Page 3 - 7047 - Healthy Bugs Booklet

TEN INDICATORS OF WATERSHED HEALTH

1 mayflies stoneflies 4 intolerant clingers long lived % tolerant 9 10
5
7
6
3
2
8
total taxa caddisflies predators dominant

Quality of Life Where We Live species

Vibrant human communities depend young insect like a sleeping bag. The
on diversity, that is, grocers, nurses, hard case makes them less tasty to Meet
teachers, farmers, and business predators.
owners. A county of people who were
all fire fighters would not support a Some caddisflies don’t have cases. Your
healthy economy! In the same way, These are the predators that eat
stream communities depend on other invertebrates. When predators
diversity to live and thrive. are present, they indicate a healthy
ecosystem because they depend on Neighbors
A typical healthy stream in Kitsap a mix of other animals who eat algae,
County will yield more than 40 catch food in nets, and shred leaves.
unique species of invertebrates from
a standard sample net. Many of these We can also learn how healthy a
creatures will be caddisflies who watershed is by who isn’t in the
look like fat caterpillars but who sample. The sensitive species are
distinguish themselves by creating the first to disappear. When only
beautiful houses out of fir needles, a few hardy species are found, the
pebbles, sand, and twigs. The carefully stream may need to be evaluated for
constructed case surrounds the restoration.

Healthy stream communities thrive with a diversity of stream bugs Healthy human communities thrive with a diversity of people and professions

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