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Day 11 - Entomology Reveals Hydrology


Tomorrow I have an interview for a position that entails wetland delineation and permitting, so I've been brushing up on my wetland facts most of the day. Entomology is relevant to wetland science!  

Hydrology is one of the three criteria that points to an area being a wetland. It is an indicator that the soil has been saturated/inundated for a length of time. As pictured above, the dragonfly nymph is a good indicator of hydrology, because it is an obligate aquatic creature. Even if all that is left is a shed skin, you know there must have been water there. The waterscorpion, also an aquatic insect, is not a good indicator because it will migrate to better suited locations as needed (and can therefore be found in upland areas at least temporarily).


[January 11, 2016]

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