Aquatic Macroinvertebrates - Science topic

Hey

Happy New Year Greetings!

I have species presence-absence data of macro-invertebrates of an Himalayan stream from 7 different sites and two season. What is the best way to represent this data graphically (may be using R) and what are the statistical methods we can employ for the same?

Dear colleagues,

Which ecological analyses of the macroinvertebrate community would you recommend? I planned to do Alpha Biodiversity [α], Beta Biodiversity [β] and Gamma Biodiversity [γ]. My goal is to determine the situation in individual localities as well as to compare several localities with each other.

All the best,

Nikola

I collected this skeleton shrimp from some algae and have not been able to match it to typical mediterranean endemic and invasive species. Have considered: Caprella acanthifera, C. dilatata, C. equilibra., C. septentrionalis, C. scaura, and Paracaprella pusilla. Would love some expert opinions! He is now living in my self-sustaining jarrarium. I have more images, so just let me know if there's a specific area I could focus on.

I will be working on stream amphibians in Sichuan in 2020, and part of the work will focus on the diet of some aquatic species and prey availability. I thought I'd identify macroinvertebrates with a key to North American or European aquatic macroinvertebrates, but I would like to use the closest key possible to avoid possible mistakes.

I don't know precisely to which taxonomic level I can identify available preys and prey items, certainly to Order, and hopefully to Family with intact invertebrates from the streams. I trained with North American Plecoptera and Odonata from France under a microscope, and it seems reasonnable that I could go as far as Family level with an adequate key.

Another way of putting the question can be : do you think I can identify these prey items and intact insects to order or family level with a key to macroinvertebrates from North America or Europe ?

Thanks in advance !

Benjamin

I am planning some fieldwork in Algeria to assess the conservation status of freshwater bivalves (Unionidae), I can only find old 19th century published records, and it would help me to plan the field work.

I will be thankful for any eventual records you might have.

Kind Regards

Manuel

Hi everybody,

which method/protocol would you suggest to measure total biomass of samples of aquatic macroinvertebrates? Organisms are now "stored" in 75% ethanol.

Thank you!

Hi people,

I am trying to figure out this larva, but with the identification keys it is very hard. It should be easy because it has a distinct rod shape and slim head compared to other taxa in my samples.

It was found in North East Friesland (Netherlands) in a brackish canal leading to the Lauwersmeer.

Family would be satisfying enough. Genus/Species would be wonderful.

Is anyone able to help me out, and what identification pointers you used to arrive at the conclusion?

Thanks!

Looking for family level identification for the following specimens. I'm unsure about the first two. The third photo looks similar to the other midge larvae I found in my samples. However, the face looks different, so I'm thinking it may be a different species. The fourth photo may be a caddisfly larvae, and the fifth photo may be an example of a dytiscidae.

These samples were collected from marshes and swamps in Nova Scotia.

Any help in identifying these specimens would be greatly appreciated.

I read some articles about multimetric indices in which "% of red chironomidae" was a metric. I wonder if it is safe to generalize red Chironomidae dominance as an indicator of degraded environments. Many studies cite Chironomidae high abundance in impacted ecosystems, but is also known that this family is very common even in non-impacted habitats. Of course, different species may be present according to pollution type or intensity. But, usually, in studies focused on environmental quality, the species, or even genus, are rarely identified.

So my question is: using the term "red chironomidae", or specifying that the sampled individuals carry hemoglobin, is a better way to differentiate specimens found in degraded water bodies (when the species are not identified)? Is it correct to do this, even if there is an error margin that not all "red" species might be tolerant to pollution?

Or if someone could suggest a publication that really goes deep into that discussion (not just regarding taxonomy), I would be very thankful. Most papers are either very tactful around the subject or do not discuss it at all and just let the reader assume that all Chironomidae species are tolerant.

