Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021 - 46

photos-Connie Bruner

GOVERNOR'S
YOUTH COUNCIL

for Hunting, Fishing,
and Conservation
by Elizabeth Bruner
Like most of you, I have a passion and love for nature. As a
member of the Pennsylvania Governor's Youth Council for
Hunting, Fishing, and Conservation, I am able to enrich
my passion for nature, as well as develop skills, ideas, and
projects to help protect, conserve, enhance, and experience
Pennsylvania's natural resources. As a council member, one of
my goals is to engage younger generations in conservation and
preservation of the Commonwealth. I am working to achieve
this goal by teaching others about macroinvertebrates, stream
ecology, and stream health.
I have always loved the water. Eager to learn more about
Pennsylvania's 86,000 miles of waterways and the wildlife that
inhabits these waterways, I enrolled in the Wildlife Leadership
Academy (WLA). Due to COVID-19, I virtually attended
four WLA field schools. Two of these schools focused on fish.
The " Bass School " focused on the black bass species, and the
" Brookies School " focused on our state fish, the Brook Trout.
My favorite activity at the WLA was learning about
macroinvertebrates and how these aquatic creatures are
an indicator species to determine stream health. Prior to
the WLA, I learned about macroinvertebrates through my
4-H outdoor club and the Three Rivers of Steel Educational
Floating Center.
The WLA increased my interest in and knowledge about
these marvelous creatures. Macroinvertebrates live the first
few years of life in water. During the larval or nymph stage,

Macroinvertebrates are classified into three categories: pollution
tolerant, intermediate, and pollution intolerant.

46

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2021	

Elizabeth Bruner

macroinvertebrates are normally found in riffles or under
submerged rocks.
Macroinvertebrates are important for many reasons. First,
macroinvertebrates are a major part of the food web. Many
fish species use these critters as a food source. Secondly,
macroinvertebrates are a biomonitoring species, meaning you
can monitor change in stream ecosystems by looking at the
types of macroinvertebrates that currently live or previously
lived in that stream.
Macroinvertebrates are also important, because these
aquatic animals provide a fun, hands-on way to educate
the public about water conservation. Macroinvertebrates
are classified into three categories: pollution tolerant,
intermediate, and pollution intolerant. Pollution tolerant
macroinvertebrates, such as a midge pupa, can withstand
highly polluted waters. A common misconception is that
pollution tolerant macroinvertebrates are only found
in polluted waters. This is not the case. Midges can
survive in any type of water, but midges may be the only
macroinvertebrates found in polluted waters. Intermediate
macroinvertebrates, like damselfly larva, can live in moderate
amounts of pollution. Pollution intolerant species, like a
mayfly, are only found in clean, healthy waters.
Learning more about macroinvertebrates as indicators of
healthy water quality, I became interested in teaching others
about macroinvertebrates and pollution, as well as getting
more youth involved in the wonderful world of conservation.
It is important to share what we know, whether it is about
macroinvertebrates, birds, mammals, or reptiles. By teaching
and motivating others to take action, we are doing our part
in helping to conserve and protect the natural places and
animals we all love. If we all give a little and work together, a
huge difference can and will be made.
www.fishandboat.com
http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2021

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