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2013 Spring | Natural Science & Restoration

How Benthic Macroinvertebrates Indicate Stream Health

Student(s):

Hannah Fotherby

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Jameal Samhouri, Ole Shelton

Partner(s):

  • NOAA

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Alaska Fisheries Science Center

Faculty advisor(s):

Julian Olden, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington

I worked in a lab at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, where I identified samples of benthic macroinvertebrates (insects living on the stream floor visible with the unaided eye) from six streams in the Puget Sound. I selected the streams based on geographic location and the amount of impervious surfaces in the watershed, a measure of urbanization. I was interested in comparing the various communities of invertebrates to determine if urbanization impacts the biodiversity and food webs of these streams.