Thank you

Aquatic macroinvertebrates are classified into FFG (Merritt et al. 2008). For example, Odonata are in the Predator FFG. However, some taxa have multiple FFGs listed. This can be because they utilize different resources as juveniles than as adults. For example, some individuals, such as Leuctridae stoneflies are regarded as ‘typical’ shredders, with species such as Leuctra hippopus feeding as shredders when adults, but as collector-gatherers when juvenile. How is this accounted for in FFG studies? Do you essentially double the count of individuals (e.g., if you collected 25 of one taxa that is a filterer-collector and a shredder, would you say the sample has 25 filterer-collectors and 25 shredders)? Or, do you split the number of individuals into however many groups (e.g., 12.5 Filterer-collectors and 12.5 Shredders)? My end goal is to calculate percentages of different FFGs, FFG diversity, and FFG richness.

what is the species.it is a Linatella

I'm doing water quality project looking for differences between pollution tolerant and intolerant macro-invertebrates at two locations(a wastewater pipe & a location upstream).

I'm looking for guidance on kick samples & how many to take. I have been informed not to keep using the same spot as this will lead to pseudoreplication as I might count the same macro-invertebrates twice.

Can someone point me in the right direction in regards kick samples and how to avoid pseudoreplication while still taking samples from the two locations?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cliff

After spawning induction of razor clams (Solen regularis) using dry chilling method (4-6 degree Celcius) and thermal shocking technique (27-30 degree Celcius). The gametes released were mixed to carry out the artificial fertilization. The fertilized eggs were found but there was no D-shaped larvae formation in every attempts.

Many parasites were released by the clams during spawning induction such as Ciliates sp., Cercaria sp., Trematode and even Copepode.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thank you.

For my MS thesis I am researching how flow reduction will affect macroinvertebrate populations in a river system in Utah. Over the past fifty years, water management agencies have sent high volumes of water through this river, with profound implications for its aquatic ecosystem. Now they are wanting to reduce the minimum flows. I will be collecting macroinvertebrate samples along the length of the river for two years: the first year being an artificially high flow regime, the second being a lowered, more natural flow regime. With discharge as my independent variable, I hope to observe any trends in Functional Feeding Group abundances / biomasses over time, as well as trends in the sensitive / tolerant taxa ratios.

Since I'm less concerned with indices of diversity, would identifying macroinvertebrates to family be sufficient? My concern is that since different genera within families may fall into different FFG's, this taxonomic resolution might not accurately reveal the patterns. Are there any methods of data analysis that I could employ to work around this? Or - knowing that this study limited in both time and money - what families would you recommend I take down to sub-family or genera, if I were to choose only a few? 

Thanks in advance!

Despite many attempt of researchers I think that, at least in The Netherlands in eutrophic systems, there are no species of aquatic invertebrates correlated with any chemical component within the watersystem. The occurance of a species is mainly linked to the presence of a species specific substrate like stones, waterweeds, wood and in the smaller species like mites and oligochaetes also with the hydrological conditions. In Insects in which the adults mate in the surrounding terrestrial habitats (Ephemeropta, Trichoptera) the landscape is also of importance. Have there been any research or is there any paper in which a species is directly linked to a chemical compound within a natural (eutrophic) environment? That means no statistical stuff for I have seen that too many. Almost every species has a very wide range of occurrance for e.g. P, N, S etc. but no species has a narrow range. I ask you this, for communities differ in many ditches but chemistry is almost the same

In what ways do they provide insight on the disposition of a given body of water? Are there certain characteristics that are common among these organisms that allow them to demonstrate the quality of the water?

