Colour Web Guide to the Identification of Invertebrates from Australian Inland waters: Final report

"March 2009".

Project Number: Colour Web Guide to the identification of invertebrates from Australian Inland waters - M/BUS/34-2.

MDFRC item.

1 of 2 reports associated with project see (Colour web guide to the identification of invertebrates from Australian inland waters - Final progress report).

The online interactive guide Identification and Ecology of Australian Freshwater Invertebrates or more commonly referred to as the Bug Guide, has been developed in three sections; (1) the initial development of the database and the keys to the major groups and families, undertaken between 20 February 2003 and 31 January 2005, (2) the second part was the addition of the Hemiptera (bugs) and Crustacea (yabbies etc.) keys, undertaken between 20 May 2003 and 21 January 2004 and (3) the final part added the remaining orders of insects and the other non-insect groups, this contracted portion, was undertaken between 3 February 2006 and February 2009. The Bug Guide is used by students through to ecologists; to identify aquatic invertebrates to family level and the more commonly used indicator taxa to generic level. This resource underpins environmental monitoring and assessment studies by aiding in the identification of the macroinvertebrates used as ecological indicators of river health. The Bug Guide is being adopted by agencies undertaking ecological assessments using AUSRIVAS Rapid Assessment Methods, particularly state departments conducting the Sustainable Rivers Audit, as well as community monitoring programs such as Waterwatch and Landcare. The Bug Guide uses colour digital imagery of the animals and their body parts to enable easier identification. Information on life cycles, distribution and ecology is provided, as well as AUSRIVAS taxa codes and, SIGNAL pollution sensitivity ratings that are required for river health assessment. All relevant taxonomic references are provided along with sections containing downloadable taxonomic and educational resources.