ClimateAugust 15, 2026

macroinvertebrates

MACK-row-in-VER-tuh-brates

Definition

Small animals without a backbone that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye, often living in water and serving as indicators of ecological health.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'makros' meaning large, combined with the Latin 'invertebratus' meaning without a backbone, this term was coined to distinguish these larger organisms from microscopic ones.

In the news

The article mentions benthic macroinvertebrates in the context of stream restoration, noting that these creatures serve as natural biological indicators of the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem.

GUEST APPEARANCE: If 'gastronomy' could be applied to land diet

Read the full article ↗

Finger Lakes Times

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