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Rapid Bioassessment Protocols For Use in Streams
and Rivers: Periphyton, Benthic,
Macroinvertebrates, and Fish, 2nd
Edition
EPA 841-B-99-002
Text and Information
Source EPA
Download
Entire Document at
http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/rbp/download.html
This is a portion of an EPA Document
Table 1. Definitions of best candidate benthic metrics and
predicted direction of metric response to
increasing perturbation
| Category | Metric | Definition | Predicted response to increasing perturbation |
| Richness measures | Total No. taxa | Measures the overall variety of the macroinvertebrate assemblage | Decrease |
| No. EPT taxa | Number of taxa in the insect orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies) | Decrease | |
| No. Ephemeroptera Taxa | Number of mayfly taxa (usually genus or species level) | Decrease | |
| No. Plecoptera Taxa | Number of stonefly taxa (usually genus of species level) | Decrease | |
| No. Trichoptera Taxa | Number of caddisfly taxa (usually genus or species level) | Decrease | |
| Composition measures | % EPT | Percent of the composite of mayfly, stonefly, and caddisfly larvae | Decrease |
| % Ephemeroptera | Percent of mayfly nymphs | Decrease | |
| Tolerance/Intolerance measures | No. of Intolerant Taxa | Taxa richness of those organisms considered to be sensitive to perturbation | Decrease |
| % Tolerant Organisms | Percent of macrobenthos considered to be tolerant of various types of perturbation | Increase | |
| % Dominant Taxon | Measures the dominance of the single most abundant taxon. Can be calculated as dominant 2, 3, 4, or 5 taxa. | Increase | |
| Feeding measures | % Filterers | Percent of the macrobenthos that filter FPOM from either the water column or sediment | Variable |
| % Grazers and Scrapers | Percent of the macrobenthos that scrape or graze upon periphyton | Decrease | |
| Habit measures | Number of Clinger Taxa | Number of taxa of insects | Decrease |
| % Clingers | Percent of insects having fixed retreats or adaptations for attachment to surfaces in flowing water. | Decrease |
Composition measures can be characterized by several classes of information, i.e., the identity, key taxa, and relative abundance. Identity is the knowledge of individual taxa and associated ecological patterns and environmental requirements (Barbour et al. 1995). Key taxa (i.e., those that are of special interest or ecologically important) provide information that is important to the condition of the targeted assemblage. The presence of exotic or nuisance species may be an important aspect of biotic interactions that relate to both identity and sensitivity. Measures of composition (or relative abundance) provide information on the make-up of the assemblage and the relative contribution of the populations to the total fauna (Table 2). Relative, rather than absolute, abundance is used because the relative contribution of individuals to the total fauna (a reflection of interactive principles) is more informative than abundance data on populations without a knowledge of the interaction among taxa (Plafkin et al. 1989, Barbour et al. 1995).
The premise is that a healthy and stable assemblage will be relatively consistent in its proportional representation, though individual abundances may vary in magnitude. Percentage of the dominant taxon is a simple measure of redundancy Plafkin et al. 1989). A high level of redundancy is equated with the dominance of a pollution tolerant organism and a lowered diversity. Several diversity indices, which are measures of information content and incorporate both richness and evenness in their formulas, may function as viable metrics in some cases, but are usually redundant with taxa richness and % dominance (Barbour et al. 1996b).
Table 2. Definitions of additional potential benthic metrics
and predicted direction of metric response
to increasing perturbation.
