Stream Ecology in Northeast Ohio

[Past Projects]

Stephen C. Weeks and Gabrielle Russell


Explore the underwater life in Ohio’s streams, while earning valuable stream assessment skills! Stream restoration is a growing practice, as people have understood the important ecosystem services that streams provide us. Certain aquatic macroinvertebrates serve as “biological indicators” meaning that their presence or absence indicates the quality of a stream. This research project will be comparing the aquatic macroinvertebrate communities between restored and non- restored streams. As a tiered mentor student, you would assist in the collection of the aquatic macroinvertebrates and learn the Ohio EPA’s methodology for doing so. We will also be surveying stream’s hydrology (flow) and geomorphology (physical channel features). There will also be opportunities to learn aquatic macroinvertebrate identification, data analysis and see some of the area’s beautiful metro parks!  

Click here for more information on the Weeks lab