Found this specimen of about 3 cm long and 5 mm width along a freshwater brook in the province of Limburg, The Netherlands. I have seen millions of freshwater invertebrates from our country and I consider myself a specialist on annelids (leeches, oligo- and polychaetes) but I don't thing it is either of them. The only thing I can think of is some sort of (free living?) tapeworm. As it is collected with a pondnet, it is not sure if this is truly aquatic. It is flattened and gradually becoming smaller towards the end or head? Is it decapitated? Does anybody has an idea? many thanks

edit: I can't see an oral/anal opening, chaetae are absent.

but it is better ,if i can use universal indices and indices that can be use to south Asian region as well.In addition indices should be included to cover species richness,species evenness,species heterogenity (3 aspects of Species diversity)

i have 5 sites 2 are some what polluted and others are normal level.how can i divide my 5 sites according to less polluted ,modreately polluted and highly polluted to build a simple water quality index,is it an educational judgement to select the 5 sites under these categories?

We were given to relate seasonality and abundance of  marine macro-invertebrates. Why do we need to quantify per season and not by month? Need urgent reply, thanks! 

As the question states I am looking for papers detailing the impacts of recreational boat traffic on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages. Much of the research material I have found thus far is focused on marine and brackish waters. Are there any papers available specialising within lentic freshwater environments?

Unable to find papers on automated video tracking of aquatic invertebrates in multiwell plates, I was hoping to find individuals here that have experience in the laboratory doing this or related automated video tracking research.  If so, can you give me a brief synopsis of your research questions/topic and what software you are using.  Thank you, Lou

Louis Macovsky, DVM, MS

Dynamic BioSystems

These cyst like structures have been recovered from surface samples collected from a tropical lake bed in high abundance.

The material in the photos (natural size and enlarged) was found in a small lake. Any ideas on what it might be?

Hello, I am looking for recent (~1990s and forward) literature on invertebrate-moss associations in inland water ecosystems (lakes, streams, wetlands, canals, etc.).  Articles should focus on fully submerged or semi-aquatic moss and/or invertebrate species.  Articles in journals would be preferred, but easy-to-cite grey lit (e.g., USEPA technical reports) also would be appreciated -- anything that could stand in a soon-to-be-submitted manuscript that will have to pass through peer-review.  Also, any important literature citation on invertebrate-moss associations from other habitats (i.e., terrestrial), recent or historical, would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks a lot!

My thesis is regarding marine macro-invertebrates and I'm wondering if there is an existing database for it.

Thank you! :)

I conduct a study on a urban type river by using benthic macroinvertebrate as an indicator, along with that I also conduct water quality analysis for determining the river health base on physical-chemical parameter. So, what would be my negative control?

I would like to appreciate all of you who gave an appropriate answer for my previous question. Here I am coming back with another macroinvertebrate. I found this organism from highland area streams which is more than 3500 meter above sea level. The stream condition is more likely disturbed, open (no vegetation) except few grass close to the stream.

Hi there, can somebody in the freshwater mollusc-world clarify the correct nomenclature for Lymnaea columella or Pseudosuccinea columella?

I see a bit of conflicting literature,so what is the latest or more agreed consensus?

Many thanks!

We want to mark boatmen (Corixidae) to study how individuals move within a pond. We have evidence that they move very little. We tried permanent markers but they can rub anywhere on their body with their legs, and they quickly rub off the mark. Does anyone have any suggestions about a suitable method?

We are working near of the headwater where the dominant substrate is limestone, and we are studying the biological responses of macroinvertebrates community and also, the biochemical response of a sentinel species. Despite the water quality is good, biochemical response of sentinel species is bad. Water quality analysis show that alkalinity, hardness and sulphates have high concentrations.

