• Image of visitor center and totem poles

    Sitka

    National Historical Park Alaska

Stream Ecology - The Other Players

Photogragh of midges

Midges in the larva stage.

True Flies (Diptera)

Midges (Chironomidae): mostly collector-gatherers. A very diverse group found in most aquatic habitats.

 
Illustration of blackfly larvae and adult

Blackflies in the adult and larvae life stages.

Blackflies (Simuliidae)

Filter-collectors. Larval blackflies have fans that they extend into the stream current. These fans can filter out particles as fine bacteria.

 
Illustration of larva and adult stages of a cranefly

Crane Flies in the larva and adult stages.

Crane Flies (Tipulidae)

Large shredders of leaf litter.

 
Illustrations of invertebrate groups

Flatworms (Turbellaria): Predators and collector-gatherers. They are sometime found on dead salmon.

Water Mites (Hydracarina): These are predators or parasites depending on life stage.

Aquatic Earthworms (Oligochaeta): Collector-gatherers.

 
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Did You Know?

Photograph of a brown bear

Brown and grizzly bears are classified as the same species.  Brown bears found inland and in northern habitats are often called “grizzlies” while “brown bear” is used to refer to animals found in coastal areas.