Abstract
Macroinvertebrates are sensitive to environmental conditions, giving them the ability to be utilized in studies indicating the health of their environment. Additionally, macroinvertebrates are an important food source for vertebrates and invertebrates. Since macroinvertebrates play such significant roles in the ecosystem, it is important to identify and document their presence. In order to begin documenting the macroinvertebrates in central Georgia, aquatic macroinvertebrates were collected from ten sampling sites along a transect of central Georgia. Live specimens were imaged, preserved, identified, and sequenced. COI mitochondrial DNA and 18s nuclear DNA and 3D images of the organisms were made publicly available. The newly documented biodiversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates included organisms from the classes Branchiopoda, Gastropoda, Insecta, Malacostraca, and Ostracoda.
Acknowledgements
Funding was provided by Georgia College & State University’s Aquatic Sciences Center Summer Fellowship. Georgia College & State University’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences provided support in the form of space and equipment. Finally, a special thank you to Heidi Mead for instructing the authors on the use of the imaging system.
Recommended Citation
Sir, Sally and White, Kris N. Ph.D.
(2023)
"Regional Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Biodiversity,"
Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 81, No. 2, Article 7.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.gaacademy.org/gjs/vol81/iss2/7