 |
The Secret Life of
Bugs at Narbeck
|
|
Clicking on the bug above will always return you to our Home Page |
The
Friends of Narbeck Sanctuary is sponsoring research into a new and
exciting science. The relationship between wetland water
quality and the bugs that live in those wetlands has not been
established. Sara and Tom Noland
have volunteered their expertise in this area to develop the protocol to
undertake the research at Narbeck. |
|
The Macroinvertebrate Sampling at Narbeck
|
The "benthic
macroinvertebrate" sampling (benthic: of, relating to, or
occurring at the bottom of a body of water) that Sara and Tom have started
at Narbeck will be performed every quarter to see how the populations vary
in composition and size throughout the seasons. In
setting up the bug sampling program, they have relied as much as possible
on standard and accepted sampling methods. They have adapted those methods
to the particular conditions at Narbeck wetland and to the skills and time
commitment available from our volunteers.
Many creatures must be identified based on very small body parts such as hairs on antennae or the shape of gills—requiring examination of each specimen under a magnifying scope to compare its characteristics to those listed in reference textbooks. After the specimens are identified, they are placed into glass vials with labels showing their family name and the date and location where they were obtained. In this way, we are creating a library of specimens that people will be able to use in the future to see if the macroinvertebrates at Narbeck wetland are changing over time. To get the bugs to the lab in the first stages of the program, they are preserved in alcohol. This unfortunately kills everything in the sample. Though all life is sacred, these early identifications are crucial to the success of the program. Once more familiarity with the kinds of macroinvertebrates that live at Narbeck wetland is established, most critters will be identifiable in the field, and then released alive back to the wetland. Until then, all our volunteers will continue to take only enough samples to create a scientific sampling program that will stand the test of time. Preserved specimens are treated with respect so that others will be able to learn from them in the future. The Spring sampling for 2002 was performed on April 29th. As these pages are being added to our web site, the Summer 2002 sampling is being held on July 27th. The intent of this research is not only to further the science, but to involve area middle schools in the process. We will be asking for volunteers in the future to help out with samplings, as helpers, observers and monitors when school kids are involved. Also at the time of the bug samplings, water quality samples are taken as well, so this will be another area where volunteers can help. In the linked pages within this section of our site, you are invited to enter into the watery world of Narbeck and its smallest, barely visible inhabitants -- they truly compose the microscopic foundation of life in the wetland. All subsequent sampling activity will be chronicled in these pages, so come back often!
Birds like to look for bugs, too! A redwinged
blackbird hunts for a bite near Station 1. |
|
|
