Freshwater invertebrates are indicators of the health of an aquatic system, whether it be standing water in lowland fishponds or a fast-flowing stream in the hills. Freshwater invertebrates require specific abiotic conditions within a body of water, and they in turn are often food for larger organisms higher up the food chain. By conducting biodiversity surveys in these habitats, the overall health and ecological condition of bodies of water can be scientifically appraised.