Assessing Water Quality Using Two Taxonomic Levels of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Analysis: Implications for Volunteer Monitors

• Published in: Journal of freshwater ecology Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 581 - 586
• Main Authors: O'Leary, Niamh, Vawter, A. Thomas, Wagenet, Linda Plummer, Pfeffer, Max
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01-12-2004
• Subjects: Freshwater
• ISSN: 0270-5060; 2156-6941
• DOI: 10.1080/02705060.2004.9664738

With regard to the identification of benthic macroinvertebrates, we evaluated the extent to which family-based information gathered by non-scientist volunteers compared to genus-level analysis by scientists. Volunteer monitors were trained in the techniques of family-level benthic macroinvertebrate analysis by scientists. The volunteers then sampled a local third order stream, identified specimens to the family level, and calculated metrics that led to a water quality rating based on the family-level data. The scientists examined all of the samples, identified the specimens to the genus-level, and re-calculated the metrics and the resultant water quality rating. Metrics of water quality based on family-level analysis did not always correlate well with those based on genus-level analysis. However, ratings of overall water quality were either identical or differed little between the family and genus levels of analyses.