River flow indexing using British benthic macroinvertebrates: a framework for setting hydroecological objectives

Macroinvertebrate community response to inter‐annual and regional river flow regime dynamics

“…Each benthic macroinvertebrate sample was quantified using the Lotic-invertebrate Index for Flow Evaluation (LIFE) score (Extence et al, 1999). The LIFE methodology was developed to facilitate the assessment of environmental flows by linking semiquantitative changes in instream macroinvertebrate communities with river flow regimes.…”

“…Previous research has demonstrated the utility of the LIFE methodology compared to other metrics (e.g., total abundance, number of taxa and diversity indices) when using data recorded in log 10 abundance categories at the family level; and that the LIFE score is a more appropriate and statistically powerful metric compared to other macroinvertebrate biotic indices (e.g., BMWP and ASPT) when examining the ecological response to flow regime variability (Monk et al, 2006). Other research has shown the LIFE score to be sensitive to both natural river flow variability and anthropogenic modification (Extence et al, 1999;Dunbar and Clarke, 2004). LIFE scores are now routinely used by the Environment Agency and public water companies in the UK to identify sites subject to hydrological stress, for water resources planning, and for Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS).…”

“…LIFE scores are now routinely used by the Environment Agency and public water companies in the UK to identify sites subject to hydrological stress, for water resources planning, and for Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS). For further details regarding the derivation of LIFE, and the scores for individual macroinvertebrate families and species, see Extence et al, (1999).…”

Reconstructing riverine paleo-flow regimes using subfossil insects (Coleoptera and Trichoptera): the application of the LIFE methodology to paleochannel sediments

“…For each sample the LIFE score was calculated following the original methodology of Extence et al (1999) as modified by Greenwood et al (2006), for application in paleolimnological research. The original Trichoptera and aquatic Coleoptera LIFE scores were used throughout, with the exception of some difficult taxa that can only be identified to a generic or species group, based on subfossil material (e.g.…”

“…The Lotic invertebrate Index for Flow Evaluation (LIFE methodology) was devised to assess the contemporary aquatic macroinvertebrate communities associated with river-flow variability (Extence et al 1999;Monk et al 2006). The LIFE methodology assigns a score to each macroinvertebrate taxon that is related to their known flow-velocity preferences (Flow groups I to VI, fast flow to semi permanent aquatic habitats).…”