Freshwater Biological Traits Database (Data Sources)
On this page:
Data Sources
| Data source | Tolerance Calculations | Download |
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Vieira, N.K.M., N.L. Poff, D.M. Carlisle, S.R. Moulton II, M.K. Koski, and B.C.Kondratieff. 2006. A database of lotic invertebrate traits for North America: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 187. Available at: https://pubs.water.usgs.gov/ds187
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Not applicable
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USGS Traits Data
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Poff, N.L., J.D. Olden, N.K.M. Vieira, D.S. Finn, M.P. Simmons, and B.C. Kondratieff. 2006. Functional trait niches of North American lotic insects: traits-based ecological applications in light of phylogenetic relationships. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 25(4):730-755 (Trait Matrix, Appendix)
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Not applicable
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Poff etal, Traits Matrix (Spreadsheet)(1 pg, 85 K,
07/25/2012)
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Poff etal, Traits Metadata (Spreadsheet)(1 pg, 23 K)
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EPA GCRP State Biomonitoring Data Climate Change Pilot Project 2010: Freshwater Biological Traits Table for North Carolina (traits data came from several different sources (main sources were Vieira et al. 2006 and the Poff et al. 2006 trait matrix)).
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Temperature
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NC Trait Table and Metadata (Spreadsheet)(1 pg, 836 K,
07/25/2012)
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EPA GCRP State Biomonitoring Data Climate Change Pilot Project 2010: Freshwater Biological Traits Table for Maine (traits data came from several different sources (main sources were Vieira et al. 2006 and the Poff et al. 2006 trait matrix).
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Temperature
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ME Trait Table and Metadata (Spreadsheet)(1 pg, 588 K,
07/25/2012)
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EPA GCRP State Biomonitoring Data Climate Change Pilot Project 2010: Freshwater Biological Traits Table for Utah (traits data came from several different sources (main sources were Vieira et al. 2006 and the Poff et al. 2006 trait matrix)).
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Temperature
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UT Trait Table and Metadata (Spreadsheet)(1 pg, 357 K,
07/25/2012)
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Rankin, E. T. and C.O. Yoder. 2009. Temporal Change in Regional Reference Condition as a Potential Indicator of Global Climate Change: Analysis of the Ohio Regional Reference Condition Database (1980-2006).
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Temperature and flow
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Brandt, Darren. 2001. Temperature Preferences and Tolerances for 137 Common Idaho Macroinvertebrate Taxa. Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. Coeur d'Alene, ID.
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Temperature
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Herbst, D. and E.L. Silldorff. 2007. Development and Evaluation of Tolerance Values for Lahontan Region Invertebrates- Preliminary Analysis Summary
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Temperature
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Huff, D.D., S.L. Hubler, Y. Pan and D.L. Drake. Detecting Shifts in Macroinvertebrate Community Requirements: Implicating Causes of Impairment in Streams. 2008. DEQ06-LAB-0068-TR. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Watershed Assessment, and Portland State University, Portland, OR.
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Temperature
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OR Weighed Average Results(1 pg, 46 K,
07/25/2012)
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Yuan, Lester. 2006. Estimation and Application of Macroinvertebrate Tolerance Values. Report No. EPA/600/P-04/116F. Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) [formerly known as the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)], Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
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Temperature
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Beck, W.M. Jr. 1977. Environmental Requirements and Pollution Tolerance of Common Freshwater Chironomidae. Report EPA-600/4-77-024. U.S. EPA, Washington, D.C. 260 p.
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Not applicable
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Beck Summary (1978) |
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Harris, T.L., and T.M. Lawrence. 1978. Environmental Requirements and Pollution Tolerance of Trichoptera. Report No. EPA-600/4-78-063. U.S. EPA, Washington, D.C. 316 p.
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Not applicable
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Hubbard, M.D., and W.L. Peters. 1978. Environmental Requirements and Pollution Tolerance of Ephemeroptera. Report No. EPA-600/4-78-061. U.S. EPA, Washington, D.C. 468 p.
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Not applicable
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Surdick, R.F., and A.R. Gaufin. 1978. Environmental Requirements and Pollution Tolerance of Plecoptera. Report No. EPA-600/4-78-062. U.S. EPA, Washington, D.C. 423 p.
