aquatic critters by: brittany martin. benthic macroinvertebrates they are organisms without...
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Aquatic Critters By: Brittany Martin
Benthic Macroinvertebrates
They are organisms without backbones and they live in the bottom substrates of the habitat they live in for at least part of their life. Benthic Macroinvertebrates are also invisible to the naked eye. The most abundant of the Benthic Macroinvertebrates tend to be insect larva in freshwater aquatic ecosystems.
Tubifex Worms
Eats decaying matter.
Leeches
Eats insects like gnats and mosquitos. Some are also bloodsuckers.
Planaria
Eats living and dead small animals, decaying organic matter, and can eat fish eggs.
Scuds/“Sideswimmers”
Eats plant and animal matter.
Cranefly
AdultThe do not eat, their purpose is to mate and die.
LarvaEats grass roots.
Water Boatmen
Eats Algae and minute aquatic organisms.
Water Strider
Eats small insects that come to the surface of the water and larva.
Predaceous Diving Beetle
Eats worms, dragonflies, small fish, and snails without shells.
Whirligig Beetle
Eats small pond insects.
Scavenger Beetle
Eats carcasses, feathers, fur, skin, rotting meat, pet food, bacon, cheese and dried fish.
Dragonfly
NymphEats insects.
AdultEats other insects and eat other dragonflies.
Damselfly
NymphEats aquatic insects.
AdultEats mosquitoes.
Mayfly
NymphDon’t eat.
AdultEats algae, buds, young leaves.
Stonefly
NymphEats vegetation, pollen, and nectar.
AdultEats vegetation, pollen, and nectar.
Caddisfly
Nymph Eats small aquatic vascular plants.
AdultEats decaying plant tissue and algae .
Dobsonfly
NymphAdultDon’t eat.
Water Pennies LarvaEats algae.
Riffle Beetle AdultEats algae and detritus.
What Is That?
Jared HostranderPeriod 1-2
Benthic Macroinvertebrate
• Animals without backbones that are larger than ½ millimeter (the size of a pencil dot). These animals live on rocks, logs, sediment, debris and aquatic plants during some period in their life. The benthos include crustaceans such as crayfish, mollusks such as clams and snails, aquatic worms and the immature forms of aquatic insects such as stonefly and mayfly nymphs.
Tubifex Worms
• Consumer- Eats large amounts of mud and other organic debris
Leeches
• Consumer- Some species feed on blood, others eat detritus, decaying plant and animal debris
Planaria
• Consumer- Planaria eat living or dead small animals
Scuds/Sideswimmers
• Consumer- Eat plant and animal matter
Cranefly Larva/Adult
• Consumer- Mostly plants and plant debris; some are predaceous
Water Boatmen
• Consumer- The majority of species are herbivorous, but some species may eat small animals such as tadpoles
Water Strider
• Consumer- Eats small insects
Whirligig Beetle
• Consumer- Eats aquatic insects and small insects
• May look metallic
• Often groups of them swim in circles
Video
Dragonfly Nymph/Adult
• Consumer- Predaceous, nymphs feed upon other aquatic macro invertebrates, small fish, and tadpoles
Damselfly Nymph/Adult
• Consumer- Predaceous, nymphs feed on other aquatic macro invertebrates
Mayfly Nymph/Adult
• Consumer- Consists of small plant and animal debris, such as algae, diatoms, and plankton
Stonefly Nymph/Adult
• Consumer- Some stoneflies are carnivorous, others feed on algae, bacteria, and vegetable debris
Caddisfly Nymph/Adult
• Consumer- larvae feed on algae, small bits of plant material, and animals; some species build nets where they catch drifting food
Dobsonfly Nymph/Adult
• Consumer- Predaceous larvae feed upon other aquatic macro invertebrates
Water Pennies-Riffle Beetle
• Consumer- Primarily plant debris such as algae and diatoms
Gilled Snails / Air Breathing Snail
Gilled Snails / Air Breathing Snail