Water quality agencies and scientists are increasingly adopting standardized sampling methodologies because of the challenges associated with interpreting data derived from dissimilar protocols. Here, we compare 13 protocols for monitoring streams from different regions and countries around the globe. Despite the spatially diverse range of countries assessed, many aspects of bioassessment structure and protocols were similar, thereby providing evidence of key characteristics that might be incorporated in a global sampling methodology. Similarities were found regarding sampler type, mesh size, sampling period, subsampling methods, and taxonomic resolution. Consistent field and laboratory methods are essential for merging data sets collected by multiple institutions to enable large-scale comparisons. We discuss the similarities and differences among protocols and present current trends and future recommendations for monitoring programs, especially for regions where large-scale protocols do not yet exist. We summarize the current state in one of these regions, Latin America, and comment on the possible development path for these techniques in this region. We conclude that several aspects of stream biomonitoring need additional performance evaluation (accuracy, precision, discriminatory power, relative costs), particularly when comparing targeted habitat (only the commonest habitat type) versus site-wide sampling (multiple habitat types), appropriate levels of sampling and processing effort, and standardized indicators to resolve dissimilarities among biomonitoring methods. Global issues such as climate change are creating an environment where there is an increasing need to have universally consistent data collection, processing and storage to enable large-scale trend analysis. Biomonitoring programs following standardized methods could aid international data sharing and interpretation.

Three hymenopteran species -the ichneumonids Amblyteles armatorius and Diphyus quadripunctorius, and the proctotrupid Exallonyx longicornis -are most frequently cited from all over Europe as executing their inactive hypogean ecophase in caves. Yet, little is known about their environmental requirements during their summer quiescence and/or winter diapause; only limited data are known from Western and Eastern Europe. In this investigation, the sojourn of hymenopterans in hypogean environments is ecologically evaluated on the basis of data obtained from 63 systematically investigated caves and artificial tunnels in central and northern Slovenia, as being representative of the Central European countries. Nine environmental parameters measured at the resting sites of individuals were subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The species differ significantly from each other on ecological parameters: the euryecious A. armatorius occupies a narrow central position with respect to environmental requirements in caves; the montane D. quadripunctorius exhibits the best, and the lowland E. longicornis the feeblest adaptation to hypogean environments. In contrast to Western and Eastern Europe, in the central countries, the three hymenopteran species prefer dormancy habitats other than caves. These regional differences deserve more attention in future investigations of European hypogean fauna.

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Biotic integrity assessment of a stream subject to acid mine drainage (AMD) indicated that a number of the expected taxa were absent. Acute and chronic toxicity assessment of water sampled in a stream subject to AMD impact indicate that even at near neutral pH the metal concentration in the water dominates the toxicity toward Daphnia pulex. Extending the observation period to the death of test cohort in an otherwise standard sub-chronic toxicity test, allowed for generating a life table for the D. pulex. The probability of population extinction was estimated from the statistical characteristics of a bootstrap estimation of the dominant eigenvalue of a Leslie matrix based on the life table. At the current concentration levels of metals, notably manganese and zinc, in the water, a high risk to aquatic life exists. It is suggested that the metal content of the stream water also be addressed in an AMD water treatment plan.

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