Collector's Names_______________________________

________________________________

Macroinvertebrate Data Recording Sheet

Adapted from Illinois Riverwatch Macroinvertebrate Data Sheet
Codes used throughout this project correspond to the Illinois RiverWatch Database Codes so that comparisons may be made. A few color pictures of the macroinvertebrates can be found at the Illinois EcoWatch Stream Quality Bug page.
 

Lab Collection Sheets

Code

Organism

Number of Organisms

Tolerance Rating

Total Tolerance Value (Organisms X Tolerance Rating)

FLW

Flatworm

6.0

AQW

Aquatic Worm

10.0

Lee

Leech

8.0

SBG

Sowbug

6.0

SCD

Scud

4.0

DGF

Dragonfly

4.5

DM1

Broadwing Damselfly

3.5

DM2

Narrow -wing

5.5

HLL

Hellgramites

3.5

MF1

Torpedo Mayfly

3.0

MF2

Swimming Mayfly

4.0

MF3

Clinging Mayfly

3.5

MF4

Crawling Mayfly

5.5

MF5

Burrowing Mayfly

5.0

MF6

Tw0-tailed Mayfly

3.0

STF

Stonefly

1.5

CF1

Hydropsychid Caddisfly

5.5

CF2

Non-hydropsychid Caddisfly

3.5

RFB

Riffle Beetle

5.0

WHB

Whirligig Beetle

4.0

WPB

Water Penny Beetle

4.0

CRF

Cranefly

4.0

BIM

Biting Midge

5.0

BLW

Blood Worm

11.0

MID

Midge

6.0

BLF

Black Fly

6.0

SNF

Snipe Fly

4.0

OTF

Other Fly

10.0

LHS

Left-handed Snail

9.0

RHS

Right-handed Snail

7.0

PLS

Planorbid Snail

6.5

LIM

Limpet

7.0

OPS

Operculate Snail

6.0

TOTALS

Sum of the Organisms Collected

Sum of the Tolerance Values

Codes for Illinois Riverwatch Data Tables are included to compare species collected and total tolerance values from their current and past databases.

 

Calculating Biological Integrity

The Macroinvertebrate Biotic Index

To calculate the site's biological integrity, multipy the number of organisms collected by the tolerance rating. Add all the numbers in the organism column and all the numbers in the tolerance value column. Divide the tolerance value with the organism total. This results in a water quality index based on biological specimens collected.

Water Quality Index

<6.0 = GOOD Water Quality

6.1-7.5= Fair Water Quality

7.6-8.9 =POOR Water Quality

> or = 9.0 = VERY POOR Water Quality

 

Percentage Composition of Indicator Organisms

Organism

Number

Divided by

Total Number of Organisms Collected

X 100=

Percent Composition of Indicator Species

Mayflies (MF#

Stoneflies (STF#)

Caddisflies (CF#)

BloodWorms (BLM#

Aquatic Worms (AQW#)

Return to Lab Activities