West Lake is home to many aquatic macroinvertebrates – small organisms without a backbone that are large enough to be seen without the use of a microscope. In any bucket of water you may scoop from the lake, lots of life can be found. Some aquatic macroinvertebrates are known to be sensitive to pollution and will not live in water tainted by chemicals. The diversity of species found in West Lake reflects the fact that West Lake is a largely unpolluted lake. Let’s take a closer look at the common types of aquatic macroinvertebrates found within the lake.