This paper summarizes the history and current status of efforts to implement macroinvertebrate biomonitoring protocols for surface water pollution in China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Russia (Far East), and Thailand. Impediments to biomonitoring in some of these countries include: (1) lack of knowledge about macroinvertebrate fauna and their tolerance values, especially during the aquatic, immature stages; (2) the scarcity of research programs and formal training opportunities for biomonitoring offered in universities; (3) the shortage of high‐quality microscopes and other necessary equipment; and (4) limited government understanding and support for biomonitoring, few skilled regulatory staff, and the persistence of old and unusable biomonitoring protocols. A recently established regional network, the Aquatic Entomological Society of East Asia (AESEA), and several major recent publications are helping to coordinate and promote science and technology in East Asia.

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Despite the fact that South East (SE) Asia is considered as a biodiversity hotspot, knowledge of sessile invertebrates such as freshwater sponges (Porifera: Haplosclerida: Spongillina)

Thailand currently lacks formal bioassessment approaches and protocols to assist management decisions for water quality. The aim of this research is to develop a practical method of rapid bioassessment for a professional level by using benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages for streams in Thailand. Eleven reference and nine test sites were sampled in the headwater streams of the Loei River and adjacent areas to explore the development of a practical protocol. Specific physico-chemical parameters were selected to provide ecological information supplemental to the biological indicators. The biological research was designed around the USEPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocols (RBPs) using the multi-habitat approach. Four fixed-count subsamplings (100, 200, 300 and 500 organisms) were randomly conducted using a standardized gridded pan to evaluate an appropriate level for bioassessment in Thai streams. A 300 organism subsample is adequate for bioassessment purposes in Thai stream (evaluated by calculating dissimilarity values and ordination techniques). A systematic selection of candidate reference sites, metric selection, and index calibration was part of this research. Multimetric and multivariate analyses were examined as a foundation for bioassessment in Thailand. The multimetric approach appears to be more practical for a rapid bioassessment technique. Nine core metrics were identified for biological index score including number of total taxa, Diptera taxa, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, and Coleoptera taxa, (%) Plecoptera, (%) Tolerant organisms, Beck's Biotic Index, (%) Intolerant organisms, Shredders taxa and Clingers taxa were calibrated for the final index. As a result of multimetric and multivariate analyses, family level identification data effectively discriminated reference condition and broad-scale environmental gradients. Hampered by incomplete taxonomic knowledge of benthic macroinvertebrates in Thailand, family-level identification may be sufficient taxonomic resolution for rapid bioassessment in Thailand.

With 13 figures and 3 tables Abstract: Full life histories of fourteen coexisting species of caddis in an Irish stream are described. The study is based on growth patterns and distribution of larval head capsule width through time. It also notes adult fl ight periods. Most species had simple life histories and were univoltine (Agapetus fuscipes, Hydropsyche sUtalai, H. instabi lis, PhUopotamus montanus, Ecclisopteryx guttulata, Glossosoma conformis, Drusus annulatus, Po tamophylax cingulatus and Halesus radiatus). In the latter four species the occurrence of instar-l larvae indicated that egg hatching was delayed or prolonged over several months. Complex univoltine life histories were found in three species (Serieostoma personatum, Plectrocnemia conspersa and Silo pallipes) where, gener ally, a one-year life cyc1e occurred, although some individuals required more than one year to emerge. Data for two species (Rhyacophila dorsalis, Odontocerum albicorne) suggested the possibility of bivoltine life histories. Both types of complex life history led to overlapping generations. This is the most comprehensive information to date on the life histories of most of the species. Intraspecific variation in development rates, the wide range of size c1asses present at one time, the ability to overwinter in differ ent larval stages and the asynchronous extended flight periods may be evidence of a "spreading of risk" within life histories. Without knowledge of whether the variations in development rates are genetically determined, it is difficult to advance a hypothe sis based on an adaptive strategy to explain such variation as opposed to attribution to environmentally-controlled variation in growth, influenced by such factors as temper ature and food.