Assessing the impact of errors in sorting and identifying macroinvertebrate samples

Haase, Peter; Murray‐Bligh, John; Lohse, Susanne; Pauls, Steffen U.; Sundermann, Andrea; Gunn, R.J.M.; Clarke, Ralph T.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-5493-8_34

Cited by 46 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Specifically, a minimum amount of 1/6th of the material was subsampled, containing a minimum number of 350 individuals. The subsampled individuals were sorted according to Haase et al, (2004) and identified to the lowest possible level as suggested by Haase et al, (2006), generally species or genus, but to a higher level in Diptera (mostly to family), Oligochaeta (class) and Hydrachnidia (subcohort).…”

Section: Sampling Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of benthic microhabitats in determining the effects of hydromorphological river restoration on macroinvertebrates

et al. 2015

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Despite the large number of river restoration projects carried out worldwide, evidence for strong and long-term positive ecological effects of hydromorphological restoration on macroinvertebrates is scarce. To improve the understanding of the success and failure of restoration measures, a standardized field study was carried out in nineteen paired restored and degraded river sections in mid-sized lowland and mountain rivers throughout Europe. We investigated if there were effects of restoration on macroinvertebrate biodiversity, and if these effects could be related to changes in microhabitat composition, diversity and patchiness. Effects were quantified for all taxa combined, as well as Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera separately. Additionally, species trait classifications of microhabitat preference types were used as a functional indicator. Restoration had no overall positive effects on the selected macroinvertebrate metrics. Rather, we did find positive relationships between the macroinvertebrate responses and the effect of restoration on the diversity and patchiness of microhabitats. Furthermore, the effects on macroinvertebrates could be related to changes in the cover of specific substrate types in the restored sections. We conclude that the limited effect of restoration on macroinvertebrate diversity overall reflected, at least in part, the limited effect of most restoration measures on microhabitat composition and diversity.

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Section: Sampling Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of benthic microhabitats in determining the effects of hydromorphological river restoration on macroinvertebrates

et al. 2015

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“…All samples sorted were independently assessed as part of routine quality control (i.e. full removal of all individual taxa) (Haase et al, 2006;. The Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera were identified to genus-level, while Diptera, Coleoptera, Odonata, Mollusca and Hemiptera were identified to family level using standard Freshwater Biological Association identification keys.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of a catastrophic storm event on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in upland headwater streams and potential implications for ecological diversity and assessment of ecological status

et al. 2012

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“…Applying biomonitoring procedures to temporary aquatic ecosystems is currently one on the main bioassessment challenges and requires specific tools (Nikolaidis et al, 2013;Datry et al, 2014;Prat et al, 2014). The general observed lack of sensitivity of this index can be considered an interesting attribute (i.e., no specific knowledge or experience required), but this approach may be questionable, or even dangerous (Metzeling et al, 2003;Haase et al, 2006). We should also consider that the IASPT index has been reported to be less sensitive to stressors than the IBMWP index in Mediterranean rivers (Sánchez-Montoya et al, 2010).…”

Section: Performance Of Indices and Implication For Bioassessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

How do low-abundance taxa affect river biomonitoring? Exploring the response of different macroinvertebrate-based indices

2016

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The contribution of rare taxa to aquatic bioassessments remains a subject of debate, and generates contrasting positions among researchers. Very little is known about the effect of low-abundance taxa (LAT) for calculating both single and multimetric macroinvertebrate-based indices, as well as the ecological status classification. In this study, we aimed to: i) identify the aquatic macroinvertebrates that need special attention during index applications given their low abundance; ii) analyse the effect of excluding LAT on single (IBMWP and IASPT) and multimetric (STAR_ICMi) biological indices; and iii) investigate the influence of LAT on river ecological status assessments. To this end, two different river basins in SE Spain and N Italy with contrasting climatic conditions and river types were selected. Our results showed that almost all the taxa at the family level can act as low-abundance taxa. In particular, the LAT belonged mainly to Diptera, Trichoptera, Coleoptera, Gastropoda and Hemiptera. The IndVal analysis stressed Tabanidae, Cordulegasteridae and Hydroptilidae as the most characteristic low-abundance families in the Spanish data set, while Dryopidae and Athericidae were identified mostly in N Italy. Excluding LAT affected the studied index values and the resulting bioassessment classification, except for the IASPT index. Loss of the entire LAT pool reduced the ecological status for 78% of the samples for the IBMWP index. Changing took place in 41% of the samples when considering the STAR_ICM index. Relevant changes were detected even when considering loss of 50% of the LAT, especially with the IBMWP index. Similar values and patterns were obtained in each considered quality class and river type. Our results provide useful information about controversial taxa and stress the significance of LAT in river biomonitoring. Excluding LAT is discouraged, although different responses according to the considered index were detected. The IBMWP index always obtained lower values (coupled mainly with an underestimation of ecological classes), while STAR_ICMi and, especially the IASPT index, were less affected by excluding LAT. Paying special attention to all the protocol application stages is recommended, with emphasis placed when using the IBMWP index.

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Assessing the impact of errors in sorting and identifying macroinvertebrate samples

Cited by 46 publications

References 25 publications

The role of benthic microhabitats in determining the effects of hydromorphological river restoration on macroinvertebrates

The role of benthic microhabitats in determining the effects of hydromorphological river restoration on macroinvertebrates

The impact of a catastrophic storm event on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in upland headwater streams and potential implications for ecological diversity and assessment of ecological status

How do low-abundance taxa affect river biomonitoring? Exploring the response of different macroinvertebrate-based indices

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