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Bioindicators of Water Quality, Quick Reference Guide

Bioindicators of Water Quality, Quick Reference Guide

Purdue Extension 4-H-1019

Bioindicators of Quality Quick–Reference Guide

Authors: Julie Speelman and Natalie Carroll | Photographer (unless otherwise noted): Julie Speelman | Design and Layout: Jennifer Mazonas

This publication shows aquatic that can be used as Biotic Degree of Organic bioindicators of water quality in Indiana waterways. Bioindicators are biological systems that are sensitive to environmental changes and, Index Rating Pollution therefore, can indicate when pollution is present in the water. organic pollution 0.00–3.75 excellent unlikely A tolerance score is included for each in this publication. The slight organic tolerance score, ranging from 0–10, represents the insect’s sensitivity 3.76–4.25 very good pollution possible to pollution and can be used to estimate the quality of the water in which the insect was found. Insects with a score of 0 are intolerant some organic to pollution, meaning they cannot tolerate any , while 4.26–5.00 good pollution probable insects with a score of 10 are very tolerant of polluted water. fairly substantial 5.01–5.75 fair Materials Needed pollution likely • dip net substantial 5.76–6.50 fairly poor • white plastic pail, bowl, or dishpan (Note: The white color makes it easier pollution likely to see the insects.) • 2–3 white styrofoam cartons or plastic ice cube trays 6.51–7.25 poor very substantial • data sheet—available online at: www.four-h.purdue.edu/natural_ pollution likely resources/ (select “Resources for Educators” and “Bioindicators”) severe organic 7.26–10.0 very poor Instructions pollution likely • Locate a body of water (e.g., stream, pond, lake) to sample. The water should only be at most knee deep and allow easy access for Assessing the Water Quality of a Site obtaining the sample. Make sure you have permission to sample the For each insect group: water. • Record the number of insects found for each listed. • Dip the pail in the water to be sampled. • Multiply the Tolerance Value by the Number Found, and enter the • Collect insect samples from all within a 200-foot section result under Family Tolerance Score. of that body of water, and place them in the pail. Jab your dip • Sum the Number Found and Family Tolerance Score columns ( net against the vegetation and into mud or sand at the bottom to Totals). collect insects. Scrape the underside of rocks and logs into the net. • Collect insects for 45 minutes. For each insect order: • Using the ice cube tray, sort the insects that look the same into the • Transfer the Order Totals to the Order Summary section. different compartments of the tray using your hand or forceps. Be • Sum the Number Found and Order Tolerance Score columns sure to put some water in the ice cube tray first to keep the insects (Grand Total). from drying out. • Determine the Biotic Index by dividing the Grand Total Tolerance • Use the bioindicator flash cards or quick reference guide to identify Score by the Grand Total Number Found. the insects. Record the number of insects from each insect family you • Use the biotic index in the table provided to estimate the water identify on the data sheet. quality rating and degree of organic pollution. • Place the insects back in the water when you are finished. • Complete the calculations described in the next section to determine the quality rating. Resources • Hoosier Riverwatch (provides training on this and many other water- • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) related topics): http://www.in.gov/dnr/nrec/3046.htm • About Biological Integrity and Indicators: • Volunteer Stream Monitoring Training Manual (download, 13.7 MB): www.epa.gov/bioindicators/html/about.html http://www.in.gov/dnr/nrec/files/nc-Riverwatch_Manual.pdf; Chapter 5 • as Indicators (look for Bugs as Indicators of Water Quality): covers biological monitoring. www.epa.gov/bioindicators/html/invertebrate.html • Hoosier Riverwatch events calendar: http://www.in.gov/dnr/nrec/ • Bugguide.net (hosted by Iowa State University ): www..net Coleoptera 6 pale forms 8 red forms 4 4 Gyrinidae (larvae) Psephenidae (larvae) 5 Whirligig Water Penny Non-biting Long-toed Diptera 4 2 8 Gyrinidae (adult) Culicidae 5 (larvae) Predaceous Diving Beetle Athericidae Aquatic Snipe 7 0 1 Dixidae (larvae) Dixid Midge 5 Crawling Water Beetle Dytiscidae (adult) 6 Predaceous Diving Beetle Blephariceridae Net-winged Midge 7 Haliplidae (adult) Aquatic Dance Fly 5 Crawling Water Beetle (larvae) Riffle Beetle 6 Ceratopogonidae Biting Midge 5 6 8 Ephydridae (larvae) Shore Fly 5 Water Beetle Elmidae (adult) 6 Riffle Beetle

