Macro Resources

Additional Online Resources:

East Fork of the Lewis River Watershed and Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Study - Developed by Michael Clapp, 7th/8th grade science teacher (CAM Jr/Sr High School - Battle Ground, WA). Sections of the website include:

	Catalog of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates - much of it duplicates the macros information and images found on this website
	Macroinvertebrate Image Sets by Location - collections of macro images from different locations in Clark County, WA; some contain commentary about the macros by Jeff Adams, Aquatic Programs Director for Xerces Society
	East Fork of the Lewis River watershed information - information and images about the East Fork of the Lewis River
	Teacher's Toolbox and other resources for teaching about water quality monitoring and freshwater macroinvertebrates (the online macro ID guides, online resources, and publications duplicate information found on this page). Includes the Know Your Macros slideshow (availabe online or as a downloadable PowerPoint slideshow).

Macroinvertebrate Ecology is a 12-page .pdf document created for the Maryland State Envirothon. It provides a nice introduction to macroinvertebrate anatomy, life cycle, adaptations, and use in biomonitoring. There are other really good resources available from this website, including a nicely illustrated macroinvertebrate key. (Developed for Maryland - may not be adequate for all locations.)

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Freshwater Benthic Macroinvertebrates web page provides some basic information about the state's monitoring program. Of special interest might be the Family-level Key to Stream Invertebrates of Maryland and Surrounding Areas. The key is a downloadable 1.5 MB .pdf file.

The Key to Macroinvertebrate Life in the River and Key to Life in the Pond are easy-to-use, single-page dichotomous keys developed by the University of Wisconsin - Extension and useful in identifying aquatic macroinvertebrates. You can download .pdf copies from the UWEX Natural Resources Education Publications webpage or the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Water Action Volunteers: "Other WAV Materials" webpage. While you are at it, you may want to download a copy of Wonderful, Wacky, Water Critters. This 27-page booklet includes background information on the macroinvertebrates found in the river and pond keys.

"Aquatic Insect Fact Sheets" - Downloadable .pdf files from Creek Connections. The "fact sheets" are nicely illustrated and informative. Creek Connections was developed at Allegheny College as a partnership with regional K-12 schools in Northwest Pennsylvania, Southwest New York, and the Pittsburgh. They emphasize hands-on, inquiry-based investigation of local waterways. Lots of information - great stuff!!

The "Aquatic Macroinvertebrates" section of Oregon Trout's Stream Watch Volunteer Resource Packet contains a "Quick Reference Guide to Aquatic Invertebrates." Other sections of the resource packet provide information about salmon biology, stream ecology, and water quality monitoring.

The Hoosier Riverwatch Volunteer Stream Monitoring Training Manual contains a useful section on biological monitoring and macroinvertebrates. In particular, Chapter 5 (which can be downloaded in 3 parts) includes information on macroinvertebrate identification and a taxonomic key. Hoosier Riverwatch is sponsored by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources - Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Macroinvertebrate Field Identification Cards - The Connecticut Department of Envrionmental Protection has developed a program called: Rapid Bioassessment in Wadeable Streams & Rivers by Volunteer Monitors (RBV). The Field Identification Cards and other resources for water quality monitoring could provide useful information for macro ID and student research on specific macros.

Guide to Aquatic Invertebrates of the Upper Midwest - Available from the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center. A thorough identification guide to aquatic macroinvertebrates. A volunteer stream monitoring guide and curriculum material is also available.

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NatureMapping: Water Module - The NatureMapping Program in Washington has a Water Module that contains helpful information regarding water quality testing and provides an online database to submit your data. You can also examine the results of others groups and compare them to your own.

Stream Biology and Ecology - Information on the biology, ecology and scientific study of rivers and streams.

Water Quality Studies - a project of the Washington Virtual Classroom. See what others are doing in the State of Washington and pick up some helpful hints and information about water quality testing. Contains sections on "Science Inquiry" and curriculum ideas that connect water quality to other subject areas.

Ecology Field Guide (.pdf - download by sections) - This field guide was developed by Wolftree, Inc. of Portland, OR, to assist students and teachers in conducting outdoor ecological studies. Sections on "Aquatic Inverts", "Water Chemistry," and "Streamflow & Wetlands" are particularly useful to those studying water quality. Be sure to examine the "Ecology Concepts" and "Field Studies Intro," as well. The scope of the field guide extends well beyond the banks of a stream. Really good stuff!!

Stream Bug Home Page - A site developed by King County Natural Resources and Parks (which includes Seattle, WA). There are some pages about aquatic bugs and their use in water quality monitoring. It's a local (Pacific Northwest) site and contains links to additional online resources.

SalmonWeb - No longer active, this community-based monitoring program was developed to promote "... the use of biological monitoring to understand the health of stream systems ...." The site contains information on the Benthic Index of Biological Integrity (B-IBI) for the Puget Sound Lowlands and a number of useful links.

National Aquatic Monitoring Center (a.k.a. "The Buglab") - The Bug Lab website contains an "Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Identification Guide" in .pdf format. Also, check out the "Aquatic Bug Monitoring" links for information on water and bug monitoring, how to collect bugs in moving water and ponds, and a pictoral guide to common orders of macros.

North American Benthological Society - This site contains information about NABS and its activities. The Education and Outreach section of this site contains an online digital library of benthic organisms, the Freshwater Algae and Macroinvertebrate Slide Library (from which slide sets or individual slides may be ordered), links to other relevant sites, and a video library containing QuickTime (soon to be mpeg) video clips.

The Xerces Society (www.xerces.org) of Portland, Oregon, has an Aquatic Invertebrates Conservation Program. Jeff Adams has developed a regional macroinvertebrate ID and aquatic monitoring guide. The Stream Bugs as Biomonitors: Guide to Pacific Northwest Macroinvertebrate Monitoring and Identification includes a CD-ROM (PC-compatible only) and field guide. The website also provides information and a scaled-down version of the guide.

Washington State Department of Ecology - Water Quality Program website

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