USGS-NAWQA: OFR 93-406:  Methods for collecting benthic invertebrate samples as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program (1993)

  • Summary
  • Analytes
  • Revision
  • Data and Sites
Official Method Name
Methods for collecting benthic invertebrate samples as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Current Revision
1993
Media
WATER
Instrumentation
Invertebrate Net (w/ handle)
Method Subcategory
Population/Community
Method Source
  USGS-NAWQA
Citation
  Methods for collecting benthic invertebrate samples as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program
Protocol
NAWQA Ecological (1993) - Methods for sampling ecological (fish, inverts, and algal) communities as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program (1993)
Brief Method Summary
Benthic invertebrate communities are evaluated as part of the ecological survey component of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program. These biological data are collected along with physical and chemical data to assess water-quality conditions and to develop an understanding of the factors that affect water-quality conditions locally, regionally, and nationally. The objectives of benthic invertebrate community characterizations are to (1) develop for each site a list of tax a within the associated stream reach and (2) determine the structure of benthic invertebrate communities within selected habitats of that reach. A nationally consistent approach is used to achieve these objectives. This approach provides guidance on site, reach, and habitat selection and methods and equipment for qualitative multihabitat sampling and semi-quantitative single habitat sampling. Appropriate quality-assurance and quality-control guidelines are used to maximize the ability to analyze data within and among study units.

This method has been superceded by Moulton, S.R., Kennen, J.G., Goldstein, R.M., and Hambrook, J.A., 2002, Revised Protocols for Sampling Algal, Invertebrate, and Fish Communities as Part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-150. Available for download at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/ofr-02-150/
Scope and Application
This document provides detailed procedures for use by trained biologists in evaluating benthic invertebrate (BI) communities as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) NAWQA Program. These procedures allow standardization of collection methods and descriptions of BI communities to facilitate unbiased evaluations of relations among physical, chemical, and biological components of water-quality conditions. The methods presented in this document have been followed by personnel collecting samples for the NAWQA Program until being superceded by those in Moulton, S.R., Kennen, J.G., Goldstein, R.M., and Hambrook, J.A., 2002, Revised Protocols for Sampling Algal, Invertebrate, and Fish Communities as Part of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-150. Available for download at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/ofr-02-150/
Applicable Concentration Range
Interferences
selection of sampling sites and sampling season
Quality Control Requirements
Sample Handling
Maximum Holding Time
Relative Cost
Unknown
Sample Preparation Methods