Freshwater Ecology: Using Macroinvertebrate Communities to Examine Biodiversity and Stream Quality

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminology related to freshwater ecology and stream macroinvertebrate communities.

Macroinvertebrate

Aquatic organisms without a backbone that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye, used to assess stream health.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the number of different species.

Species Richness

The total number of different species in a given community.

Functional Diversity

The variety of functions or biological processes present in a particular ecosystem.

Ecosystem

A community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Biotic Index

A measure that assesses stream health based on the sensitivity of organisms to pollution.

% EPT

The ratio of the total number of EPT individuals (mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies) to the total number of individuals in a sample, indicating stream quality.

Detritus

Organic debris in the water, which serves as a food source for many aquatic organisms.

Functional Role

The ecological role that a species plays in its ecosystem, such as predator, shredder, or grazer.

Simpson Diversity Index

A mathematical formula used to measure species diversity that accounts for both species richness and the evenness of species distribution.