All Rights Reserved. For one thing, they are relatively easy and inexpensive to collect.
Bugs play a crucial role in the stream nutrient cycle.
If bug populations are suffering it will affect the whole ecosystem. Some insects are tolerant of pollution, whereas others are not. The presence or absence of tolerant and intolerant types can indicate the condition of the stream. For example, the order Plecoptera, or Stoneflies, are very sensitive to pollution, so their absence in a stream can signal a problem. When we want to monitor a stream, we choose a sampling location typical of the stream in general.