Macroinvertebrates

Macroinvertebrates are a critical part of Hudson River ecology. They also show a small part of the river's food web. These macroinvertebrates are a key indicator that help determine the quality of water.

Quality Indicator Lesson

Grade Level: 6 - 12

Time: 30 - 45 minutes

Learning Standards: LS2.C, ESS3.C, MP.2, SL1, SL4, W2

Food Web Lesson

Grade Level: 3 - 12

Time: 30 - 45 minutes

Learning Standards: LS2.A, LS4.D, MP.4, SL1, SL4, W2

Looking for Macroinvertebrates on an ESTE field experience to Kowawese in New Windsor, NY. Tributaries that lead to the Hudson River carry many organisms

Materials Needed for Both Lessons

Washbasins/ white trays
Spoons
Bucket for sample
Aerator or bubbler
Collection net
Plastic Stirring Sticks
Magnifying Lens
Containers for small critters/ Petri Dish
Additional Items May Include: Slide Projector and Well Slide or Document Camera
Please be sure to sanitize all materials including nets and buckets to reduce the spread of unwanted organisms and materials from one location to another.

Quality Indicator Lesson - What we are Learning?

Macroinvertebrates come in three basic quality categories: not sensitive, somewhat sensitive, and very sensitive.

Not sensitive macroinvertebrates are found in poor quality water.
Somewhat sensitive macroinvertebrates are found fair quality water.
Very sensitive macroinvertebrates are found in good or high quality water.

How is it done?

Collect water for the lesson either beforehand or in a stream/tributary nearby to your school or site. Collect extra water at the site as well.(not sink or chlorinated water)
Give students a bin or tray, spoons, magnifiers and collecting containers to separate and identify macroinvertebrates found in the sample.

What to expect

Students will learn how to identify different organisms in an ecosystem. They will then be able to use this knowledge to help them determine the quality of water and construct an argument for what kind of water is in their own environment. Students will also get hands-on experience working with living things and learning about what all lives in the water around them.

Food Web Lesson - What we are Learning?

In this part of the lesson we are learning about how producers, consumers, and decomposers are all connected in a chain of energy.

How is it done?

Collect water for the lesson either beforehand or in a stream/tributary nearby to your school or site. Collect extra water at the site as well.(not sink or chlorinated water)
students need to identify the producers, consumers, and decomposers in their trays.
Once students are able to do this, they can they begin to piece together the parts of the aquatic food web.