Macroinvertebrate Ecology and Identification FIS2221
Course Dates: July 26-30, 2010
Course Location: National Conservation Training Center
College Credit: 2 semester hours
Course Length: 5 days/36 hours
Instructors: Dr. J. Reese Voshell, Jr. (author of A Guide to Common
Freshwater Invertebrates of North America) & Mr. Stephen Hiner, M.S.
Course Description: Macroinvertebrates are important in the structure and
function of freshwater ecosystems. As such, they often are studied in
programs involving natural resources, such as pollution biomonitoring and
fisheries management. In this course, participants will learn about the
ecology and identification of freshwater macroinvertebrates through a
combination of presentations and hands-on field and laboratory
investigations. The emphasis will be on aquatic insects, but other major
groups of invertebrates will be covered in less detail, including
flatworms, worms, leeches, snails, mussels, crustaceans, and water mites.
The goal is to develop participant knowledge of macroinvertebrate ecology
and equip participants with skills in identification and sampling
techniques. Each day, ecological features of organisms will be discussed
in the morning followed by afternoon collecting exercises in local streams
and ponds. Collected specimens will be brought back to the lab and
identified to family level (some to genus level). Each participant will
form an individual reference collection for her or his continued use after
course completion.
Course Objectives:
· Describe common life history strategies of macroinvertebrate taxa;
· Describe the diverse habits and trophic relationships of
macroinvertebrates;
· Relate the distribution of macroinvertebrates to the physical and
chemical features of their habitats;
· Use proper collecting, labeling, and preservation techniques; and
· Correctly identify unknown specimens by following methods
demonstrated in the course.
Who Should Attend: Federal, state, county and municipal agencies, private
consulting firms, citizen volunteers, neighborhood associations,
environmental organizations, and teachers, performing rapid stream and
watershed assessments or monitoring programs; with a desire to improve
their taxonomy skills.
Cost: There is no tuition fee for FWS personnel. Tuition is $950 for
Non-FWS participants.
How to apply: To register, visit our website at http://training.fws.gov/
click Course Catalog, then select *Log In to DOI LEARN - for DOI
employees, contractors and volunteers with previously established accounts
or * Search DOI LEARN as a guest – for Non-DOI applicants. You will have
the opportunity to submit your application once you locate the class you
want to take. If you have questions, the Registrar may be contacted at
(304) 876-7692.
Questions: Please contact Gary L. Schetrompf, [email protected] ,
NCTC Conservation Science and Policy Branch, at 304/876-7255 or SoLan
Ching, [email protected] , NCTC Conservation Science and Policy Branch,
at 304/876-7771.
