HHL Loves Benthic Invertebrates!
HHL loves benthic invertebrates!
Much of the research in HHL explores the community of bottom-dwelling animals known as benthic macroinvertebrates, which often includes mussels. As a community, benthic invertebrates can holistically capture the health status of a freshwater ecosystem based on who is there, and where we find them. Let’s take a closer look at one of member of the community, the Hepta-genius Heptageniidae!
Heptageniidae is a family of invertebrates that belong to the order Ephemeroptera, which are more commonly known as mayflies.
They feed on algae on rocks and off the bottom of riverbeds as larvae, spending their free time atop rocks in flowing streams.
Unlike other Ephemeroptera, they have particularly strong “arms” and gills that act like suction cups, allowing them to hold onto their rocky perch even in fast flowing rivers. If that wasn’t enough, they are also very flat, making them aerodynamic in the water and earning them the name “Cookie Headed Mayfly”
Relevant publications:
Eveleens et al 2023 Facets
Artwork by Avery Ng
