Grades 3-6 Creek Critter Activity Page 1 er Protect Ott Ou lly r W ea a R t e e r W !

Creek Critters!

Science With Spokane County Water Resources

Help the trout f This belongs to: ind the ca ly! Fish, like the Redband Trout, eat aquatic bugs known as AQUATIC ddisf MACROINVERTEBRATES (macros for short). Macros live at the bottom of streams, rivers and lakes for most of their lives; some even live several years! The types of macros you find in a waterway can tell you how clean or dirty the water is! Scientists do field studies to collect and identify macros to monitor how healthy our local waterways are. Can you think of some macros you’ve seen before?

Aquatic= live in the water Macro = large enough to see by the naked eye invertebrates = animals with no backbone Macroinvertebrates Using the word bank, write the name of the life phase on the blue line. DRAGONFLY LIFE CYCLE COLOR ME! Macro Life Cycle Most of the macros you’ll find in creeks are juvenile (child) larvae or pupa that look very different from adults. Many live most of their lives underwater, until their final molting stage when their exoskeleton cracks open and wings emerge to become flying adults for the Word Bank last part of their life cycles. Laying eggs Larva/nymph Adult Egg Molting

6 months Lives in water 3-4 years before hatching in the larval stage

Eggs

Lives 2-4 months on Molting into an land as adults adult with wings Grades 3-6 Creek Critter Activity Page 2 Table Manners! Freshwater Food Chain Macros have specialized mouth pieces to help them gather food or hunt. Draw arrows to show who eats who. Draw a line from the feeding habit to the correct mouth. Scraper

Use chewing mouthparts Sun Minnow to shred, cut, bite and bore Caddisfly leaves and plants that fall into the water.

Mosquito Larvae Collector Heron Physically gathers or filters Dragonfly algae, bacteria, feces and plants from the water or bottom.

Dragonfly Nymph Biter Adult Trout Predators that chase, Algae Black Fly Larvae capture and kill prey. Common Anatomy of Macros (Body Parts) Who AM I ? Creeping Water Bug Water Boatman Read the clue and then draw a line to match it with Mayfly * Worm who you think it is! Creeping Water Bug I protect my soft body by

Water Boatman 1 building a home of small rocks Mayfly * Common Stream Critters © Christine Elder. drawings All created live by observing specimens from local creeks Worm * These insects will transform into winged fliers when they mature

Beetle Larvae or twigs that I drag around.

Stonefly * Wherever I am, that’s home. Hellgrammite *

Mite Water Boatman 2 I use my oar-shaped hind Common Stream Critters © Christine Elder. drawings All created live by observing specimens from local creeks * These insects will transform into winged fliers when they mature

Beetle Larvae Water Boatman Water

Creeping Water Bug Water Creeping legs to swim. I don’t have Stonefly *

Table Manner Answers: Caddisfly - Scraper, Dragonfly - Biter, Black Fly Larvae - Collector Black Fly Larvae - Biter, Dragonfly - Scraper, Caddisfly Manner Answers: Table Worm gills; I carry Caddisfly * my air supply

Beetle Mayfly * * Mayfly Hellgrammite * Dragonfly* with me under my shell-like Collect Your Own Macros! Mite covering. We’ve included a net, laminated field guide, and

© Christine Elder. All drawings created by observing live specimens from local creeks local from specimens live observing by created drawings All Elder. Christine © magnifying glass so you can do your own collection Dragonfly 3 Giant Water Bug

Alderfly * I have jaws that can reach at a local creek, lake or pond. Just bring any Beetle Larvae Beetle

Fly * Common Stream Critters Critters Stream Common

Caddisfly * Stonefly * * Stonefly * These insects will transform into winged fliers when they mature they when fliers winged into transform will insects These * container or bucket, light colored, or clear is best,

Beetle out and snap my prey, Damselfly * Dragonfly* so you can see the macros. An old ice cube tray and

Mite including small fish and Hellgrammite * Hellgrammite tadpoles! I’m the greatest spoon works great for sorting the different types you find. Always go with an adult. hunter of all the macros! Rat Tailed Maggot Visit our website for step-by-step

Giant Water Bug

Alderfly *

Beetle Caddisfly * * Caddisfly Dragonfly* Dragonfly* Fly * 4 I have a long, rat-like directions on how to collect your breathing tail. It works Damselfly * own macros! like a snorkel, allowing

Fly * * Fly me to breathe air on www.spokanecounty.org/wrc Alderfly * * Alderfly

Giant Water Bug Water Giant Go to Resource Library > Teacher / Parents > Caddisfly the surface while I’m Damselfly * * Damselfly Water Science Kits underwater.

