Kōrero: Life in fresh water

Midge larva (4 o 6)

Midge larva

The presence of an organism can be used as an indicator of water quality. Scientists in New Zealand have devised a scale from 1 to 10 to indicate an organism’s sensitivity to water quality. On the scale, 1 equates to a high tolerance of pollution (very poor water). At the other end, 10 equates to a high sensitivity to pollution (pristine water). Midge larvae (Chironomus species) are at 1 on the scale: they tolerate a range of conditions including very poor water quality.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Private collection
Photograph by Stephen Moore

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Roger Young, 'Life in fresh water - Invertebrates', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/photograph/11632/midge-larva (accessed 30 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Roger Young, i tāngia i te 24 Sep 2007