Tuesday Oct 11th
07:30 PM
Benthic macroinvertebrates serve as biological indicators of water quality and aquatic habitat health
MCZ 101, 26 Oxford Street, Harvard University
Katie Friedman and Elisabeth Cianciola
Charles River Watershed Association
**We will be meeting for dinner at Changsho, 1712 Mass Ave.**
Biological monitoring uses the biological condition of a reach in a stream as an indicator of the habitat and ecological health of a waterway. Benthic macroinvertebrates are effective for water quality biomonitoring, as they have limited ability to relocate out of polluted areas, have appropriate life-cycles to reflect impacts, and their relationship with physical water conditions is well established. Direct studies of physical and chemical properties provide an accurate picture of very specific traits of an aquatic system, but are highly influenced by the conditions at the time of sample collection. Macroinvertebrates, on the other hand, act as a general indicator of water quality, as certain groups are capable of tolerating higher loads of pollutants than others. Using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Stream Biotic Index, the Charles River Watershed Association coordinates biological monitoring through citizen science research in tributaries of the Charles River.
The talk is free and open to the public. The meeting is readily accessible via public transportation. Parking is available in the Oxford Street Garage with advance arrangement, as described here, or (usually but not always) at spaces on nearby streets. Everyone is also welcome to join us for dinner before the talk (beginning at 5:45 PM) at the Changsho, 1712 Mass Ave, Cambridge.
CEC meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month from October through May. The evening schedule typically includes an informal dinner (5:45 to 7:15 PM) followed by our formal meeting (7:30 – 9:00 PM). The latter begins with club business and is followed by a 50 minute entomology related presentation. Membership is open to amateur and professional entomologists.
