Functional Feeding Groups

1. Functional Feeding Groups in stream macroinvertebrates Organisms have particular abiotic and biotic habitat/resource requirements. Explain to students that we can classify different organisms by their biotic requirements, like the type of food they eat. You have observed the mouthparts of the macroinvertebrates from your leaf packs, now you will discuss how different shaped mouthparts make different organisms suited to eat different things. Consider asking students to hypothesize how and what they think these groups might eat. Organisms have particular abiotic and biotic habitat/resource requirements. Explain to students that we can classify different organisms by their biotic requirements, like the type of food they eat. You have observed the mouthparts of the macroinvertebrates from your leaf packs, now you will discuss how different shaped mouthparts make different organisms suited to eat different things. Consider asking students to hypothesize how and what they think these groups might eat.

2. Dragonfly Larvae: lower lip is modified to snap up prey! Watch one hunting!