Question

Describe what a macroinvertebrate community might look like in a pristine stream? What abiotic factors associated with the stream may be the main drivers of that community?

Answer 1

Some macroinvertebrates are sensitive to pollution and are therefore may only found in good quality or pure water. These types of macroinvertebrates includes stonefly nymph, caddisfly larva, water penny, mayfly nymph, riffle beetle, gilled snail, water flea, planarian, dobsonfly larva etc.

The high numbers of macroinvertebrates: adult riffle beetles and gilled snails can serve as bioindicators of good water quality. These creatures are usually highly sensitive to pollution, because they tend to require highly dissolved oxygen levels.

The abiotic factors that affects the macroinvertebrate community includes light, temperature, substrate and chemical composition of water. Climate affects the flow of stream, chemical elements contributes the water quality, and the sunlight determines growth of aquatic plants and as well as the associated macroinvertebrates.