| Category | Metric | Definition | Predicted response to increasing perturbation | References |
| Richness measures | No. Pteronarcys species | The presence or absence of a long-lived stonefly genus (2-3 year life cycle) | Decrease | Fore et al. 1996 |
| No. Diptera taxa | Number of "true" fly taxa, which includes midges | Decrease | DeShon 1995 | |
| No. Chironomidae taxa | Number of taxa of chironomid (midge) larvae | Decrease | Hayslip 1993, Barbour et al. 1996b | |
| Composition measures | % Plecoptera | Percent of stonefly nymphs | Decrease | Barbour et al. 1994 |
| % Trichoptera | Percent of caddisfly larvae | Decrease | DeShon 1995 | |
| % Diptera | Percent of all "true" fly larvae | Increase | Barbour et al. 1996b | |
| % Chironomidae | Percent of midge larvae | Increase | Barbour et al. 1994 | |
| % Tribe Tanytarsini | Percent of Tanytarisinid midges to total fauna | Decrease | DeShon 1995 | |
| % Other Diptera and noninsects | Composite of those organisms generally considered to be tolerant to a wide range of environmental conditions | Increase | DeShon 1995 | |
| % Corbicula | Percent of asiatic clam in the benthic assemblage | Increase | Kerans and Karr 1994 | |
| % Oligochaeta | Percent of aquatic worms | Variable | Kerans and Karr 1994 | |
| Tolerance/Intolerance measures | No. Intol. Snail and Mussel species | Number of species of molluscs generally thought to be pollution intolerant | Decrease | Kerans and Karr 1994 |
| % Sediment Tolerant organisms | Percent of infaunal macrobenthos tolerant of perturbation | Increase | Fore et al. 1996 | |
| Hilsenhoff Biotic Index | Uses tolerance values to weight abundance in an estimate of overall pollution. Originally designed to evaluate organic pollution | Increase | Barbour et al. 1992, Hayslip 1993, Kerans and Karr 1994 | |
| Florida Index | Weighted sum of intolerant taxa, which are classed as 1 (least tolerant) or 2 (intolerant). Florida Index = 2 X Class 1 taxa + Class 2 taxa | Decrease | Barbour et al. 1996b | |
| % Hydropsychidae to Trichoptera | Relative abundance of pollution tolerant caddisflies (metric could also be regarded as a composition measure) | Increase | Barbour et al. 1992, Hayslip 1993 | |
| Feeding measures | % Omnivores and Scavengers | Percent of generalists in feeding strategies | Increase | Kerans and Karr 1994 |
| % Ind. Gatherers and Filterers | Percent of collector feeders of CPOM and FPOM | Variable | Kerans and Karr 1994 | |
| % Gatherers | Percent of the macrobenthos that "gather" | Variable | Barbour et al. 1996b | |
| % Predators | Percent of the predator functional feeding group. Can be made restrictive to exclude omnivores | Variable | Kerans and Karr 1994 | |
| % Shredders | Percent of the macrobenthos that "shreds" leaf litter | Decrease | Barbour et al. 1992, Hayslip 1993 | |
| Life cycle measures | % Multivoltine | Percent of organisms having short (several per year) life cycle | Increase | Barbour et al. 1994 |
| % Univoltine | Percent of organisms relatively long-lived (life cycles of 1 or more years) | Decrease | Barbour et al. 1994 |
Source: http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/rbp/ch07b.html#Section 7.4
Links
http://mason.gmu.edu/~avia/intro.htm
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Science/SWCS/ZOOBENTH/biotic.html
Surface Water Water Quality Guidelines
Macroinvertebrate Field Guide - Biological Indicator Organisms - Kentucky Water Watch This site has the organisms arranged by their sensitivity to pollution, i.e., Group One Taxa - Pollution Sensitive Organisms, Group Two Taxa - Pollution Intermediate Organisms, and Group Three Taxa - Pollution Tolerate Organisms. By clicking on one of these groups, you then get a graphic list of the organisms. Clicking on a particular organism will get you a larger graphic and additional information about that organism.
Macroinvertebrate
Key - Save Our Streams - Izaak Walton League
This site will provide information on the Save Our Streams program in addition
to an active dichotomous key for macroinvertebrates.
For testing support for this or other chemical or biological parameters, please contact eqc@wilkes.edu .
For More information about the Environmental Quality Center, please contact:
Attn: Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG)
Laboratory Director
Wilkes University
Environmental Engineering and
Earth Science Department
PO Box 111
84 West South Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766
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