Scientists use invertebrates as a bio-indicator (that means they are an indicator of the biodiversity of an area). This is because invertebrates are easy to sample, have great variety and abundance, play an important role in ecosystems and are sensitive to environmental changes. When assessing the biodiversity of an area, scientists make comparisons in invertebrate samples collected from various sites at the same time and also within the same area taken at different times.

What will you need?

An old white bedsheet - the bigger the better.
Invertebrate identification charts (like this one).
A few finger sized paintbrushes.
A few old jars with lids that fit well.

Extra things that would be nice.

A magnifying glass.
A Camera that can take macro (up close) photos.
A pair of gloves.
Clipboard, paper, and pencil.

How does it work?

• Get your team to stretch the sheet out and place it flat on the ground under a branch or low tree. (Native plants have the most animals living in them...especially if they have lots of little leaves)
• Double check the sheet is nice and flat, and everyone is out of the way. Then grab the tree branch and give it a jiggly shake (You will have to shake pretty hard - these animals have lots of legs to hang on with!).
• Call everyone back in, get down low around the edge of the sheet and start gently brushing all your animals into the jars. Don’t shake the jar - you will hurt them or make them mad. Some of them may fight and eat each other - this natural - but if you think it is a bit mean then separate the spiders from all the others, especially the catepillars.
• Keep looking....some of the animals are VERY small, look for tiny red mites and other invertebrates “playing dead”.
• Compare your animals and find out their names from the charts. Write down how many you caught of each species. Take a photo of the spot and the best animals.
• Let them go, then try a different sort of plant.

• There are a few minor safety issues, use common sense, be careful of bigger spiders on trees with big flakes or strips of bark and NEVER pick up the animals with your fingers.
• The animals are being surveyed, which means we are “borrowing” them, identifying them and then letting them go in the right place.
• You will not catch as many animals in winter.
• It won’t work so well on a windy day.