Aquatic macroinvertebrates are such an interesting way to bring a
hands-on inquiry-based activity into your classroom by letting your
student gain an insight into concepts and processes that occur within
the mysterious world of a stream ecosystem.
Nearly every aspect of a stream’s ecosystem is influenced by water
flowing downstream. The flow of a stream transports organic matter,
which is eaten by aquatic organisms (Merritt and Cummins 1996).
Faster flowing parts of a stream carry organic matter (e.g., leaves,
debris) to slower moving parts, where it settles to the bottom.
Changes to the physical bottom of a stream can lead to fewer
macroinvertebrates adapted to specific habitats (Merritt and Cummins
1996). This loss of habitat and increased sedimentation in a stream
could ultimately change the aquatic macroinvertebrate community (Roth,
Allan, and Erickson 1996).
In this project, with partnership with Coopersville Middle School,
students relate the distribution of aquatic organisms to the physical,
chemical, and biological relationships in a stream. Based on these
distributions, they make inferences about the ecosystem attributes and
water quality of a stream and predict how human-induced changes, such
as construction projects, or natural changes, such as drought, could
affect organisms in the stream.
Partners:
Allegheny College, Grand Valley State University, Michigan
Department of the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
Teachers: Keith Piccard, 6th grade, Science
Students: 154
Funder: GVSU College of Education, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Aquatic macroinvertebrates are such an interesting way to bring a
hands-on inquiry-based activity into your classroom by letting your
student gain an insight into concepts and processes that occur within
the mysterious world of a stream ecosystem.
Nearly every aspect of a stream’s ecosystem is influenced by water
flowing downstream. The flow of a stream transports organic matter,
which is eaten by aquatic organisms (Merritt and Cummins 1996).
Faster flowing parts of a stream carry organic matter (e.g., leaves,
debris) to slower moving parts, where it settles to the bottom.
Changes to the physical bottom of a stream can lead to fewer
macroinvertebrates adapted to specific habitats (Merritt and Cummins
1996). This loss of habitat and increased sedimentation in a stream
could ultimately change the aquatic macroinvertebrate community (Roth,
Allan, and Erickson 1996).
In this project, with partnership with Coopersville Middle School,
students relate the distribution of aquatic organisms to the physical,
chemical, and biological relationships in a stream. Based on these
distributions, they make inferences about the ecosystem attributes and
water quality of a stream and predict how human-induced changes, such
as construction projects, or natural changes, such as drought, could
affect organisms in the stream.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
Each year I look to enlighten more of the community to the unique
biodiversity that is found in the often unexplored streams and
drainage ditches of Allendale, MI and how what happens upstream does
directly/indirectly affects the water downstream and eventually the
waters within our Great Lakes Drainage Basin.
Partners:
Grand Valley State University, Allegheny College, Bizstream, Michigan
Department of the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Teachers:
Keith Piccard, 6th Grade Science; Matt Mullen, 6th Grade Science
Aquatic macroinvertebrates are such an interesting way to bring a
hands-on inquiry-based activity into your classroom by letting your
student gain an insight into concepts and processes that occur within
the mysterious world of a stream ecosystem.
Nearly every aspect of a stream’s ecosystem is influenced by water
flowing downstream. The flow of a stream transports organic matter,
which is eaten by aquatic organisms (Merritt and Cummins 1996).
Faster flowing parts of a stream carry organic matter (e.g., leaves,
debris) to slower moving parts, where it settles to the bottom.
Changes to the physical bottom of a stream can lead to fewer
macroinvertebrates adapted to specific habitats (Merritt and Cummins
1996). This loss of habitat and increased sedimentation in a stream
could ultimately change the aquatic macroinvertebrate community (Roth,
Allan, and Erickson 1996).
In this project, students will gather baseline data on the abundance
and diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates and ecological health of
the Sevey Drain prior to the introduction of Salmon in the Classroom.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
I look to enlighten more of the community to the unique biodiversity
that is found in the often unexplored streams and drainage ditches of
Allendale, MI.
Partners:
Allegheny College; Grand Valley State University Biology
Department; Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes, and
Energy; Bizstream
