Macroinvertibrates

How to catch Macroinvertibrates

Tools:

Net
Squirt Bottle
Scrubber
Tray
Sorting Tray
Eye Dropper
Spoon
1. Choose one person for each job.
Two Net Holders__ ___________________
Squirt Bottle_______________
Rock Scrubber______________
Sorter_________________,_________________,__________________

2. Have the net people enter the stream in a shallow area down stream of a riffle. Open the net to its full extent and hold it like you are shoveling the water. Make sure the bottom of the net is on the bottom of the creek,

3. Next have the rock scrubber enter the creek upstream of the net person preferably in a riffle area. The rock scrubber needs to flip over rocks and scrub them, under the water, to free the Macroinvertibrates from the rocks. They may also use hands and feet to stir up the creek.

4. Once step three is complete the net people must carefully scoop the net up out of the water. As they do this they are being careful not to dump the Macroinvertibrates out of the net.

5. The net people and scrubber exit the stream. Holding the net vertically over the tray the squirt bottle person sprays the net to dislodge any critters that are on the net.

6. Now the sorters will use the eye dropper and spoon to catch the different critters found in the tray and place them in the sorting tray.

7. Finally your group needs to record how many Macroinvertibrates you have found.