Aquatic Insects of Intermittent Streams
Patina Mendez, Lecturer
Environmental Science, Policy and Management
Applications for Spring 2024 are closed for this project.
Intermittent streams are streams that only flow for part of the year, and often are dry throughout the summer. Aquatic insects rely on having access to water for at least some of their life cycle. In this project, we explore species diversity of adult aquatic insects during the dry months to understand their life history. We want to know which species are flying at different times of year. We'll be focusing on caddisflies and a few other aquatic insect species. We will also link these light-trap samples to in-stream populations. The current phase of the project will focus on the lab processing of the samples which requires us to sort the benthic macroinvertebrates from the collected material and and identify them using dichotomous keys. We'll also be doing some in-stream collections once it begins raining this fall.
Role: Sort and identify adult aquatic insects and other organisms from light trap samples. Work using a dissecting scope and use dichotomous and pictoral keys to identify organisms. Students will learn how to recognize freshwater aquatic invertebrates and identify organisms to the order and family level. Some fieldwork to make new collections.
Qualifications: Interest in entomology! This group works as a collaboration with undergraduates to learn together. Careful habits and attention to detail. Freshman or sophomores are encouraged to apply if they'd like the opportunity to work on the project for multiple semesters. You don't need a research question to join this project, questions will emerge as we learn about the species present.
Hours: 3-5 hrs
Off-Campus Research Site: Remote
Environmental Issues Biological & Health Sciences