Lucas Le Tarte

Macroinvertebrates, particularly insects, that live in stream ecosystems can be a quick, cost effective indicator of changes in water quality of streams and the lakes they flow into or out of. Aquatic insects are typically abundant in streams, are sensitive to environmental impacts, and are relatively immobile, leaving them susceptible to environmental perturbations such as pollution or physical alterations to streams. Other insects are tolerant of poor long-term water quality, so evaluating the composition of aquatic insect communities as a whole provides insight into the ecosystem. For this experiment, two quantitative samples were taken at the outflow stream of East Caroga Lake in Fulton County to evaluate the insect community in this stream. Analysis of the insect community may offer some insights about the quality of water leaving East Caroga Lake, and the waters of East Caroga itself. This community analysis, along with other data collected in the lake, will be used for lake management planning. These data can also be used as a baseline to understand whether the invertebrate community changes over time as a result of management actions or other anthropogenic causes.