Macro-invertebrate Team - Water Biodiversity

Global Lab

Materials

pencils           
buckets (1 gallon to 3 gallons)
small jars       
labels             
dip net protective gloves and goggles small pump (optional)
GL Journals    
 
Warning! Although macro-invertebrate sampling can be interesting and exciting, it can lead to disappointment when done during the wrong season. Macro-invertebrates are usually found only during warm weather seasons. For Northern climates, they are typically found during the summer and early fall. After this time, the likelihood of finding macro-invertebrates diminishes rapidly. If weather conditions are not favorable for this sample, you should focus on the other samples.

Procedures

 
1  Put on protective gloves and goggles
 
2  Take the dip net and put it in the water about 1.5 meters from the shore. Let it sink down to the bottom.
 
3  Scrape the wire edge of the net along the bottom
while pulling the net toward you and the shore.
 
4 Just before you reach the shore, lift the net up with a twist so that the bag remains full. Place the collected debris into a large bucket. Remove any large sticks and stones.
 
5  Add some additional water to the bucket so it just covers the organisms. Record the location of the sample in your GL Journal and on the class map.
 
6 Use the meter stick to estimate the depth of your sample, and record all relevant information in the Data Sheet below.
  
7 Bring the samples and equipment back to the lab. Observe the organisms as soon as possible, no later than 24 hours after the sample is collected. Keep the buckets open and the water exposed to air. If possible, aerate the sample using a small air pump.

Macro-invertebrate Data Sheet

 
Record this information on a separate sheet or in your journal for each sample, for each time you take a sample.
 
Date:
Time:
Weather Conditions:
Air Temperature:       
Water Temperature:
Type of Body of Water:         
Size:     
Depth:
Color:   
Odor:
Rate of Flow (Still, Slow, Moving, Fast, Falls):     
Location of the Sample:
Sketch:
Type of Habitat: Sun/Shade:
Collection Method:
Depth of Sample:

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