Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates to Assess Ecological Status and Water Quality
Jake Spencer, Nina Sokolov, John Prodromidis II
Abstract
Biological indicators have been used for years to assess the overall water quality of a specific water source. This experiment sampled a bioindicator species known as benthic macroinvertebrates to help us make a prediction about the water quality from which we sampled. The experiment was conducted at two separate locations: the Raquette River and Woodstock Pond. Once at the testing site, we collected and recorded all benthic macroinvertebrates that were found. After samples were collected, the data was then analyzed for both the individual groups and the overall class data that was later produced. The individual results showed that the water quality of the Raquette River was of good quality and had a very diverse collection of species, while Woodstock Pond was found to have an excellent water quality rating. The class data found both the Raquette River and Woodstock Pond to be of good water quality as well. With the use of benthic macroinvertebrates, this experiment showed the overall water quality to be in good standards, and thus there was no significant pollution within these water sources.
Introduction
Many different ecosystems are located all over the world, and in these systems there exist very exotic and diverse organisms. Many of these may be seen with the naked eye in several locations, such as the rainforest or ponds, but there are also those that cannot be seen as easily, and sometimes these may be the most important of all species within that location. Benthic macroinvertebrates have served a useful purpose of assessing the overall water quality of a specific water source for years, and have been assumed to present the best overall data (Barbour et al., 1996). By studying and collecting these organisms, it is possible to learn if the water is heavily polluted or not. To do so one may look at... [continues]
Jake Spencer, Nina Sokolov, John Prodromidis II
Abstract
Biological indicators have been used for years to assess the overall water quality of a specific water source. This experiment sampled a bioindicator species known as benthic macroinvertebrates to help us make a prediction about the water quality from which we sampled. The experiment was conducted at two separate locations: the Raquette River and Woodstock Pond. Once at the testing site, we collected and recorded all benthic macroinvertebrates that were found. After samples were collected, the data was then analyzed for both the individual groups and the overall class data that was later produced. The individual results showed that the water quality of the Raquette River was of good quality and had a very diverse collection of species, while Woodstock Pond was found to have an excellent water quality rating. The class data found both the Raquette River and Woodstock Pond to be of good water quality as well. With the use of benthic macroinvertebrates, this experiment showed the overall water quality to be in good standards, and thus there was no significant pollution within these water sources.
Introduction
Many different ecosystems are located all over the world, and in these systems there exist very exotic and diverse organisms. Many of these may be seen with the naked eye in several locations, such as the rainforest or ponds, but there are also those that cannot be seen as easily, and sometimes these may be the most important of all species within that location. Benthic macroinvertebrates have served a useful purpose of assessing the overall water quality of a specific water source for years, and have been assumed to present the best overall data (Barbour et al., 1996). By studying and collecting these organisms, it is possible to learn if the water is heavily polluted or not. To do so one may look at... [continues]
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