The use of macroinvertebrates as indicators of wetland quality: a case study for inland wetlands of Michigan

Wetlands provide many functions, both ecological and economical; however, they are continuously threatened by numerous human activities. These activities (e.g., agriculture, development) subsequently generate environmental stressors (e.g., nutrients, road salt) that can impact the physical, chemical and biological integrity of wetland ecosystems. It is hypothesized that macroinvertebrate communities will vary with the presence and/or intensity of an environmental stressor; however, identifying these relationships can be difficult due to complex interactions among multiple human activities and stressors and wetland type and size. The main purpose of this study was to assess and characterize the macroinvertebrate community of inland wetlands of the Muskegon River Watershed, Michigan, and to understand how these communities respond to natural and human-induced changes in the environment, Ultimately the information from this research can add to a growing database on the use of macroinvertebrates as biological indicators of wetland ecosystem health, the identification of biological criteria used for water quality standards, predicting change in wetland structure and function, and in the regulation and protection of Michigan wetland ecosystems.