High schoolers survey and describe a stream ecosystem. They sample the benthic macroinvertebrate populations of a given stream and determine community structure through the use of the Chandler Index and a species diversity index.

In this lesson, learners properly use a taxonomic key to identify benthic organisms. Students go onto collect aquatic macroinvertabrate and then ennumerate all organisms colelcted. The culminating activity is the Project Watershed...

Students study outside sources of energy that are associated with the headwater streams in northern Michigan. They study how leaf fall is an important food source for macroinvertebrates and how photosynthesis drives the production of...

Young scholars work together to examine water quality. They identify the indicators of water quality and complete an experiment. They discuss their results.