to Freshwater macroinvertebrates in Ontario With shell (Phylum Mollusca) Hinged shell— 2X shelled (Class Pelecypoda) < 1 cm in size > 1 cm in size Gilled / not gilled Fingernail clam (Family Sphaeridae) Freshwater clam (Family Unionidae) Single shell (Class Gastropoda) Coiled shell Spiral shell Freshwater snails Ramshorn snail Identification Key. Single . • Copy of Activity # 1 Identify the Exterior Parts of an Aquatic Insect. The Fisher Monk (guide to identifying mayflies for fly fishermen) Mayfly Identification - by Dr. Corey Leonhard. A printable version of this key is available from the above Hoosier Riverwatch link. Shells . Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Order Level Key AMPHIPODA Scud DECAPODA Crayfish ISOPODA Sow Bug ARACHNIDA PLATYHELMINTHES, HIRUDINEA, or OLIGOCHAETA MOLLUSCA or GASTROPODA Water Mite Clam/Mussel or Snail Flat Worm, Leech, or Aquatic Worm NON-INSECT ORDERS AND CLASSES COLEOPTERA Adult Beetles HEMIPTERA True Bugs The list is not an exhaustive list, but is a sufficient tool to help students identify the expected species collected. M.K. Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Practice ID Key - Set A . No Shells . If you want to identify an aquatic macroinvertebrate you found in a stream, scroll down to use our identification key. Animals with a hard exoskeleton (crayfish, aquatic insect larvae, etc.) Organisms featured in the key are specific to Illinois streams. ‘Species’ level identification requires a high level of taxonomic expertise. Leech Midge Fly Aquatic Worm . An Illustrated Gude to the Mountain Stream Insects of Colorado Ward, Kondratieff University Press of Colorado, 1992 An Illustration to the Aquatic Insects of North America (Second Edition) Species identification. Macroinvertebrate keys based on the work of University of Wisconsin-Extension, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Riveredge Nature Center, Newburg Wisconsin Identification Key #2 Microscopic Go to Microscopic ID Sheet No Legs Wormlike suckers, expands and contracts Leech reddish brown Tubiflex Worm glides along bottom McDonald, B.S., Mullins, G.W. This interactive guide to the Identification and Ecology of Australian Freshwater Invertebrates is designed to provide ecological and taxonomic information to enable community groups, students and scientists to readily identify inland aquatic invertebrates. Our key is an example of a dichotomous key — at each step you choose between two mutually exclusive statements about a characteristic. Printable Key: Download: Key to Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Life in Utah Ponds and Streams Macroinvertebrate ID Key - by New York DEC. Macroinvertebrate Identification Game - Allegheny College. This dichotomous key consists of pairs of descriptive statements. Different developmental stages of macroinvertebrates are often difficult to identify morphologically, even for experts, especially because of the lack of appropriate identification keys for aquatic macroinvertebrates . Aquatic invertebrates were identified to family level. David Funk, Stroud Research Center Schuylkill River Project. Key to Macroinvertebrate Life in the River Author: University of Wisconsin-Extension Environmental Resources Center Subject: A visual key to the identification of river critters Keywords: aquatic insects, macroinvertebrate, identification, key, water quality Created Date: 3/25/2002 11:20:46 PM See Key from Project Watershed for identification of macroinvertebrates. and Lewis, S. 1991. It will be useful for those who want to implement a biomonitoring program as well as those who are just interested in what little creatures live in our aquatic habitats. A benthic macroinvertebrate is a bottom-dwelling aquatic animal with no spine that can be seen with the naked eye. Cacapon Institute. Easton, Liz Huselid, and Angel Abreu Key to Common Macroinvertebrates Author: NYSDEC Subject: key to identifying pond creatures Keywords: lesson plan,environmental education,NYSDEC,ponds,macroinvertebrates Created Date: 3/17/2011 2:08:39 PM Black Fly Crane Fly . Bruce C. Chessman. Repeat the procedure until the organism is identified. Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Sorting and Identification Guide Images courtesy of Troutnut.com, University of Wisconson Extension – ERC Natural Resources Education, University of South Florida College of Education – Florida Center for Instructional Technology, and Magnus Manske. To use the key, read the first two statements and click on the one that best describes your organism. Stapp 1997 Field Manual for Water Quality Monitoring, GREEN/Earth Force, Alexandria, VA. Websites • Project Watershed Database: www.projectwatershed.org • Aquatic Macroinvertebrate picture keys: www.iwla.org 3 pairs of legs . It also emphasizes the special adaptations each has to its aquatic habitat and demonstrates how macroinvertebrates can be indicators of the health of the stream. Animals with a protective case/shell, whether attached or not (snails, caddisfly larvae, mussels, clams, etc.) Explore this resource for aquatic insect identification to support citizen science identification activities. Adapted by Steve Walker, November 2006. The chapters include general information and descriptions as well as a dichotomous key for each major group. 3 tails . This macroinvertebrate identification key will introduce students to some of the common aquatic macroinvertebrates found in Indiana streams. Invertebrate Identification Guide Florida International University Aquatic Ecology Lab Prepared September 2006 by Tish Robertson, Brooke Sargeant, and Raúl Urgellés Updated May 2012 by J.A. Benthic(Macroinvertebrate(Ecology(&(Identification Susan&F.&Cushman Hobart&&&William&Smith&Colleges Geneva,&NY cushman@hws.edu 315C781C3599 Macroinvertebrates as Indicators of Stream Health. • Copies of Macroinvertebrate Life in a River Key # 1 and Macroinvertebrate Identification Key # 2. Biotic indices scores were assessed and the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) biotic index was used to calculate scores for key family groups of aquatic invertebrates present based on their sensitivity to pollution. Guide to Aquatic Invertebrates of the Upper Midwest. 10+ legs . B. Secymented, earthworm-like body AQUATIC EARTHWORM Class Oligochaeta Feeding Group: GATHERER COLLECTOR (Page 5) 1/4"-2" (both from IWL) (right from IWL) (both from IWL) up to 1/8" 21. This will reveal the next pair of statements. Guide to Aquatic Insects and Crustaceans An updated version of the original Save Our Streams Monitor’s Guide to Aquatic Macroinvertebrates, this 64-page fully illustrated guide is designed to enable anyone to identify aquatic insects and crustaceans.It includes a dichotomous key, detailed description of each organism, and tips for proper identification. Izaak Walton League . Michael R. Clapp. • Copy of Activity # 2 Identify Aquatic Insects. Aquatic Macroinvertebrate ID Key mosquito larva 1 caddisfly larva 8 biting midge larva 4 worm 2 scud 3 leech 1 Sensitivity ratings from SIGNAL2 system in “New sensitivity grades for Australian river macroinvertebrates. Gilled snail Lunged snail Orb Snail. Identification KeysThese files are all keys for the identification of various kinds of organisms. Assistance was kindly provided by the following staff members of the South Australian Musuem: Identification Key. Small minnow mayfly What is an insect? Macroinvertebrates.org. Clam Mussel . Macroinbertebrate Identification is an interactive lesson that helps students identify benthic macroinvertebrates using key characteristics. Return to Macroinvertebrate Resources. 01 - Yellow Stonefly larva : 02 - Aquatic Earthworm : 03 - Flat-headed Mayfly larva : 04 - Gilled Snail : 05 - Spiny Crawler Mayfly larva : 06 - Midge larva : 07 - Golden Stonefly larva : Macroinvertebrate, any animal lacking a backbone and large enough to see without the aid of a microscope.Macroinvertebrates are exothermic (or cold-blooded) and may be aquatic or terrestrial, the aquatic organisms often being larval or nymphal forms of otherwise terrestrial species. 8. No Legs . A. Snail-like..... .go to 21 B. Invertebrate means “without a backbone.” Macroinvertebrates include: Soft-bodied animals (flatworms, round worms, fly larvae, etc.) The velocity to depth table (Appendix 2) can be used to confirm the identification of a habitat type based on flow. Body enclosed within two hinged shells ..FRESHWATER CLAM or MUSSEL Class Pelecypoda Features of the "Stream Key" beta v1.0: Diagrams of Morphological Characteristics of Seven Major Orders of Aquatic/Semiaquatic Macroinvertebrates An Interactive Key to the Families of the Seven Orders of Macroinvertebrates Aquatic Insects of American Trout Streams - excellent macroinvertebrate photos. Identification Key. California Department of Fish and Game, Aquatic Bioassessment Lab. • Copy of Information Sheet for Activity # 3 Aquatic Feeding Types. Accurate identification of these organisms is essential to producing reliable informa-tion for estimating stream health. The key visual identifiers for each habitat type are summarised in Table 1. This key is meant to aid the identification of aquatic insects found in North Dakota. One or two tails . Dichotomous keys are used to identify objects or living things based on their characteristics or features. No Obvious Tails . Mitchell and W.B. Double . 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