2.3.2. Aquatic Macroinvertebrates

We collected aquatic macroinvertebrate samples using a D-frame dip net (500 μm mesh size; Wildlife Supply Company, Yulee, FL, USA).We placed a 30.5×30.5 cm sampling frame in a representative area of each wetland to delineate the sampling area. We then physically disturbed the substrate within the sampling frame into the D-frame dip net. Within the net, with the net still partially submerged, we tousled the leaves vigorously to detach the invertebrates from the leaves. Leaves and amphibian larvae were carefully removed from the net and leaves were inspected to ensure that all macroinvertebrates were removed. Samples were preserved in 70% ethanol and stored in Whirl-Pak bags (Nasco, Fort Atkinson, WI, USA). All aquatic macroinvertebrates from each sample were identified to the lowest possible level, usually genus, using a dissecting microscope.
