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Bioindicator

Bioindicators are living things that are sensitive to changes in their environment and can indicate the overall health of an ecosystem. Scientists study changes in animal and plant bioindicator populations to determine if an environment is healthy. Macroinvertebrates make good bioindicators because they are sensitive to pollution and cannot easily escape environmental changes. The presence of very sensitive macroinvertebrate groups like stoneflies and mayflies indicates a healthy aquatic ecosystem, while more tolerant groups like midges and leeches suggest the ecosystem is harmed. In addition to macroinvertebrates, other organisms like plants, fish, and birds can serve as bioindicators of water quality.

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182 views10 pages

Bioindicator

Bioindicators are living things that are sensitive to changes in their environment and can indicate the overall health of an ecosystem. Scientists study changes in animal and plant bioindicator populations to determine if an environment is healthy. Macroinvertebrates make good bioindicators because they are sensitive to pollution and cannot easily escape environmental changes. The presence of very sensitive macroinvertebrate groups like stoneflies and mayflies indicates a healthy aquatic ecosystem, while more tolerant groups like midges and leeches suggest the ecosystem is harmed. In addition to macroinvertebrates, other organisms like plants, fish, and birds can serve as bioindicators of water quality.

Uploaded by

yenny sri margianti
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

BIOINDICATORS

WHAT ARE BIOINDICATORS?


• Living things sensitive
to changes in their
environment.
• They indicate or show
how changes are
taking place and are
used to monitor the
overall health of an
ecosystem.
(bio means life)
HOW ARE THEY USED?
• Different
bioindicators are
sensitive to different
types of changes.
• Scientists study
changes in the
populations of animal
and plant
bioindicators to see if
an environment is
healthy.
Macroinvertebrates
• Macroinvertebrates are
aquatic organisms that are
quite small but can be seen
with the naked eye
• This diverse group of
organisms such as worms,
insects, and crustaceans
play key roles in aquatic
ecosystems: predators,
filter feeders, scrapers,
shredders, and collectors.
(macro = big
invertebrate = no
backbone)
Macroinvertebrates
• Macroinvertebrates are
often used as bioindicators
because:
They are very sensitive to
pollution, excess nutrients,
increased turbidity, chlorine,
etc.
They do not easily escape the
changes
They can be collected very
quickly and easily
Macroinvertebrates
• A variety of environmental
stressors can impact
macroinvertebrate
populations:
• Sewage and fertilizers can cause
eutrophication consuming their
oxygen
• Excess sediment from
construction smothers where
they live killing them off
• Pollution changes pH and
temperature of their water
Some examples of macroinvertebrates and what it might
mean in terms of health of an aquatic ecosystem…

Group A: Very sensitive to Environmental Stresses


(Healthy ecosystem)
Stoneflies Mayflies Caddisflies Dobsonflies Water penny
Group B: Somewhat sensitive to Environmental Stresses
(Ecosystem has some pollutants/stressors…monitor frequently)
Dragonflies Craneflies Damselflies Crayfish Scuds
Group C: Tolerant to Environmental Stresses
(Ecosystem is in harm/not healthy…needs intervention)
Midges Leeches Snails Pouch Snails Blackfly larva
Bioindicators
• Even though macro-invertebrates
are most commonly used, other
bioindicators such as large
varieties of plants, fish, ducks,
crabs, frogs, birds and much more
can be used to monitor water
systems. If the animals aren’t
around or are born with
mutations…the water has your
reason why!!
[Link]

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