Amphipods

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Sensitive Benthos

Moderately Tolerant Benthos

Pollution Tolerant Benthos

Description:

possesses extremely flattened sides and a hump back; somewhat resemble large "fleas"; several pairs of legs; color varies from white, brown, but usually gray; most are very small but some can reach 1/2 inch in length

Reproduction:

eggs held by the female in a marsupium (sac) until they hatch.

Food:

characterized as scavengers, eating both plant and animal debris; scuds are an important food source for a variety of fish species.

Scientific Name:

Class: Crustacea
Order: Amphipoda

Indicator Role:

Widely variable, although usually not found in severely polluted waters. Sometime found in moderately polluted waters, although some species very sensitive and used as important indicators for water quality in the Great Lakes.

Information Source:

McDonald, B., W. Borden, J. Lathrop.1990. Citizen Stream Monitoring: A Manual for Illinois. Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, ILENR/RE-WR-90/18. Springfield, Illinois.

Other Links:

Amphipod - Gammaridae

Scuds in The Stream Study (University of Virginia)
Entomology: A Guide to the Freshwater Food Sources of British Columbia's GameFish - freshwater shrimp, or scuds
Crayfish, Scuds and Sowbugs by the Lackawanna River Corridor Association

Biological Indicators | Aquatic Biodiversity | Statistical Primer