Macroinvertebrates

Background information: According to Utah State University, an aquatic macroinvertebrate is

a water bug that we can see with our naked eye. The macroinvertebrates live in streams, and
can be found under rocks, leaves, and in sediment. There are many factors that can affect the
macroinvertebrate population. These can include the temperature of the water, the amount of
oxygen in the water, the substrate in the streams, and pH levels. Because of this,
macroinvertebrates can be used to judge the water quality in the stream. For example, mayflies,
caddisflies, and stoneflies can only be found in streams with good water quality. If one finds
these macroinvertebrates in a stream, it is a healthy stream.
Standard Course of Study: The following lesson plans could fit into the listed parts of the
standard course of study for NC.
Earth and Environmental:
EEn.2.4- Evaluate how humans use water
EEn.2.4.2- Evaluate human influences on water quality in North Carolinas river basins,
wetlands, and tidal environments.
EEn.2.7- Explain how the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere individually and collectively
affect the biosphere.
EEn.2.7.2- Explain why biodiversity is important to the biosphere.
EEn.2.7.3- Explain how human activities impact the biosphere.
EEn.2.8- Evaluate human behaviors in terms of how likely they are to ensure the ability to live
sustainably on Earth.
EEn.2.8.2- Critique conventional and sustainable agriculture and aquaculture practices in terms
of their environmental impacts.
iology:
B
Bio.2.1- Analyze the interdependence of living organisms within their environments.
Bio.2.1.3- Explain various ways organisms interact with each other (including predation,
competition, parasitism, mutualism) and with their environments resulting in stability within
ecosystems
Bio.2.2- Understand the impact of human activities on the environment (one generation affects
the next).
Bio.2.2.1- Infer how human activities (including population growth, pollution, global warming,
burning of fossil fuels, habitat destruction and introduction of nonnative species) may impact the
environment.

Finding the Biotic Index Value of Hoyle Creek

Standard Course of Study: EEn.2.4.2; EEn.2.7.3; Bio.2.2.1
Materials Needed
-kick nets
-dish tubs
-dichotomous key for Catawba river basin (can be found on page 33 of attached pdf)
Optional
-magnifying boxes
-hand lenses
-tweezers
Overview of Subject
Human interaction can play a key role in assessing the biotic index value of a stream. Things
like construction near a stream can cause erosion, which can change the sedimentation of a
stream. Runoff can also affect the biotic index of a stream. Things such as fertilizer and
pesticides can harm macroinvertebrates and fish that live in streams, and can lower the water
quality. There is a large amount of embedded substrate in Hoyle Creek, which may have come
from erosion that may have possibly happened during the construction of Draughn High School.
If that is indeed the case, then the reason the stream has the embedded substrate is because of
human activities.
Overview of Lesson
This lesson is composed of two parts: there is an outdoor lab and a worksheet that could be
done outside or in the classroom. In the outdoor lab students will get wet. It is important that
they are informed of this prior to the lab so that they may have proper attire.
Steps For Outdoor Lab
1. Take the students down to Hoyle Creek. Once there, explain what a macroinvertebrate
is, and how they can be used to judge water quality. You may also want to explain the
affects humans have on the watershed, and how that affects macroinvertebrates.
(Sample explanations can be found at the bottom of the page.)
2. Show the students what a kick net is and how to use it. Once you are sure they know
how to properly handle the equipment, send the students out into the creek to sample
the water.
3. Have the students bring the nets back to the shore. Make sure that they hold the nets
flat to keep them from losing macroinvertebrates.
4. Make sure the dish tubs are filled with creek water. Find the macroinvertebrates on the
kick net, and transfer them to the dish tubs. Once all the macroinvertebrates are found,
identify them using the key.
5. After the macroinvertebrates are identified, use the worksheet to find the biotic index
value of Hoyle Creek.
PDF File- http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED376041.pdf

Name_________________

Calculating the Biotic Index Value

Sort the macroinvertebrates found into the correct groups based off of the key.
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
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Add up the total numbers of macroinvertebrates for each group. Find the biotic index value by
doing the following.
(3*Number of Group 1 Species)
Cumulative values and Biotic Index Values
(2*Number of Group 2 Species)
23+
Excellent
+(1* Number of Group 3 Species)
17-22 Good
= Biotic Index Value
11-16 Fair
<10
Poor
What was the Biotic Index Value?
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Why do you think the creek has this Biotic Index Value? Do you thinks human action are the
cause?
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What do you think could be done to improve the Biotic Index Value?
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How Does Water Depth Affect Crayfish Size

Standard Course of Study:
Materials Needed
-Kick nets
-Dish Tubs
-Ruler/Yardstick
-Optional
-Tweezers
Overview of Subject
North America has some of the greatest biodiversity of crayfish in the world. The North Carolina
Wildlife Resources Commission has 47 species of crayfish listed as being found in North
Carolina. With this great biodiversity, it is important to find out the prefered habitats of crayfish.
There are many factors that can affect where crayfish live. They prefer to live in areas with
plenty of cobble substrate for them to hide under, along with a relatively stable food supply.
However, water depth also has a relationship to crayfish size. Typically larger crayfish are found
in deeper water, while smaller crayfish are found in shallower water. This lesson is created to
help show the class this relationship.
Overview of Lesson
This lesson is comprised of three parts. There is a part of the worksheet to be done prior to the
lab, a lab component, and part of the worksheet to be done after the lab. During this lab
students will get wet. Make sure they are informed prior to the lab so that they may have on
proper attire.
Steps for Outdoor Lab
1. Proceed outside to Hoyle Creek. Find sampling locations. Look for several with both
deep and shallow water. Record the locations of the sampling site along with the water
depth at each location.
2. Look at the substrate of each sampling location as well as the depth. Record this.
3. Using the kick nets, sample each site several times. Measure and record the size of the
crayfish found at each location. Return the crayfish to the water after being measured,
but be sure to place them far away from all of the sampling sites.
4. Look for any correlation between the size of crayfish found at each site. Complete the
worksheet.

Name______________

The Correlation Between Stream Depth and Crayfish Size

Pre-Lab
How do you think stream depth will affect crayfish size? Why?
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During the Lab
Record the depth of each sampling site.
Site A
Site B
Site C
Site D
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Record the substrate at each sampling site.
Site A
Site B
Site C
Site D
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Record the size of crayfish found at each sampling location.
Site A
Site B
Site C
Site D
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Post Lab
How did the size of crayfish compare to the stream depth? Was there positive correlation,
negative correlation, or no correlation?
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Do you think the substrate affected the size of the crayfish? If so, how?
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Plot the crayfish size and stream depth on a graph, using stream depth as the x and crayfish
size as the y. Do you see a relationship?
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