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Organisms that are large (macro) enough to be seen with the naked eye and lack a backbone (insects in their larval or nymph form, crayfish, clams, snails, and worms).

Most live most of their life cycle attached to submerged rocks, logs, and vegetation.

Macroinvertebrates - indicators of Topolniţa River water quality

Collecting

macroinvertebrates

What are the macroinvertebrates ?

References

1. Luiza Florea, Hidrobiologie, Caiet de laborator, Universitatea "Dunărea de Jos" Galati, 2006

2. http://water.epa.gov/

The locations for collecting samples

Macroinvertebrates as bioindicators

1. Spend up to one year in

the stream.

2. Have little mobility

3. They are affected by the

physical, chemical, and biological

conditions of the stream.

4. They are relatively easy

to sample and identify.

Field work

The river Topolniţa

  • direct tributary of the Danube
  • 44 km length
  • flows into the Danube at east of Drobeta Turnu - Severin

Group 1 - pollution sensitive

(require higher DO, neutral pH, cold water)

The Topolniţa Cave

Ex. mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies

  • 11 km length
  • the second largest in the country

the 17th largest in the world

Identified macroinvertebrates

speological reserve

Mayfly Nymph

Ecdyonurus sp.

Ephemeroptera

Common pond skater Common water strider

Categories

of

Stream

Macroinvertebrates

Gerris lacustris

Hemiptera

Ecdyonurus is a genus of mayfly, aquatic insects whose immature stage (called "nymph") usually lasts one year in fresh water. The adults are short-lived, from a few minutes to a few days.

Is declared a natural monument

Group 2 – somewhat pollution

tolerant

They have six legs; the first pair is short and stubby while the other two pairs are thin and elongated which are used for moving over the water surface which we call "walking on water".

Stonefly nymph

Perla cephalotes

Plecoptera

Water strider

Argyroneta aquatica

Gerridae

All species of Plecoptera are intolerant of water pollution, and their presence in a stream is an indicator of good water quality.

Ex. scuds, dragonflies, damselflies

It is the only spider known to spend its whole life under water. It breathes air, which it traps in a bubble held by hairs on its abdomen and legs. This gives it a silvery appearance.

Damselfly Nymph

Calopteryx

Zygoptera

Odonata

Calopteryx is a genus of large damselflies belonging to the family Calopterygidae.

Fresh water amphipod crustacean

Conclusions

Gammarus pulex (sp.)

Amphipoda

Stone crayfish

Austropotamobius torrentium

Astacidae

Adult males may reach a total length of 21 mm,

while females only grow to 14 mm

Drobeta Turnu-Severin

Schitul Topolniţei

Is an European species of freshwater crayfish in the family Astacidae

The preferred habitat is cold, fast-flowing streams. It digs burrows in the

banks and hides under submerged roots or rocks, emerging at night to feed.

Healthy stream

We identified several problems related to water pollution:

- the water is turbid, full of sand (due to a sandy bottom)

- lack of vegetation on the river banks.

- sewage smell (we are near a former city garbage dump).

- the presence of litter, plastic bottles, plastic bags, tires and other garbages on the stream bank or in the river

- the presence of the ballast station, causing changes in landforms, the accumulation of waste, disturbance of ecosystems.

Macroinvertebrates identified :

1. Dominant organisms

Mayfly Nymph

Stonefly Nymph

2. Rare

Fresh water amphipod

Stone crayfish

Common pond skater

Group 3 - Pollution tolerant

(can tolerate low oxygen,

lower/higher pH, warmer water)

Macroinvertebrates identified :

Rare organisms

Mayfly Nymph

Damselfly Nymph

Water spider

Common pond skater

Stone crayfish

Ex. Water Striders, aquatic worms, midge larva

Unhealthy stream

From Schitul Topolnitei to Drobeta Turnu-Severin, the river Topolnita passes through 4 villages: Schitul de Jos, Balotesti, Izvorul Barzii, Rascolesti and in almost 20 km the quality of water is changed from an "excellent water" to a "polluted water", due to the presence of human and to the negligence, indifference towards the environment.

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