What Macroinvertebrates Can Show Us About Water Quality

Summary

In this video, Charlie Wagner, the Mighty Acorns Program Coordinator for the Conservation Foundation, highlights the importance of wetlands and water quality. He discusses the role of different wildlife, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects, in these ecosystems. Wagner focuses on assessing water quality through the study of benthic macroinvertebrates, which serve as indicators of environmental health. He demonstrates the process of identifying organisms like dragonfly larvae and other macroinvertebrates, emphasizing the need for clean water to support diverse wildlife and the critical role of long-term monitoring to assess water quality.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Mighty Acorns program has been working with local schools and the community for over 20 years to support environmental education and restoration efforts.
• 🌱 The program focuses on wetland restoration, particularly at Summer Lakes Park in Barnesville, which has been a site for these projects since 2007.
• 💧 71% of the earth's surface is covered by water, but only 3% is fresh water, and even less is accessible for human use, emphasizing the importance of water conservation.
• 🐸 Wetlands play a crucial role for wildlife, supporting a wide variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects throughout their life cycles.
• 🔬 Water quality is vital for the health of aquatic life, and it's assessed through physical, chemical, and biological factors, including the presence of benthic macroinvertebrates.
• 🦗 Benthic macroinvertebrates are organisms without a backbone, such as insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and worms, which help assess water quality.
• 🐌 Snail eggs were found during the water quality assessment, indicating the presence of aquatic organisms that are sensitive to water quality.
• 🔍 The citizen monitoring biotic index helps classify organisms based on their tolerance to pollutants, with Group 1 being highly sensitive and Group 4 being tolerant.
• 🦟 Using a dichotomous key, the team identified a dragonfly larva, which is an important indicator of water quality, as dragonfly larvae live in water for up to two years before becoming adults.
• 📊 So far, the team has found dragonfly larvae, mayfly larvae, water boatmen, and beetles, all indicating a fairly high water quality in the area, though further testing over time is needed for a more comprehensive assessment.

Q & A

What is the Mighty Acorns program and who coordinates it?

The Mighty Acorns program is coordinated by Charlie Wagner, and it is a conservation initiative run by the Conservation Foundation. The program has been running with local schools and the Warrenville community since 2007, focusing on restoration projects.

What is the geographical location mentioned in the script?

The script takes place at Summer Lakes Park in Warrenville, Illinois, which is near Fermilab and Johnson School.

Why is the quality of water in wetlands so important?

Water quality is crucial because wetlands are home to various species at different stages of their life cycles. The water's quality affects the organisms' health and survival, particularly for species like frogs, insects, and other wildlife.

What are benthic macroinvertebrates, and why are they important in water quality assessments?

Benthic macroinvertebrates are organisms that live on the bottom of water bodies, such as streams and wetlands. They are important because their presence and health can indicate the water's quality, as different species are sensitive to pollution in different ways.

What are some examples of benthic macroinvertebrates mentioned in the script?

Examples include insects, crustaceans (like crayfish), mollusks (such as snails and clams), and worms, such as leeches.

What is the significance of the citizen monitoring biotic index mentioned in the script?

The citizen monitoring biotic index helps assess the quality of water based on the types of organisms found. It categorizes organisms into groups based on their tolerance to pollution, which helps gauge the health of the water.

What organism did Charlie Wagner identify in the wetland, and what was its significance?

Charlie Wagner identified a dragonfly larva, which is significant because it spends up to two years in the water before becoming an adult, indicating that the water quality must be high for the organism to thrive.

What is the purpose of using a dichotomous key in identifying organisms in the wetland?

A dichotomous key helps identify organisms based on a series of questions about their characteristics, such as whether they have legs, a shell, or wings. This tool helps determine the species and understand the water quality based on the organisms found.

What types of organisms did the assessment find in the wetland?

The assessment found dragonfly larvae, mayfly larvae, water boatman, and a beetle. These organisms were categorized based on their sensitivity to pollutants.

What is the overall indication of the water quality based on the organisms found?

The presence of organisms that are semi-sensitive to pollutants suggests that the water quality is fairly high. However, a larger sample and more time are needed for a more accurate assessment.