Hannah C
I thought Brian was an excellent instructor. I do not feel there should be any changes. He gave the group may opportunities to ask questions as well as test our knowledge. Everything was very valuable for me.
Stream Monitoring Using Aquatic Insects
This course is ideal for anyone from beginners to those interested in expanding their skills.3
Course Overview
This course is ideal for anyone from beginners to those interested in expanding their skills.
Upcoming Courses
Register for an upcoming course or see our previous courses.
View All Course OfferingsJul 27th - Jul 28th
Midwest Biodiversity Institute
$40.00
Last day to register is Jul 8th.
Aug 26th - Aug 27th
Deer Haven Park, Delaware, Ohio
$40.00
Last day to register is Aug 7th.
Course Details
Many people are participating in community and citizen science and volunteer stream monitoring. These individuals can make a difference by performing regular biological assessments of our local streams. Macroinvertebrates are excellent indicators of water quality and have been used to measure the health of freshwater rivers, streams and wetlands. MBI has developed a one-day macroinvertebrate course aimed at volunteers and community or citizen scientists who might have a basic understanding of macroinvertebrates, and would like to expand their knowledge and possibly participate in environmental opportunities. This course also serves as an excellent tool for environmental educators to utilize as a basis for teaching others in these methods.
Common macroinvertebrates include worms, crayfish, snails, clams and many different insects. Insects make up the majority of the organisms present, and include mayflies, stoneflies, damselflies and dragonflies, caddisflies, beetles and different types of midges.
Recommended Background
No previous experience is necessary to take this course.
Results
This course will provide participants with a basic knowledge of macroinvertebrate collection and identification. Those who complete this course will automatically be eligible for Level 1 Certification and will have the option for MBI to submit their information to Ohio EPA. This course is designed for community and citizen scientists, volunteers, teachers and educators, or for those who would simply like to expand their knowledge about life in our local streams.
Register soon as space is limited. Lunch on Saturday is included!
Course Schedule
Friday Evening: Lab Instruction (5 PM – 8 PM) OPTIONAL (Included with Course Fee)
Includes detailed instruction on macroinvertebrate identification using reference material and dissecting microscopes. Lab instruction must be arranged in advance.
Saturday Morning: Classroom and Lab Instruction (9:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
We will cover many of the current volunteer methods of collecting macroinvertebrates at stream sites. Hands-on identification of common aquatic insects and organisms will provide participants with the ability to identify common macroinvertebrates without the use of microscopes for the field portion. However, a few microscopes will be available in the classroom to assist in the identification process.
Lunch and Networking: 12:30 – 1:30 PM (Lunch Provided by MBI)
Saturday Afternoon: Field Exploration (1:30 – 4:30 PM)
This session includes in-field instruction on macroinvertebrate sample collection. We will include common methods of macroinvertebrate collection used by volunteer groups (such as ODNR Scenic Rivers and the Izaac Walton League). Depending on stream conditions and the location of training, participants might need to travel separately to local field sites.
Our Reviews
Testimonials
Hannah C
I felt the content and scope were very relevant to learning and understanding ORAM methodology.
Mitchell M
This training directly touched on all the topics within the ORAM form with which I had questions about, and provided me with the necessary tools to more accurately score wetlands.
Michael R
MBI's ORAM course is extremely in-depth and provides clarity for some of the more objective assessment criteria, as well as a great experience in the field.
Nick V
I thought it was very well done and covered all ORAM caveats.
Rick N
Excellent, fun and educational
Kristy S
The content of the course was perfect for the projects that our company completes
Lisa B
MBI's PHWH course made me more comfortable and confident assessing primary headwater streams and using the HHEI to score streams.
Anonymous
Fantastic! The training did a great job of preparing me to identify and analyze all the various conditions that can be present in a headwater stream, and
Allie E
Thorough, great practice and good mix of hands on vs in classroom training
Anonymous
The training was great! The field portion was especially great
Our Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Our Training & Courses
Because it varies by course, this information as well as complete course instructions are available when you view your order. Simply go to “My Account”, and click on view.
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Yes, as long as the person who made payment/paid for the course sends an email message from the email account on record to info@mbieducation.com prior to the start time of the first day of the course. The e-mail must indicate the name, e-mail and phone number of the new participant.
Yes - we ask that course participants provide their own transportation to and from field sites. However, we encourage car pooling and will make every attempt to minimize the number of vehicles traveling to the field sites.
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