SHEN Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring SOP 09: Qualitative Sampling of Macroinvertebrates, version 1.0
Wofford JE, Demarest ED, Voshell JR. 2018. SHEN Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring SOP 09: Qualitative Sampling of Macroinvertebrates, version 1.0
The purpose of qualitative sampling of macroinvertebrates is to help estimate the total taxa richness within a reach. Macroinvertebrates are microhabitat specialists. Although cobble/pebble riffles are the preferred microhabitat for the majority of taxa living in streams, numerous other taxa live only in microhabitats that are not amenable to sampling with quantitative devices such as the Portable Invertebrate Box Sampler (PIBS) or Surber sampler. Qualitative samples are taken with a D-frame dip net with a 500-μm mesh bag. Common microhabitats other than riffles include: root mat/undercut bank, leaf packs, aquatic rooted macrophytes, terrestrial plants hanging in the water, large woody debris, boulder/outcrop, and sand/silt. These additional microhabitats occur in calm as well as fast flowing water. The activities involved with qualitative sampling include: choosing the sample locations, taking the sample, and preserving the sample. Required equipment for this task is a D-frame dip net with a 500-μm mesh bag, a bag to retain the sample, label with proper site number and replicate, cover datasheet, and 95% ethanol.
- Type
- Standard Operating Procedure
- Authors
- Wofford, John; Demarest, E.; Voshell, J.
- Date of Issue
- 2018-05
- Units
- SHEN
- Keywords
- AQIN, SHEN, SOP
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Algae