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Not applicable
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Metadata
| Category Name | Traits Name | Traits Description |
|---|---|---|
| Life history | Adult | Identifies if traits were compiled for aquatic adults, otherwise entries pertain to immature life stage (entries: ADULT or blank) |
| Life history | No. of Aquatic stages | Number of aquatic life stages (4 potential entries) |
| Life history - development | Ability to survive abbreviated | Abbreviated ability to survive desiccation entries: present = able to survive desiccation; absent = not able to survive desiccation |
| Life history - development | Ability to survive comments | Description of abbreviated adult ability to survive desiccation entries: present = able to survive desiccation; absent = not able to survive desiccation |
| Life history - development | Adult ability to temporarily exit water | Indicates ability to temporarily exit water. Entries = no, yes, unknown, blank |
| Life history - development | Adult ability to temporarily exit water abbreviated | Abbreviated adult ability to exit entries: present = has ability to exit; absent = does NOT have ability to exit |
| Life history - development | Adult ability to temporarily exit water comments | Description of abbreviated adult ability to exit entries: present = has ability to exit; absent = does NOT have ability to exit. This does NOT include emergence. |
| Life history - development | Development pattern comments | Development pattern text notes |
| Life history - development | Development speed | Development speed. Entries: fast seasonal, slow seasonal, Non-seasonal |
| Life history - development | Development speed abbreviated | Abbreviated development entries: fast, slow, non |
| Life history - development | Diapause | Indicates whether diapause occurs. Entries: no, yes, unknown, blank |
| Life history - development | Hatch time | Time required for eggs to hatch. Entries: hours, minutes, days, months, weeks |
| Life history - development | Hatch time comments | Time required for eggs to hatch text notes |
| Life history - development | Life span | Adult lifespan. Entries: days, hours, weeks, months |
| Life history - development | Life span abbreviated | Abbreviated adult life span: very_short, short, long |
| Life history - development | Life span comments | Description of abbreviated adult life span entries: very short = less than 1 week; short = less than 1 month; long = greater than 1 month |
| Life history - emergence | Duration of oviposition period | Duration of oviposition period. Entries = days, months, weeks |
| Life history - emergence | Egg - mass | Egg type - one mass |
| Life history - emergence | Egg - mutiple batches | Egg type - multiple batches |
| Life history - emergence | Egg - single | Egg type - Single |
| Life history - emergence | Egg cemented | Indicates whether eggs are cemented. Entries = no, yes |
| Life history - emergence | Emergence begins | Season that emergence begins |
| Life history - emergence | Emergence behavior - drifting | emergence behavior - drifting |
| Life history - emergence | Emergence behavior comments | Emergence behavior text notes |
| Life history - emergence | Emergence comments | Seasons during which sexually mature forms have been reported. Entries = winter, spring, summer, fall |
| Life history - emergence | Emergence ends | Season that emergence ends |
| Life history - emergence | Emergence occur all year | Indicates whether emergence can occur all year. Entries = no, yes, unknown, blank |
| Life history - emergence | Emergence synchronization | Indicates whether emergence is synchronous. Entries = no, yes, unknown, blank |
| Life history - emergence | Emergence synchronization Abbreviated | Abbreviated synchronization of emergence entries = poorly, well |
| Life history - emergence | Emergence synchronization comments | Description of abbreviated synchronization of emergence entries: poorly = week; well = days |
| Life history - emergence | Fecundity | Fecundity. Entries: < 100 eggs, > 10,000 eggs, 100 to 1000 eggs, 1000 to 10,000 eggs |
| Life history - emergence | Oviposition behavior comments | Oviposition behavior text notes |
| Life history - emergence | Primary oviposition behavior | Primary oviposition behavior (10-15 potential entries) |
| Life history - emergence | Secondary oviposition behavior | Secondary oviposition behavior (10-15 potential entries) |
| Life history - emergence | Voltinism | Voltinism. Entries: > 1 Generation per year, 1 Generation per year, < 1 Generation per year |
| Life history - emergence | Voltinism Comments | Voltinism text comments (i.e., overwintering of eggs or immatures) |
| Life history - emergence | Voltinism abbreviated | Abbreviated voltinism entries: semivoltine, univoltine, bi_multivoltine |
| Life history - emergence | emergence behavior - climbing | emergence behavior - climbing |
| Life history - emergence | emergence behavior - crawling | emergence behavior - crawling |
