Aquatic invertebrates

by Alison Pouliot

Invertebrates are animals without backbones or a bony skeleton. Due to their small size and cryptic habits they are often overlooked, despite the fact that they represent over 95% of the world’s species. Aquatic invertebrates play an important role in the processes and functioning of freshwater ecosystems and many are recognised as important environmental indicators.

Stonefly nymph

Stonefly nymph (Photo by Alison Pouliot)

The species below were surveyed from various waterways within the Wombat Forest including the upper reaches of the Werribee, Lerderderg, Moorabool, Loddon and Coliban Rivers including some unnamed tributaries; Nolans, Kangaroo, Wallaby, Leitches, Cockatoo and Coopers Creeks; Charlesford Dam; Wombat and Bullarto Reservoirs, Lakes Jubilee and Daylesford between 2009-2011.

Plecoptera (stoneflies)

Austroperlidae

Gripopterygidae

Notonemouridae

Ephemeroptera (mayflies)

Baetidae

Caenidae

Leptophlebiidae

Mayfly nymph

Mayfly nymph (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

Oligoneuriidae

Oniscigastridae

Siphlonuridae

Trichoptera (caddisflies)

Caddisfly cases

Caddisfly cases (Photo by Alison Pouliot)

Calocidae

Ecnomidae

Glossosomatidae

Helicophidae

Helicopsychidae

Caddisfly nymph

Caddisfly nymph (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

Hydrobiosidae

Hydropsychidae

Hydroptilidae

Leptoceridae

Philopotamidae

Philoreithridae

Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)

Damselfly exuvia

Damselfly exuvia (Photo by Alison Pouliot)

Aeshnidae

Austropetaliidae

Coenagrionidae

Gomphidae

Hemicordulidae

Lestidae

Isostictidae

Cordulephyidae

Damselfly nymph

Damselfly nymph (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

Austrocordulidae

Coleoptera

Dytiscidae

Sideswimmer

Sideswimmer (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

Elmidae (riffle beetles)

Haliplidae

Hydrophilidae

Gyrinidae (whirligig beetles)

Psephenidae

Scirtidae

Hemiptera (true bugs)

Dragonfly metamorphosing

Dragonfly metamorphosing (Photo by Alison Pouliot)

Corixidae (water boatmen)

Notonectidae

Gerridae (water striders)

Naucoridae

Veliidae

Mesoveliidae

Pleidae

Hydrometridae

Belostomatidae

Diptera (true flies)

Chironomidae (midge larvae)

Tipulidae (crane fly larvae)

Simuliidae (blackfly larvae)

Lepidoptera (aquatic caterpillars)

Hydracarina (water mites)

Bivalvia (mussels)

Oligochaeta (aquatic worms)

Freshwater mussels

Freshwater mussels (Photo by Alison Pouliot)

Platyhelminthes (flatworms)

Gastropoda

Lymnaeidae

Ancylidae

Freshwater shrimp

Freshwater shrimp (Photo by Miriam Rotstein)

Hirudinea (leeches)

Crustacea

Decapoda (yabbies)

Parastacidae