Bugs as Indicators of Water Quality
In Florida, we use aquatic macroinvertebrates, or
"bugs", to help us figure out how clean or
dirty water is (to find out more, check out this poster
on
bugs).
In order to use bugs as indicators of water quality, we
need to develop a bug "index", or number, which
will tell us about the bugs we've found. Think of
an index as a grade, like you'd get on a test, where the
higher the number is the better you've done or the better
the water is.
- Print out the
bug
id cards and cut them apart.
- Shuffle them and place them face down on a table.
- Pick five cards at random and turn them over.
- Use the
bug
identification poster to identify what bugs
you're looking at. If you have trouble
understanding any of the words, look in a dictionary
or check out this poster on
bug
parts
- Write down the drop number (check out the three
"drips"
below to see what they look like) for each bug you've
identified.
- Add up your bug numbers, this is your bug score.
- Good biologists always double-check their
identifications,
check yours
too!
- Want to know what your score means?
| Some
bugs can't tolerate water pollution, we call these
bugs pollution sensitive. |
 |
Mayfly
Caddisfly
Water Penny
Planarian
Dobsonfly
Stonefly |
| Other
bugs are less sensitive to pollution... |
 |
Crayfish
Clam
Fishfly
Sowbug
Scud
Riffle Beetle Larva
Alderfly
Cranefly
Dragonfly
Mussel
Riffle Beetle Adult
Whirligig
Damselfly |
| Some
bugs can live in any kind of water. We call
these bugs pollution tolerant. |
 |
Leech
Midge
Aquatic Worm
Gilled Snail
Black Fly
Lunged Snail |