| Mobility | Adult dispersal distance | Adult dispersal distance. Entries = 1 km or less, 10 km or less, 10 m or less, 100 km or less |
| Mobility | Drift abbreviated | Abbreviated occurrence in drift entries: rare, common, abundant |
| Mobility | Drift propensity comments | Description of abbreviated occurrence in drift entries: rare = catastrophic only; common = typically observed; abundant = dominant in drift samples |
| Mobility | Drift propensity of early instars | Drift propensity of early instars. Entries = Strong (active / often), Medium (mostly passive / occasional), Weak (catastrophic only) |
| Mobility | Drift propensity of late instars | Drift propensity of late instars. Entries = Strong (active / often), Medium (mostly passive / occasional), Weak (catastrophic only) |
| Mobility | Female dispersal | Abbreviated female dispersal entries: low, high |
| Mobility | Female dispersal comments | Descripton of abbreviated female dispersal entries: low = less than 1 km flight before laying eggs; high = greater than 1 km flight before laying eggs |
| Mobility | Flying strength | Abbreviated flying strength entries: weak, strong |
| Mobility | Flying strength comments | Description of abbreviated flying strength entries: weak = e.g., cannot fly into light breeze |
| Mobility | Larval dispersal distance | Larval dispersal distance. Entries = < 1 m, 1-10 m, 11-100 m |
| Mobility | Maximum crawling rate | Abbreviated maximum crawling rate entries: very_low, low, high |
| Mobility | Maximum crawling rate comments | Description of abbreviated maximum crawling rate entries: very low = less than 10 cm per hour; low = less than 100 cm per hour; high = greater than 100 cm per hour |
| Mobility | Swimming ability | Abbreviated swimming ability entries: none, weak strong |
| Morphology - Adaptation | Ballast | taxon has ballast |
| Morphology - Adaptation | Friction | taxon has friction pads or other structures to reduce friction coefficient with surface |
| Morphology - Adaptation | Hair | taxon has hair |
| Morphology - Adaptation | Hooks | taxon has hooks |
| Morphology - Adaptation | Other | Text to further describe morphological adaptations |
| Morphology - Adaptation | Silk | taxon has silk |
| Morphology - Adaptation | Suckers | taxon has suckers |
| Morphology - Armor | Armor | Degree of body armoring. Entries = All sclerotized, Hard shelled, Partly sclerotized, Soft |
| Morphology - Armor | Armor abbreviated | Abbreviated armoring entries = none, poor, good |
| Morphology - Armor | Armor comments | Description of abbreviated armoring entries: none = soft-bodied forms; poor = heavily sclerotized; good = e.g., some cased caddisflies |
| Morphology - Attachment | Attachment abbreviated | Abbreviated attachment entries = none, some, both |
| Morphology - Attachment | Attachment comments | Abbreviated attachment entries: none = free-ranging; some = sessile, sedentary; both = free-ranging and sessile, sedentary. Other (non-abbreviated) entries include: normally free living and capable of locomotion; both sessile and free living and capable of locomotion; normally sessile. |
| Morphology - Body | Body Shape abbreviated | Abbreviated body shape entries = streamlined, not_streamlined |
| Morphology - Body | Body height | Measured body height of immatures (mm) |
| Morphology - Body | Body length | Measured body length of immatures (mm) |
| Morphology - Body | Body shape | Body shape. Entries = Bluff (blocky), Dorsoventrally flattened, Round (humped), Streamlined / fusiform, Tubular |
| Morphology - Body | Body shape case | Body shape with case/retreat. Entries = Bluff (blocky), Dorsoventrally flattened, Round (humped), Streamlined / fusiform, Tubular |
| Morphology - Body | Body shape comments | Description of abbreviated body shape entries: streamlined = flat, fusiform; not streamlined = cylindrical, round or bluff |
| Morphology - Body | Body width | Measured body width of immatures (mm) |
| Morphology - Body | Maximal body size | Maximal body size of immatures. Entries = Large (length > 16 mm), Medium (length 9-16 mm), Small (length < 9 mm) |
| Morphology - Body | Mediate drag | Indication of whether shape mediates drag. Entries = no, yes, unknown, blank |
| Morphology - Respiration | Respiration abbreviated | Abbreviated respiration entries = tegument, gills, plastron_spiracle |
| Morphology - Respiration | Respiration comments | Respiration text notes |
| Morphology - Respiration | Respiration mode of aquatic adults | Respiration mode of aquatic adults |
| Morphology - Respiration | Respiration mode of early instars | Respiration mode of early instars |
