The bottom matters!Versión en línea Discover the plant and animal adaptations to the bottom of the stream (substrate) por Marta Ricart Viladomat 1 Bedrock bottom streams 2 Cobble and gravel bottom streams 3 Mud or silt bottom streams The blue-green algae Rivularia covers the rock in a sluppery mass. Its cells are held together in chains by a gelatinous sheath The mayfly has a flat body, strong claws, muscular legs and a suction disk Diatoms (algae) often cover the cobbles Rooted aquatic plants need the protection of rocks to become stablished A wide variety of insect larvas can be found on the sides and bottoms of the rocks The most famous occupants in these streams are fish Phytoplankton species are usually adapted to slow water A wide variety of worms live in this area Insect larvae adapted to mud Rooted pond-plants grow along this area Fishes adapted to low oxygen conditions