Response: Adaptations of Stream Organisms

1) For the organism you investigated, what are 5 facts you learned and found interesting?

1. Water Pennies evolve to be Water Beetles. Who knew?

 

2.Water Pennies have their own Family in the world of Taxonomy, which means that scientists just threw all Water Penny Beetles in the same family. There are many genus's and species, but they are all Water Penny Beetles, so they just have a Family.

 

3. Water Pennies are nocturnal. I've never thought of nocturnal bugs, other than fireflies.

 

4. Water Pennies are detritivorus, which means that they eat dead things.

 

5. They are also carnivores- they eat periphyton (or small algae and even smaller organisms on rocks)

 

2)Choose three other organisms; for each, list two facts that you learned during the presentation.

1. Black Fly-

• There are over 250 species of Black Flies
• They are attracted to animals because of the carbon dioxide animals produce

2. Mayfly-

• There are over 200 species of Mayflies
• They use anywhere between 15 and 45 molts to get from the imago stage to the subimago stage

 

3. Crane Fly-

• Larval Crane flies are predatory
• They break down dead plant material

3)What did you enjoy about this project?

I really enjoyed collecting the stream organisms. I also enjoyed the opportunity to research more about the organisms I collected.

 

4)What was the most challenging aspect of this project? Do you feel you successfully overcame this challenge? If not, how would you overcome this challenge in the future?

The most challenging part of this project was presenting. I hate to present. I try to get out of my comfort zone more often and share with the class, but it just makes me nervous. I do not feel that I have successfully overcome this challenge. I stuttered and said 'um' a lot during my portion of the presentation. I think that this presentation went better than others that I have done, but I think I will continue to work on my stage fright and try to become a better public speaker.