Water Quality

Question 1

Why are gilled invertebrates more sensitive to water quality?

Answer 1

Organic solids block gills

Question 2

Macroinvertebrate feeding groups

Shredders

Answer 2

Feed on coarse particulate organic matter
Mainly snails and crustaceans
Dominate in 1st order steams

Question 3

Macroinvertebrate feeding groups

Collectors

Answer 3

Feed on fine particulate organic matter
Filter feeders
Microbes and zooplankton
First order steams

Question 4

Macroinvertebrate feeding groups

Scrapers

Answer 4

Scrape periphyton off surfaces

Mostly snails

Question 5

Macroinvertebrate feeding groups

Predators

Answer 5

Feed on other macroinvertebrates
Ambush tactics
Suspended or attached prey

Question 6

What is the river continuum concept?

Answer 6

Size of a river depends on the number of streams flowing into it
First order streams flow into second order streams which flow into third order streams etc.

Question 7

What is the water framework directive

Answer 7

Made sure EU was assessing rivers in the same way

Fines countries that do not achieve good status by 2015