However, a well-designed and maintained wetland such as Warriparinga's is nowhere near as conducive to mosquito breeding as a stagnant pond. They can be used as water quality indicators because they are sensitive to change and can live in an aquatic ecosystem for more than a year. If the wetland is unpolluted and healthy, insects and macroinvertebrates will be abundant in number and species. Warriparinga's waterworld Warriparinga Wetland is home to more than 20 species of aquatic invertebrates. These range from yabbies and freshwater shrimps, mussels and snails through to water fleas and mites, backswimmers and water boatmen.
Some aquatic organisms are more sensitive to pollutants than others.
Least affected are worms and fly and beetle larvae. Most affected are damselfly, dragonfly, mayfly and stonefly nymphs, and caddisfly larvae. The Freshwater Macroinvertebrates chart has been sourced from the Upper River Torrens Landcare Group, Watercourse Management - A Field Guide.