Article Analysis: Mayflies, Jordan.

The quality of running and standing water in Jordan was evaluated using mayfly (Ephemeroptera) as a bioindicator. In order to evaluate this claim, the survival of the different mayfly species was assessed and compared to selected physical characters, such as water temperature, pH (acidity) and conductivity.

The study extended over 2 rivers in Jordan, namely the Zarqa River (in the north) and the Mujib River (in the south) over a 2 year period from March 2011 to April 2013. The running water flowed from the eastern highlands towards the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea area which is below sea level. Mayflies were collected over 18 sites over 7 areas using a sieve of 500 micrometers or a coarser net. The organisms found to be clinging to rocks and aquatic plants were brushed off with the hand or with a fine brush.

Chemical data (nitrate concentration, phosphate concentration, hardness of water, trace elements, BOD and COD) was assessed in the labs whereas pH, conductivity and temperature were measured at the site of the rivers. The study used and compared 6 different species (Baetis monnerati, Baetis Sp, Nigrobaetis vuatazi, Cloeon gr simile, Caenis antoninae, Caenis sp) of Mayfly with each species showing a different tolerance level towards pollutant. However, all species showed a moderate to low tolerance of pollution. Therefore, the presence of mayflies in water bodies indicates a relatively clean to moderately polluted water source. Mayflies were found to be absent in thermal and eutrophic water bodies. To ensure the accuracy of the results, once the Mayflies were collected, they were handled with care and placed in sufficient amounts of fresh water from the site they were found in to ensure that they were not damaged in any way once they reached the laboratory for observation and testing.

This article is credible as it is from an International Journal of Scientific Research in Environmental Sciences and it was accepted 2 months after it was reviewed ( 20 June 2014. ) This experiment is useful to me because I will also be recording the data of the pH and temperature of the water at each site along the Jukskei River (Johannesburg). However, testing the concentration of phosphates, nitrates, the conductivity of the water, trace elements, hardness of water, COD and BOD will not be incorporated into my investigation. A limitation of this experiment compared to mine is that this experiment lasted over a 2 year period where as mine is only over a 3 month period.