Biological Indicators

Many types of organisms can be used for biomonitoring including invertebrates, macrophytes, algae, zooplankton and fish. These organisms are sensitive to a variety of disturbances and are recognized as environmental indicators. Currently, CABIN uses benthic invertebrate communities to assess aquatic ecosystem health.

Benthic invertebrates or, bottom dwelling animals without backbones, live in all freshwater ecosystems. This group includes the larval stages of many insects such as mayflies, dragonflies, mosquitoes as well as other animals such as worms and mites.

Many biomonitoring programs, including CABIN use benthic invertebrates to evaluate aquatic conditions.

Advantages of using benthic invertebrates:

• Reflect site-specific impacts
• Reflect cumulative impacts
• Respond to a wide range of stressors
• Can be collected everywhere
• Key part of food web
• Protocols are well developed