Macroinvertebrates Virtual Lab

Ahoy matey! You have been hired as the token water quality specialist for this local fishing town. You will sample the water quality here over the span of four decades to determine if the water quality is increasing or decreasing over time. After collecting your four decades worth of samples, you will present an infographic to the town hall and answer questions to discuss your findings with the villagers.

This activity simulates the collection of macroinvertebrates in waterways. To collect the macroinvertebrates, click the icon on each page. Macroinvertebrates can be used to perform a water quality analysis using the biotic index. Below is a key that identifies each macroinvertebrate as pollution intolerant, somewhat intolerant, somewhat tolerant, or pollution tolerant. The following pages represent a river ecosystem over four decades. After each sample, record the water quality in the provided table.

Group 1: Pollution Intolerant

Group 3: Somewhat Pollution Tolerant

Group 2: Somewhat Pollution Intolerant

Group 4: Pollution Tolerant

+ info

The fishing village is still small, with only a few people settling here per year. There are few boats that come through the canal, save for some fishermans' canoes.

Date: May 15, 1656

1. Drag a check next to each macroinvertebrate group present in your sample.
2. Calculate the group scores using the multipliers provided below.
3. Total all of the group scores to find your total score for the water quality of your stream.

1

7

2

4

2

9

5

17

8

1

6

3

2

2

2

2

20

19

18

16

10

11

12

13

14

15

4

4

4

4

0

+ info

The village has grown significantly in the past decade. Many homes and crop plots have been established, and larger boats come through the canal more often.

Date: May 17, 1667

1. Drag a check next to each macroinvertebrate group present in your sample.
2. Calculate the group scores using the multipliers provided below.
3. Total all of the group scores to find your total score for the water quality of your stream.

1

7

2

4

2

9

5

17

8

1

6

3

2

2

2

2

20

19

18

16

10

11

12

13

14

15

4

4

4

4

0

+ info

Many smaller communities within the town have taken up farming on shared plots during the winter to compensate for smaller fishing loads. The town has opened the canal to passing mercenaries and travellers to trade goods.

Date: May 20, 1674

1. Drag a check next to each macroinvertebrate group present in your sample.
2. Calculate the group scores using the multipliers provided below.
3. Total all of the group scores to find your total score for the water quality of your stream.

1

7

2

4

2

9

5

17

8

1

6

3

2

2

2

2

20

19

18

16

10

11

12

13

14

15

4

4

4

4

0

+ info

The fishing village now thrives with a swelling population of farmers and fisherman. The town has become wealthy by trading and selling crops year round and fish in the summer. Merchants and sailors use the canal often for travel through the town.

Date: May 17, 1686

1. Drag a check next to each macroinvertebrate group present in your sample.
2. Calculate the group scores using the multipliers provided below.
3. Total all of the group scores to find your total score for the water quality of your stream.

1

7

2

4

2

9

5

17

8

1

6

3

2

2

2

2

20

19

18

16

10

11

12

13

14

15

4

4

4

4

0

Has the quality of the water in the canal increased or descreased? Enter you answer on the following page by stating "increased" or "decreased" in the password bar. Then, view the graph and answer the villagers' questions about the water quality. Once you have answered their questions, present them with an infographic describing your results.

Water Quality Index of Village from 1656-1686

Water Quality Assessment Chart:17-22 Good Water Quality11-16 Fair Water Quality< 10 Poor Water Quality

Now you must create an infographic to help the villagers visualize why the water quality declined. The infographic must include information from the "info" buttons at the bottom of your sample-taking slides. It also must correctly state and explain the water quality of each decade and the suspected reasons for its decline over time. Use the canva link below to create your infographic. You may use a template, but it must look visually different from the template (i.e. different color pallet, different emoticons, different fonts, etc.)https://www.canva.com/templates/?query=infographic