I was wondering how others have compiled rarefaction to compare species richness and density between two study areas, specifically how they organized their collection of specimens. Techniques like kick netting and surber samplers can easily collect hundreds of individuals. I've read that when calculating rarefaction, it's best to have 20 or more samples/individuals. Getting 20 individuals in one collection is no problem, of course, but how do you assemble enough samples (for example, dividing an area into quadrats and taking N amount of samples) and still realistically sort/identify them? I've only just begun to calculate rarefaction (using EstimateS), starting with a sample (but individuals based) of macros that had 341 individuals and 24 different taxa identified. I think a sample-based rarefaction would allow for more accuracy in studies, especially since they are known for distribution in micro-habitats that can be overlooked when few sample sites are chosen. Although I hasten to think of identifying 150 samples of 300+ individuals to do so, as I'm often doing this by myself. Perhaps a more samples-based collection method should be developed? By that I mean collection methods that involve more samples that collect fewer individuals than you typically see in a kick-net or surber-sampler method? I haven't come across many studies of macroinvertebrates that calculated species richness/density using samples-based collections. 

I found 12 of these in my net, all with a very similar shape and quite hard.

The 2 pictures shows the two sides of the animal (?)

Thank you for your help.

I was raising this specie and I observed that the larvaes shown a strong cannibalism, even when they were feeding of others arthropods.

I believe that the autochthonous primary production plays an important role in the transfer of energy through food webs in tropical streams.

Im working with Hyalella from Costa Rica, I have a few collects and I have very much work to do in taxonomy, but im interest in the distribution of this organisms in America Central and natural history too. Maybe people how work with aquatic macroinvertebrates know something, and maybe we can do something together.

I am developing a protocol that involves collecting lotic benthic macroinvertebrates from a sediment basket that holds about 3 L of sand. Does anyone know of a best practice approach to extract the organisms from the sand particles? So far all I have been able to concoct is intensive elutriation. It seems to me that the larger organisms could be filtered out using a 3 or 4 mm sieve, but I'm not sure if this is appropriate.

I perform biological monitoring of urban rivers in a tropical climate. The seasons range from wet to dry. I would like to know if there is any researcher that might have similar research on urban rivers in tropical climate conditions. I need to find another reference on the benthic macroorganism assemblage in such a case.

I have extracted the gut contents of 3 macroinvertebrate types with the Blood and Tissue kit and get genomic, however of the 3 species only one amplifies and amplifies very well. The genomic of the other 2 species does have a brown colour that is not being removed by the kit, so I then put the genomic through a soil DNA extraction kit to remove any humics and each time loose all my DNA. The brownish DNA reads 200-500 ng/uL (perhaps way too high?) and 260:280 is near the RNA spectrum. Gel results however show very sheared genomic so it is there. Probably from the digestive juices of the animal. Any thoughts?

There are many biotic indexes to assess water quality based on the macroinvertebrates in lotic systems. Macroinvertebrate communities of wetlands are strongly influenced by their hydroperiod, therefore it is possible to develop these indexes?

My groupmates and I are currently working on assessing water health by collecting macroinvertebrates living in an aquatic ecosystem within our site. We plan to compute for the biotic index of the site by assigning tolerance values to the macroinvertebrates and determining how many types of organisms are present in a sample. Is this method reliable enough towards accurately determining water quality?

Myself and two of my colleagues have collected the trawl catch data from 2006 - 2012. During this time we noticed an unusual phenomena that sea urchins were absent during the initial period (2006 - 2008), then a rapid increase in the sea urchin (Temnopleurus toreumaticus) population between 2009 - 2011 and later it decreased during 2012. Kindly note that sea urchins occurred only during March and April and some times in May. Further, when we recorded the bulk of sea urchin, other demersal faunas showed less abundance. So I want to know what could be the reason this interesting trend? I have attached one of the photos taken during the sampling period. Kindly discuss and suggest ideas that will help me to justify this observation.

The methodology of sampling of aquatic macroinvertebrates in running waters is mainly developed for small size wadable rivers (e.g. AQEM). The up to date methodology of quantification of all groups of macroinvertebrates is not confident enough in the case of large rivers (especialy very large rivers, such the Danube in its middle and lower course), since the research is focused mainly on shallow bank region. The particular problem is with quantification of molluscs (especialy larger taxa, such as mussels), having in mind the distribution within the sampling stretch -spatial and temporal dynamics.