BRIDGES is a recurring feature of J-NABS intended to provide a forum for the interchange of ideas and information between basic and applied researchers in benthic science. Articles in this series focus on topical research areas and linkages between basic and applied aspects of research, monitoring, policy, and education. Readers with ideas for topics should contact Associate Editors, Nick Aumen and Marty Gurtz. Biomonitoring streams using macroinvertebrate community composition is an integral part of water-quality programs throughout the USA. Carter and Resh use a questionnaire-based survey to evaluate biomonitoring methods used by state programs. They conclude that most programs use a similar suite of techniques both in the field and in the laboratory; however, significant differences among the programs in the specifics of individual steps (e.g., mesh size used for collecting, number of organisms sorted) affect comparability among programs. Carter and Resh suggest a need for increased research to address methods issues, and provide a list of questions as a starting point for determining the influences of differences in methods on biomonitoring data.

BMI data are reviewed for accuracy and completeness prior to release. BMI data are released phylogenetically in spreadsheet format and unprocessed abundances are corrected for laboratory and field subsampling when necessary.