Ecological Health & Function
CATEGORY: Biotic Community
Macroinvertebrates Indicator
Macroinvertebrates score by Riverscape
Why assess macroinvertebrates?
Benthic macroinvertebrates, or bottom-dwelling aquatic insects, thrive in the interstitial spaces between the gravel, cobble, and rocks along the bottom of the river. Pristine, highly oxygenated, coldwater rivers typically have a combination of Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies), collectively known as the EPT species. The EPT species are environmentally-sensitive aquatic insects that are routinely used in monitoring of water quality. A high percentage of these species compared to other, more pollution-tolerant species, is a great indicator of good water quality. Learn more about how benthic macroinvertebrates can be used in water quality assessments at the UNH Center for Freshwater Biology website.