Aquatic Conservation
Invertebrates live in every type of aquatic habitat, from streams and seeps to marshes and lakes. Aquatic invertebrates such as stoneflies, mayflies, mussels, and midges play critical roles in sustaining healthy aquatic ecosystems, and are at the center of the aquatic food web. The winged adult forms of many aquatic insects also provide a huge amount of the food for terrestrial birds, bats, and reptiles. Aquatic invertebrates and the habitats that sustain them are seriously imperiled. In the United States, over half of the wetlands that existed in the 1600s have been lost, and a recent nationwide stream survey found pesticides or their degradates in all the streams sampled. The Aquatic Conservation program works to protect aquatic invertebrates and the ecosystems that sustain them.
Current Projects
Learn more and get involved with the Aquatic Conservation projects.
Our Work
Check out some of the work the aquatic team has been doing!
- Crustaceans impacted by mosquito control pesticide…
Xerces Society
Xerces Society posted a photo:
Crustaceans, like these, fiddler crabs are negatively impacted b…
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- Mosquito management in urban wetlands
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Xerces Society posted a photo:
Mosquito management in urban wetlands must protect and sustain wi…
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- Variegated Meadowhawks main west coast migrator
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Xerces Society posted a photo:
Variegated Meadowhawks (Sympetrum corruptum) are the main migrato…
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- Higbee Wetlands, New Jersey
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- Red-faced Dragonlet at Cansaburro Dunes, Veracruz
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Xerces Society posted a photo:
Red-faced Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax fusca) at Cansaburro Dunes, Ve…
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- Visual surveys for freshwater mussels
Xerces Society
Xerces Society posted a photo:
Visual surveys for freshwater mussels using an Aquascope.…
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- Rare bog habitat
Xerces Society
Xerces Society posted a photo:
Rare habitats, such as this bog, support threatened endemic speci…
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- The aquatic invertebrate community reveals much ab…
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Xerces Society posted a photo:
Snohomish River - Washington
The aquatic invertebrate community r…
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- Collecting cast-off larval skins (exuviae) of drag…
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Xerces Society posted a photo:…
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- Migratory dragonfly short course participant holdi…
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PreviousNextPreviousNextUpcoming Events
Additional Migratory Dragonfly Short Courses 2013
Future Migratory Dragonfly Short Courses are currently in the planning stages for California and Ontario, Canada for fall 2013. Please check back soon for more details about upcoming course locations, dates, and registration details.
The objective of these one-day events is to train participants to identify key migratory species and contribute data to ongoing MDP citizen science projects.
Unable to attend a course or no courses located in your area? Watch a recording of the latest MDP short course here.