| Morphology - Respiration | Respiration mode of late instars | Respiration mode of late instars |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Current quiet | current preference - quiet |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Current slow | current preference - slow |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Feed mode comments | Description of abbreviated primary functional feeding group entries: CF = collector-filterer; CG = collector-gatherer; HB = herbivore (scraper); SH = shredder; PR = predator (piercer, engulfer); PA = parasite. Other (non-abbreviated) entries include text notes on food material consumed. |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Habit abbreviated | Abbreviated habit entries: BU, CB, CN, SK, SP, SW |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Habit comments | Description of abbreviated primary habit entries: BU = burrower; CB = climber; CN = clinger; SK = skater; SP = sprawler; SW = swimmer. Other (non-abbreviated) entries include text notes on habit. |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Lateral habitat position comments | Lateral habitat position in water column text notes |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Lateral habitat position hyporheic | Lateral habitat position in water column - hyporheic |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Lateral habitat position margin | Lateral habitat position in water column - margin |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Lateral habitat position pool | Lateral habitat position in water column - pool |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Lateral habitat position riffle | Lateral habitat position in water column - riffle |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Lateral habitat position shoreline | Lateral habitat position in water column - shoreline |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Microhabitat algae | Microhabitat substrate preference - algae |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Microhabitat boulder | Microhabitat substrate preference - boulder |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Microhabitat comments | Microhabitat substrate preference text notes |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Microhabitat detritus | Microhabitat substrate preference - detritus |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Microhabitat gravel | Microhabitat substrate preference - gravel |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Microhabitat large woody debris | Microhabitat substrate preference - large woody debris (LWD) |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Microhabitat macrophytes | Microhabitat substrate preference - macrophytes |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Microhabitat pelagic | Microhabitat substrate preference - pelagic |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Microhabitat plants | Microhabitat substrate preference - plants |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Microhabitat rocks | Microhabitat substrate preference - rocks |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Microhabitat sand | Microhabitat substrate preference - sand |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Microhabitat silt | Microhabitat substrate preference - silt |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Primary feeding mode | Primary feeding mode based on mouthpart morphology |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Primary functional feeding group abbreviated | Abbreviated primary functional feeding group entries: CF, CG, HB, PA, PR, SH |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Primary habit | Primary habit |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Rheophily | Abbreviated rheophily entries: depo, depo_eros, eros |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Rheophily comments | Description of abbreviated rheophily entries: depo = depositional only, depo_eros = depositional and erosional; eros: erosional only. Other (categorical) entries include: fast, moderate, moderate-fast, standing and flowing, standing-slight, slight. |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Secondary feeding mode | Secondary feeding mode based on mouthpart morphology |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Secondary habit | Secondary habit |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Vertical habitat position benthic | Vertical habitat position in water column - benthic |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Vertical habitat position comments | Vertical habitat position in water column text notes |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Vertical habitat position hyporheic | Vertical habitat position in water column - hyporheic |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Vertical habitat position macrophytes | Vertical habitat position in water column - macrophytes |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Vertical habitat position pelagic | Vertical habitat position in water column - pelagic |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | Vertical habitat position surface | Vertical habitat position in water column - surface |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | current fast laminar | current preference - fast laminar currents |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | current fast turbulent | current preference - fast turbulent currents |
| Resource Acquisition Preference | current moderate | current preference - moderate |