Who am I? Water Boatman = 2, Dragonfly=3, Rat Tailed Maggot = 4, Caddisly 1 Rat = 2, Dragonfly=3, Boatman Who am I? Water Food Chain: algae to sun, mosquito larvae to algae, dragonfly to mosquito larvae, minnow to dragonfly, trout to minnow and dragonfly, Heron to Trout to Heron dragonfly, and minnow to trout dragonfly, to minnow larvae, mosquito to dragonfly algae, to larvae mosquito sun, to algae Chain: Food INSTRUCTIONS (For Cut-out Bug Pieces) Grades 3 - 6 Creek Critter Game! Hello Stream Scientist, yes, YOU! We need YOUR help. We are about to release Red Band Trout that we’ve raised over the winter. We’ve narrowed down our release to two streams. Your job is to identify the macroinvertebrates in both creeks to determine which is healthier, and better for our fish release. Are YOU ready? Start with Cricket Creek (red pieces). Use the laminated Dichotomous Key and pictures to identify 1 each cut-out bug you find. Keep track of what you find using your data sheet (on the back). Repeat with Crooked Creek. to 9 ho mo 9 Creek 1 = Cricket Creek ic u collect and Identify all of the RED Macro pieces D s 99 Creek 2 = crooked Creek This is a BIG word collect and Identify all of the Green Macro pieces but it just means that when things are very After you have identified every macroinvertebrate, different, we will divide KEY 2 use the data sheet (on the back) to calculate the overall water quality score. them into groups to organize them. A guide with ANSWER: Which creek is the healthiest for our trout? pictures to help you. 3 Find the answer key on our website to see if you were right! www.spokanecounty.org/wrc Go to Resource Library > Teacher / Parents > Water Science Kits Macros and the water you drink! WHoA, COOL! Background info. to help with the game. Some areas of the Spokane river and local lakes drain Macros Tell Us How Healthy Water Is! into the aquifer, in other Since macros live most of their lives underwater, the types and amounts areas the aquifer seeps into we find in waterways can tell us how healthy or unhealthy the water is. the surface water. How clean All macros get sorted into three groups based on how sensitive they are the water is on the surface to unhealthy water. can be an indicator of how clean the water is below. Macros are one way to help us know how healthy the water is on the surface!

Stonefly Crayfish Leech Group 1 Sensitive Group 2 Somewhat Sensitive Group 3 Tolerant Live in Healthy Water Live in Unhealthy water clear, clean, cold water Muddy, polluted, slow-moving Biotic Index Data Sheet Reproduce for use

Date: Investigator Names:

Time: AM/PM Leaf Pack Location:

Reproduce for use 1 Biotic Index Data Sheet

Date: Investigator Names: This Data Sheet is Adapted from Stroud Research Creek Critter Game! Data Sheet Grades 3-6 Center Materials. https://stroudcenter.org/ Time: AM/PM Leaf Pack Location: 99 Creek 1 Data: Cricket Creek Water Quality Score is: Instructions2 Use this data sheet to add a tally 1 Sum of All 1 mark to each macro you find. Individuals (Add the Count up the tally marksvalues in eachfrom 2 all boxes next column and write the total.to the taxa names) 3 Multiply the total by the water 3 2 quality value for that group. Sum of All 5 Add together the numbers in 4 Individuals Pollution each box to find the overall (Add the Tolerance 4 valuesscore from for your creek! UseIndex the (PTI) all boxesPollution next Tolerance Key below to the taxa Score Reproduce fornames)to use determine the creek’s(Add water the three quality rating. Index Values) BioticCalculating the Index Biotic Index Data Sheet 3 x 3 = Sort the macroinvertebratesx 2 = into taxa groups. x 1 = POLLUTION TOLERANCE KEY Date: Investigatortotal Names: total 5 POLLUTION TOLERANCE total 1. Count the number of individual 4. Multiply the Number of TAXA by 6PollutionINDEX RATING Time: AM/PM Leafmacroinvertebrates Pack Location: for each taxa. Record the the weighting factor (3, 2 or 1) at SCORE RATING quantity in the box to the left of the taxa name. the bottom of the column to obtain Tolerance23 or 4 99 Creek 2 Data: Crooked Creek2. Determine Water the Sum Quality of All Individuals Score byis: the Index Value for each Sensitivity Index (PTI) Excellent Group. Indexmore (PTI) adding the numbers in the boxes next to all Score 1 of the the taxa names. Record the total in the 5. Add the Index Values for the three (Add the three Sum of All Individuals box on the far right. groups to determine the Pollution Index17-22 Values) Good 3. Count how many boxes in each sensitivity Tolerance Index (PTI) Score. Enter Calculating the Biotic Index group column have a quantity entered. the PTI Score in the box. 11-16 Fair (Group 1 and Group 2: maximum 8, Group 3: 6. Determine the Pollution Tolerance Sort the macroinvertebrates intomaximum taxa groups. 7). Enter the Number of TAXA in the Index Rating from the PTI Score. box at the bottom of each column. POLLUTION TOLERANCE10 or less Poor 1. Count the number of individual 4. Multiply the Number of TAXA by 6 macroinvertebrates for each taxa. Record the the weighting factor (3, 2 or 1) at INDEX RATING quantity in the box to the left of the taxa name. the bottom of the column to obtain 23 or 2 2. Determine the Sum of All Individuals by the Index Value for each Sensitivity 59 ExcellentBased on each creek’s Pollution Group. more Sum of All adding the numbers in the boxes next to all Group. Tolerance Rating, which creek is of the the taxa names. Record the total in the 5. Add the Index Values for the three Individuals 17-22 Good(Add the Sum of All Individuals box on the far right. groups to determine the Pollution 17-22 Goodbestvalues for from the trout release? 3. Count how many boxes in each sensitivity Tolerance Index (PTI) Score. Enter all boxes next group column have a quantity entered. the PTI Score in the box. 11-16 Fairto the taxa CIRCLE ONE (Group 1 and Group 2: maximum 8, Group 3: 6. Determine the Pollution Tolerance names) maximum 7). Enter the Number of TAXA in the Index Rating from the PTI Score. 99 Crooked Creek box at the bottom of each column. 10 or less Poor 3 x 3 x 2 x 1 = = = total 5 99 Cricket Creek total total 5 59 Pollution Tolerance 4 Index (PTI) Score (Add the three Index Values) Calculating the Biotic Index Sort the macroinvertebrates into taxa groups. POLLUTION TOLERANCE 1. Count the number of individual 4. Multiply the Number of TAXA by 6 macroinvertebrates for each taxa. Record the the weighting factor (3, 2 or 1) at INDEX RATING quantity in the box to the left of the taxa name. the bottom of the column to obtain 23 or 2. Determine the Sum of All Individuals by the Index Value for each Sensitivity Excellent adding the numbers in the boxes next to all Group. more of the the taxa names. Record the total in the 5. Add the Index Values for the three Sum of All Individuals box on the far right. groups to determine the Pollution 17-22 Good 3. Count how many boxes in each sensitivity Tolerance Index (PTI) Score. Enter group column have a quantity entered. the PTI Score in the box. 11-16 Fair (Group 1 and Group 2: maximum 8, Group 3: 6. Determine the Pollution Tolerance maximum 7). Enter the Number of TAXA in the Index Rating from the PTI Score. box at the bottom of each column. 10 or less Poor

