Hobbies And Interests
Bioindicators
A bioindicator is a species, community of species or biological process used to evaluate an ecosystem over time. Aquatic insects or macroinvertebrates make ideal bioindicators for stream pollution because they are "relatively immobile and dwell on the stream-bottom," according to the Michigan Entomological Society. Some aquatic insects are very sensitive to pollution, while others adapt exceptionally well to polluted streams and rivers.
Sensitive Insects
The larvae of insects in the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera, referred to as "EPT" in count records, are among the freshwater macroinvertebrates most sensitive to pollution. This includes mayfly, stonefly and caddisfly larvae, all of which hatch and feed as juveniles in freshwater rivers and streams before molting into their winged adult form. Scientists rely heavily on these three orders as bioindicators in evaluating polluted streams.
Tolerant Insects
Other aquatic insect species are important bioindicators due to their ability to adapt quickly to polluted environments. This includes macroinvertebrates that thrive in polluted streams such as lunged snails and leeches, and especially aquatic insect larvae of the order Diptera. Diptera encompasses many species of flies, among which members of the genus Chironomidae are often used as bioindicator species for their abundance in polluted freshwater streams.
Populations
The population measurements of a bioindicator species such as Chironomidae can be compared with other bioindicator populations for a more complete picture of ecosystem health. Contrasting the abundance of Chironomidae populations to EPT populations is a common evaluation of stream pollution, as indicated in a study by U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service scientists. These aquatic insect species are used as bioindicators in ecosystem monitoring programs across all 50 states.