| Tolerance | Current optima rank | Rank values were derived using an arbitrary 1-7 scoring scheme, based on percentiles within the data set. Low scores = preference for slower water and high scores = preference for faster water. For more information, see Data Source Summary document. |
| Tolerance | Current optima value | Optima values for current (velocity) data (typically derived from weighted average or generalized linear model inferences). For more information, see Data Source Summary document. |
| Tolerance | Enrichment tolerance score | Numerical tolerance score ranging from 0 (most intolerant) to 10 (most tolerant). Typically based on tolerances to organic enrichment. |
| Tolerance | Enrichment tolerance score comments | Description of enrichment tolerance scores and sources |
| Tolerance | Eurythermal | Taxon documented in eurythermal (< 15 C) temperature range |
| Tolerance | Euthermal | Taxon documented in euthermal (< 30 C) temperature range |
| Tolerance | High DO levels | Oxygen tolerance - high DO levels |
| Tolerance | Low DO levels | Oxygen tolerance - low DO levels |
| Tolerance | Maximum temperature reported | Maximum temperature reported |
| Tolerance | Mesothermal | Taxon documented in mesothermal (15-30 C) temperature range |
| Tolerance | Metathermal | Taxon documented in metathermal (5-15 C) temperature range |
| Tolerance | Minimum temperature reported | Minimum temperature reported |
| Tolerance | Normal DO levels | Oxygen tolerance - normal (intermediate) DO levels |
| Tolerance | Observed lethal DO levels | Observed lethal DO levels |
| Tolerance | Observed maximum letal temperature | Observed maximum letal temperature |
| Tolerance | Oligothermal | Taxon documented in oligothermal (< 15 C) temperature range |
| Tolerance | Oxygen tolerance comments | General oxygen tolerance categories: High, Moderate, Moderate-High, Low, Low-Moderate, Anaerobic, Low-Anaerobic, No strong preference |
| Tolerance | Ph comments | General pH tolerance categories: Acidic, Acid-Neutral, Alkaline, Alkaline-Neutral, Neutral, No strong preference |
| Tolerance | Salinity tolerance - brakish | Salinity tolerance - brakish |
| Tolerance | Salinity tolerance - fresh | Salinity tolerance - fresh |
| Tolerance | Salinity tolerance - saline | Salinity tolerance - saline |
| Tolerance | Stenothermal | Taxon documented in stenothermal (< 5 C) temperature range |
| Tolerance | Thermal Indicator | Cold and warm water preference taxa for particular states or regions. Entries = cold, warm, blank. NOTE: these lists are preliminary. For more information, see Data Source Summary document. |
| Tolerance | Thermal comments | Text notes pertaining to thermal entries. |
| Tolerance | Thermal optima rank | Rank values were derived using an arbitrary 1-7 scoring scheme, based on percentiles within the data set. Low scores = preference for colder water and high scores = preference for warmer water. For more information, see Data Source Summary document. |
| Tolerance | Thermal optima value | Optima values for temperature data (typically derived from weighted average or generalized linear model inferences). For more information, see Data Source Summary document. |
| Tolerance | Thermal preference categories | General thermal preference categories: Cold stenothermal (<5 C), Cold-cool eurythermal (0-15 C), Warm eurythermal (15-30 C), Hot euthermal (>30 C), No strong preference |
| Tolerance | Thermal tolerance rank | Rank values were derived using an arbitrary 1-7 scoring scheme, based on percentiles within the data set. Low scores = narrow thermal tolerance range and high scores = wide thermal tolerance range. For more information, see Data Source Summary document. |
| Tolerance | Thermal tolerance value | Tolerance values for temperature data (typically derived from weighted average or generalized linear model inferences). For more information, see Data Source Summary document. |
| Tolerance | Turbidity | General turbidity tolerance categories: Clear water, Silted/murky water, No preference |
| Tolerance | pH tolerance - Acidic | pH tolerance - Acidic |
| Tolerance | pH tolerance - Alkaline | pH tolerance - Alkaline |
| Tolerance | pH tolerance - Intermediate | pH tolerance - Intermediate |
| Waterbody Type | Brackish waters | taxon is found in brackish waters |
| Waterbody Type | Cold springs | taxon is found in cold springs |
| Waterbody Type | Ephemeral lotic waters | taxon is found in ephemeral lotic waters |
| Waterbody Type | Headwater streams | taxon is found in headwater streams |
| Waterbody Type | Lake | taxon is found in lakes |
| Waterbody Type | Other | taxon is found in an unlisted waterbody type, |
| Waterbody Type | Pond | taxon is found in ponds |
| Waterbody Type | Primary waterbody | Primary waterbody type where organism is found |
| Waterbody Type | River | taxon is found in rivers |
| Waterbody Type | Second-fourth order streams | taxon is found in second-fourth order streams |
| Waterbody Type | Temporary lentic waters | taxon is found in temporary lentic waters |
| Waterbody Type | Warm springs | taxon is found in warm springs |
| Waterbody Type | Wetlands | taxon is found in wetlands |