59 Key to Macroinvertebrate Life in the River (Sizes of illustrations are not proportional.)

Shells No Shells

Single Shell Double Shell No Legs Legs spiral, spiral, coiled conical small, whitish, large, 2 to 8 inches, opening on left opening on right tan or brown dark-colored Worm-Like Microscopic With Tentacles, Brushes or “Tails” Suckers, expands reddish brown, glides along tan to brown, body with bristles, distinct head, small, hair-like, Limpet and contracts, body segmented body bottom, body long no suckers red, green or swims in “S” shape segmented not segmented tan, twists Orb Snail long breathing two fringed smooth, “stiff,” large, grey with white or grey big “head,” black, attaches to Freshwater tube “tails” small head tentacles with tentacles active hard surfaces Pouch Gilled Snail Snail Mussel Midge Larva Pill or Bristle Nematode or Fingernail Worm Threadworm Clam Flatworm or Horsehair Tubifex Planaria Worm Midge Pupa Black Fly Leech Water Snipe Worm Horse Fly Larva apostrophe- round swims with a jerk, Rat tailed Fly Larva Larva Crane Fly Maggot Crane Fly Larva shaped using antennas Larva Larva Seed and Clam Shrimp Water Flea Cyclops or or Daphnia 10+ Legs Four Pairs of Legs Three Pairs of Legs Copepod

lobster-like shrimp-like, walks on tiny, often runs on Wings swims on side bottom brightly colored top of water Beetle-Like, Wings Hard Leathery Wings Water Mite Fishing small, crawls swims moving back legs move at swims on “Crawls” through tan, lives on dark, grasping front legs, swims on back, swims right-side-up, long breathing tube, long, Scud or Spider on bottom hind legs alternating same time surface water, spotted surface lives on surface up to three inches back white back black grasping front legs stick-like Amphipod No Wings Aquatic Sowbug or Crayfish Isopod Riffle Beetle Water Boatman Predaceous Crawling Backswimmer Water Diving Beetle Whirligig Water Beetle Marsh Water Giant Water Scavenger Beetle Treader Strider Bug Beetle

Water Scorpion No Obvious “Tails” One or Two “Tails” Three “Tails” ‘Nepa’ brown, leatherlike, six legs and suction cup- large body, green, tan, lives in stone lives in stick dark head, green or small, large mouth parts, “tails” long flat gills hangs from surface, long “tails,” gills on long “tails,” gills large legs, plate-like “tails,” Water six legs, usually prolegs on like hinged mouth orange or case house tan body, two “spines” on side “spines” on side and stiff, long on abdomen large mouth parts abdomen on abdomen feathery gills no gills on abdomen Scorpion “C”-shaped abdomen white body brush-like tails antennas ‘Ranatra’

Developed by the University of Wisconsin– Caddisfly Extension in cooperation with the Wisconsin Larva Department of Natural Resources. Based on Riffle Beetle Pyralid Water Penny a key developed by Riveredge Nature Center, Larva Caterpillar Newburg, WI. May be reproduced with this Caddisfly side view Caddisfly credit for educational, non-profit purposes. Larva Larva Alderfly of “tails” Predaceous Mayfly For information, contact UWEX Environmental Caddisfly Larva Mayfly Larva Resources Center, 608/262-2634. University Dragonfly Dobsonfly Mayfly Larva Diving Beetle Larva Damselfly Larva Larva Larva Larva Mayfly Larva of Wisconsin-Extension is an EEO/Affirmative Stonefly Larva Action employer and provides equal oppor- tunities in employment and programming, Larva including Title IX and ADA requirements. How to Use A Dichotomous Key! 1. Start at the top. 2. At each “T” or intersection, stop as though it’s a stop sign and answer the question. For example, the first question is Shell or No Shell. If your macro has a shell, follow that line to the next question. 3. When you get to the bottom of the lines, whatever image you see is the name of your macro! For detailed instructions, visit www.spokanecounty.org/wrc > Go to Resource Library > Teacher / Parents > Water Science Kits Common Stream Critters * These insects will transform into winged fliers when they mature

Giant Water Bug

Caddisfly * Mayfly * Hellgrammite *

Beetle Larvae

Alderfly * Creeping Water Bug Beetle

Stonefly *

Damselfly * Water Boatman Dragonfly*

Worm Mite Fly * © Christine Elder. All drawings created by observing live specimens from local creeks Creek Critter Game Pieces Grade 3-6 Print, cut and sort using your dichotomous key. Green pieces = Crooked Creek, Red pieces = Cricket Creek Crooked creek pieces Cricket Creek pieces