Aquatic IndicatorsText: Ted Schaffer

Editor: Laurie Rosenberg

Assistant Editor: Nadine Smith

Illustrator: Jamie Buckwalter

MUHLENBERG

COLLEGE

Living Things as Indictors of Water Quality

Esherichia Coli (E. Coli)

http://www.bact.wisc.edu/Bact330/lectureecoli

E. Coli Colonies on Agar Plate

http://www.bact.wisc.edu/Bact330/lectureecoli

Dissolved Oxygen Testing

Collecting Aquatic Organisms

• Fast running streams with cold water - high dissolved oxygen levels.

• Still, shallow bodies of water - low dissolved oxygen levels.

Larvae: Dobsonfly, Mayfly, Stonefly

Illustrations by

Damselfly adult and larvae (with gills)

http://biodidac.bio.uottawa.ca

Examples of Fairly Tolerant Organisms

Midge Fly LarvaeScud or amphipod

Illustrations by

AquaticEarthworm, Rat-tailed Maggot, Nematode