Freshwater invertebrates

If your stream has a muddy-bottom or soft-bottom (made of silt or mud), you need to use a different method than if your stream has a stony-bottom.

Use a net & the kick-net method to collect a greater range of benthic macroinvertebrates and more accurately assess the diversity of the community.

If you don’t have a net, you can collect stones from the streambed and collect the invertebrates that are clinging to the stones.

There are two species of kōura or freshwater crayfish in Aotearoa.

Streams play a key role in the ecosystems of New Zealand’s unique landscape. They feed and link together freshwater sources, maintain good water quality and support habitats that sustain our biodiversity.