Biology - Bioindicators

Question 1

What are indicators of clean, non-polluted water?

Answer 1

Mayflies
Stoneflies
Odonata

Question 2

Mayflies(Ephemeroptera)

Answer 2

These spend their lives as aquatic nymps before emerging as winged adults to mate and lay eggs, being sensitive.

Question 3

Why are mayfies good indicators?

Answer 3

Due to their unique respiratory system

Question 4

What is the respiratory structure of mayfly nymph?

Answer 4

Pair of external abdominal gills on the side of their abdomen with high vascularisation and thin-walled blood vessels.

Question 5

How is gas exchange facilitated in mayfly nymphs?

Answer 5

Oxygen-rich water flowing over the gills with high efficiency due to large surface area and thing walls

Question 6

How does respiratory structure change in mayflies when adult?

Answer 6

Develops into a tracheal system, replacing the gills.

Question 7

What does the presence of mayfly nymphs indicate?

Answer 7

Sufficient oxygen levels for survival

Question 8

What is the general life cycle of mayfies?

Answer 8

Spend 1-2 years as nymphs before emergence, being hemimetabolous, through egg, numph and adult stages

Question 9

How are the numpy and adult mayfly distinct?

Answer 9

The adult lives only a few hours to a few days, emerging from water to mate and lay eggs.

Question 10

What is the presence of adults a good indicator of?

Answer 10

Healthy riverse with Baetis the most tolerant genus

Question 11

Stoneflies

Answer 11

These are hemimetaoblous insects in the order Plecoptera, with hymphs having paired cerci projecting from tip of their abdomens

Question 12

How are stoneflies adapted to lotic habitats?

Answer 12

Have gills on the underside of their abdomen for O2 extraction with flattened body shapes to resist velocity changes

Question 13

Why are stoneflies used as bioindicators?

Answer 13

Adult emergence links to water quality: Cd, Pb and Zn accumulation leads to physiological and growth effects

Question 14

What is the life cycle of stoneflies?

Answer 14

Adults emerge from water to lay/eggs near water eggs, existing as larvae for 1-4 years, moulting up to 30 times

Question 15

What is the respiratory structure of stoneflies?

Answer 15

Gills adapated to efficient oxygen extraction on underside of abdomen with hairs increasing surface area

Question 16

Odonata

Answer 16

This includes Dragon and Damselflies

Question 17

What can Odonata be used for?

Answer 17

Indication of water quality and ecosystem quality, being important predators

Question 18

What is the lifestyle of odonata nymphs?

Answer 18

Breathing through gills, feeding on small invertebrates, moulting 8-18 time over 2-3 years

Question 19

What do adult Odonata predate?

Answer 19

Flies and mosquitoes

Question 20

What does Odonata sensitive derive from?

Answer 20

O2 level changes and labium feeding structure exposed to contaminants

Question 21

How do damsel differ to dragonflies?

Answer 21

Gills at base of abdomen, modified mouthparts

Question 22

What can be used to indicate Mild-pollution?

Answer 22

Trichoptera(Caddisflies)

Question 23

Why are trichoptera used as bioindicators?

Answer 23

Their larvae are filter feeders, susceptible to contaminants?

Question 24

What are the feeding behaviours of trichoptera?

Answer 24

Herbivores, carnivores and detritivores

Question 25

What is the life cycle of trichoptera?

Answer 25

Holometabolous, undergoing complete metamorphosis of four distinct life stages

Question 26

What is the tracheal structure of Trichoptera?

Answer 26

On the abdomen with no functional spiracles meaning clogging, being quicker in Philopotamus than in Hydropstche

Question 27

What species are used for moderate pollution?

Answer 27

Megaloptera(Alderflies)

Question 28

What is the respiratory structure of alderflies?

Answer 28

Abdominal gills being protected, gills being a series of filaments on side of abdomen with projections providing increased surface area for gas exchange

Question 29

How might moderate pollution levels be indicated?

Answer 29

Developmental growth in larvae, reduced size and stunted growth

Question 30

Biochemically how can Megaloptera indicate pollution?

Answer 30

Increased Glutathione-S-transferse

Question 31

Glutathione-S-Transferase

Answer 31

These are enzymes involved in detoxifcaiton of xenobiotics and other harmful compounds

Question 32

What is used for severe pollution indicatio?

Answer 32

Diptera

Question 33

Dipyera

Answer 33

These are true flies being one of the largest orders with only on pair of wings lacking thoracic legs with maggot larvae and functional spiracles and high pollution tolerance

Question 34

Where do Diptera larvae live?

Answer 34

Sediments or submerge vegeation in freshwater ecosystems

Question 35

What do Diptera larvae feed on?

Answer 35

Organic matter, bacteria and algae

Question 36

What diptera classes are used for severe polluiton?

Answer 36

Tipullidae
Chironomidae
Simuliidae

Question 37

Tipulidae(Crane Flies)

Answer 37

These have thick maggot larvae being brownish with functional spiracles

Question 38

Chironmidae

Answer 38

Non-biting midges being collector-gatherers, feeding on detritus and bacteria tolerating low O2 conditions

Question 39

Simuliidae

Answer 39

These are black flies with abdominal swelling being collector-filterers

Question 40

Biological Monitoring Working Party

Answer 40

This is a method for assessing water quality using freshwater macroinvertebrates as bioindicators to evalute pollution impacts on freshwater ecosystems

Question 41

what is the BMWP based on?

Answer 41

Different species have different tolerances where each is given a relative socre

Question 42

What is the ranking system of the BMWP?

Answer 42

0-10, 10 being high pollution tolerance.

Question 43

What is the Average Score Per Taxon?

Answer 43

This is hwere the BMWP is divided by number of families presnet