New tool for identification of freshwater invertebrates
Freshwater invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, snails, worms etc) are a useful measure of the state of our streams – but the identification and interpretation of the range of invertebrates found in any stream can be tricky.
Tuesday 08 May 2012
Nesameletus mayfly nymph
Freshwater invertebrates (insects, crustaceans, snails, worms etc) are a useful measure of the state of our streams – but the identification and interpretation of the range of invertebrates found in any stream can be tricky.
To make this information (and the associated pictures) available to all, researcher Stephen Moore has developed a new on-line Freshwater Invertebrates Identification and Information Resource http://fwinverts.landcareresearch.co.nz.
This type of identification work can be undertaken by community groups and the resource is designed primarily for them (and to help councils when working with the community on their local streams). The project was funded by the Ministry for the Environment’s new Community Environment Fund, along with the Auckland Council and Taranaki Regional Council.
Mr Moore says the resource covers over 200 genera of freshwater invertebrates from all parts of the country, with high quality photographs of each group.
“Simple identification keys, combined with close-up images of diagnostic features, will help inexperienced - and experienced - biologists to correctly identify their stream specimens and to find out about the indicator value of each group,” he says.
All the common New Zealand aquatic invertebrate groups, and many of the rare groups are featured on the web resource.
With an improved understanding of the stream invertebrate fauna and quality of the stream, community groups can make better decisions about whether their stream should be protected in its current high quality state, whether it could be a good candidate for riparian planting or whether the council pollution hotline should be called in to investigate.