The Fascinating Lives of Aquatic Insects

Paul Steen

One way to understanding stream ecology…

Think like a bug.

Outline1. I will survive.

A place to call home.Survivor Man… Four survival techniques.What’s for dinner?Just breathe.

2. Putting it all together

3. Stream Monitoring: MiCorps

Don’t get washed downstream!

Stream Habitat: A place to call home

Rocks

Stream Habitat: A place to call home

Stream Habitat: A place to call home

BackwatersUndercut banks

Outline1. I will survive.

A place to call home.Survivor Man… Four survival techniques.What’s for dinner?Just breathe.

2. Putting it all together

3. Stream Monitoring: MiCorps

Survivor Man Tip #1: Hide!

Survivor Man Tip #1: Hide!

Survivor Man Tip #2: Be bigger than everything else.

Survivor Man Tip #3: Hold on!

Survivor Man Tip #4: Taste Terrible

Whirligig Beetles

Outline1. I will survive.

A place to call home.Survivor Man… Four survival techniques.What’s for dinner?Just breathe.

2. Putting it all together

3. Stream Monitoring: MiCorps

What’s for dinner? Vegetarians

Shredders

Grazers

Gatherers/Collectors

What’s for dinner? Catch stuff as it goes by

Simuliidae: Black Fly Larvae

What’s for dinner? Use a net

Caddisfly Hydropsychidae… video… 30 seconds to 1:30

When you don’t like veggies

Feeding: When you don’t like veggies

Feeding: Life as an adult

VS.

Outline1. I will survive.

A place to call home.Survivor Man… Four survival techniques.What’s for dinner?Just breathe.

2. Putting it all together

3. Stream Monitoring: MiCorps

Just breathe: Oxygen and water• Oxygen diffuses more slowly in water than the

atmosphere.• Water does not hold as much oxygen as the

atmosphere.• Warm water does not hold as much oxygen as cold

water.

Cone of depletion

Getting O2 Type 1 : Diffusion & passive gills

Getting O2 Type 2 : Active ventilation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xSe3NtS06g

Getting O2 Type 3 : Air bubbles and plastrons

Air Bubbles = temporary supply

Plastrons = permanent supply

Getting O2 Type 4 : Siphons and tubes

O2 in the water too low ?

Breathe O2 fromthe air instead !

Outline1. I will survive.

A place to call home.Survivor Man… Four survival techniques.What’s for dinner?Just breathe.

2. Putting it all together

3. Stream Monitoring: MiCorps

Putting it all together:The River Continuum Concept

Putting it all together:The River Continuum Concept

HabitatSteep gradient Narrow Faster water velocityRocky and woody debris habitatRiffles and pools

TemperatureShadedCold springs and tributaries make a greater

% total waterCold water

Upstream

BiotaInsects with passive ventilationPredators, shreddersLots of clingers holding onto rocksTrout & sculpin

Mill Creek (trib of the Huron River)

Putting it all together:The River Continuum Concept

HabitatFlat gradient Wide streamDeep water and backwaters, estuary wetlandsSlower water velocitySilt & clay substrate

TemperatureExposed to sunlightCold springs or tributaries make lesser % of

total water.Warm water

Downstream

BiotaInsects with active ventilation or air breathers.Predators, collectors & gatherersFree swimmers- beetles, hemipteransCarp, walleye, suckersToo turbid for macrophytes

The Grand River

Putting it all together:The River Continuum Concept

HabitatModerate gradientModerate widthSome woody debris/rocks/Mix of substratesModerate/fast water velocity

TemperatureSome sun/some tree coverCool water

Mid-stream

BiotaMix of breathing types.Predators, shredders,grazers,

filterers & collectorsMacrophytes (vascular plants)Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Sunfish

The Huron River

Outline1. I will survive.

A place to call home.Survivor Man… Four survival techniques.What’s for dinner?Just breathe.

2. Putting it all together

3. Stream Monitoring: MiCorps

• MiCorps• Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program• Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program

Why collect bugs?

Good science

• Good indicators of localized conditions

• Diversity = Healthy stream

• Threats to bug diversity– Sedimentation– Flashy water flows– Habitat loss– Chemical pollution

Good for volunteers

• Easy sampling techniques

• Generally abundant communities

• They are fun!

Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program (VSMP)

• $50,000 is available every year– Full grant: $10-15k– Startup grant: $1 – 3k

• Full grants last 2 years

• Start-up grants last 1 year.

•A grant-based program for local groups to develop or enhance stream monitoring programs. Groups must be non-profits, academic, or local government.

The VSMP annual training day

Stream Program ComponentsGroups who receive grants are expected to:• Find, engage, train volunteers• Collect and identify macroinvertebrates• Monitor habitat• Build Databases (MDE,

Volunteer)• Verify & interpret the data• Follow up as needed with

relevant authorities based on the results of monitoring.

What support do grantees get from MiCorps?

• Money

• Training, procedures, technical assistance.

• A solid reputation.

• Plugged into the MiCorps network.

Volunteer Stream Monitoring ProgramSince 2005, 40 Groups have received grants.

Including:– Cannon Township

– Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council

– Friends of the St. Clair River

– Muskegon River Watershed Assembly

– Branch County Conservation District

– Upper Peninsula Resource Conservation and Development Council

You never know what you will find!

Why do people love aquatic macros so much?