Chaoboridae Phantom Midge

5 Muscidae Hydrophilidae (adult) House Fly, Stable Fly, Water Scavenger Beetle Green Bottle Fly 3 4

10 4 Tipulidae Moth Fly Crane Fly Common Burrowing Hacklegill Mayfly Ephemeroptera 4 7 6 Marsh Fly Flat-headed Mayfly Primitive Minnow Mayfly 4 Small Minnow Mayfly Aquatic Bugs 6 2 10 Simuliidae Isonychiidae Black Fly Brushed-legged Mayfly 3 Armored Mayfly Giant Water Bug 8 7 4 Stratiomyidae Soldier Fly Little Stout Crawler Mayfly 9 Small Square- Mayfly Water Boatman 10 1 2 Syrphidae Rattailed Maggot Prong-gilled Mayfly

Undetermined Spiny Crawler Mayfly Toad Bug 6 2 Tabanidae Horse Fly, Deer Fly Pale Burrowing Mayfly Undetermined , , Undetermined and Water Strider Backswimmer 0 Undetermined Photo: Dr. Jonathan Neal Photo: Dr. Undetermined Hebridae Pygmy Backswimmer Undetermined 4 Photo: Dr. Jonathan Neal Photo: Dr. Sialidae 9 Undetermined Coenagrionidae Narrow-winged Water Measurer Shore Bug Undetermined 6 and 1 Gomphidae Club-tailed Broad-shouldered Water Strider

Lepidoptera 3 Aeshnidae Aquatic Moths Darner 9 5 Lestidae Spread-winged Damselfly Creeping Water Bug 8 5 5 Pyralidae Aquatic Broad-winged Damselfly 7 Libellulidae Photo: Dr. Jonathan Neal Photo: Dr. Common Skimmer Water Trichoptera 4 Stoneflies 4 Hydropsychidae Limnephilidae 1 1 Common Net Spinner Northern Casemaker Caddisfly Capniidae Brachycentridae Small Winter Stonefly Humpless Casemaker Caddisfly 0 4 3 Hydroptilidae Philopotamidae Micro Caddisfly Finger Net Caddisfly 0 Leuctridae Glossosomatidae 4 Roll-winged Stonefly Saddle Casemaker Caddisfly 2 1 Lepidostomatidae Phryganeidae 3 Lepidostomatid Casemaker Giant Casemaker Caddisfly Nemouridae Helicopsychidae Brown Stonefly Casemaker Caddisfly 4 Leptoceridae Long Horned Casemaker 1 Perlidae Common Stonefly 0 Pteronarcyidae Giant Stonefly 2 Perlodidae Patterned Stonefly 2 Taeniopterygidae Winter Stonefly Using this guide with the data sheets

Coleoptera (Beetles) Family Tolerance Number Family Tolerance Coleoptera Value Found Score Beetles Dryopidae 5 0 0 Dytiscidae 5 2 10 Elmidae 5 0 0 Gyrinidae 4 0 0 Haliplidae 7 0 0 Hydrophilidae 5 3 15 5 Psephenidae 4 0 0 Dryopidae Long-toed Water Beetle Order Total 5 25

5 Dytiscidae (larvae) Predaceous Diving Beetle Order Summary Order Total Number Found Order Tolerance Coleoptera 5 25 Diptera 6 38 5 Ephemeroptera 8 28 Hemiptera 5 27 Dytiscidae (adult) Predaceous Diving Beetle 2 0 Megaloptera 0 0 Odonata 3 13 Tolerance Plecoptera 0 0 Common Value Trichoptera 6 24 Name Family Grand Total 35 155 Name Biotoic Index = [Grand Total Tolerance] / [Grand Total Number Found] = 155/35 = 4.43

Purdue Agriculture Produced by Agricultural Communication 08/12

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