Methods of sampling benthic invertebrates in lotic habitats: a spatial and temporal evaluation

Abstract

Aim We compared the effectiveness of two sampling devices, the Surber sampler and the D-frame net, commonly used in the analysis of invertebrate fauna structure in biomonitoring programs. These programs use the response of benthic invertebrates to assess changes in aquatic ecosystems because they respond quickly to spatial and temporal variations. However, the lack of consensus on the best method of sampling the fauna may reduce the quality of these studies. Methods We evaluated both devices in four structurally different reaches of streams, two in places with preserved riparian vegetation and two occurring in places with many anthropic disturbances. We repeated the analysis at the dry season of two consecutive years. Results The two samplers were equally effective in analyzing the benthic fauna and sensitive enough to identify spatial and temporal variation in the structure of this fauna, influenced by the presence or absence of riparian vegetation, by the position of the reach with this vegetation (upstream or downstream of the reach without vegetation) and the characteristics of the substrate. Conclusions The analyzed fauna structure was similar for the two samplers, but we consider the use of Surber more advantageous and effective because it collects a smaller number of individuals, reducing the time of processing and identifying in the laboratory, and allows a better definition of the area sampled.

A Comparison of the Efficiency of Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Sampling Tools Used in Lotic Environmental Impact Assessment of Human Activities in A Tropical Mountain Stream in Eastern Uganda

“…The Surber sampler scooped less detritus and less macroinvertebrates, while the kick net scooped more detritus and macroinvertebrates that required more time to sort macroinvertebrates. A similar finding was established by Cunha et al (2019)…”

“…It is important that efficiencies of several sampling tools are known and comparison made to determine the best two or three alternative sampling methods that are approved for a specific region's water resources bioassessment. This would be a step towards identifying internationally accepted efficient sampling tools (Cunha et al, 2019).…”

“…An efficient sampling tool should requires less time for sample processing, more so in rapid bioassessment of streams. The sample processing time also depends on the quality of organisms and the amounts of debris collected in a sample, which depends on the type of the sampling tool used (Cunha et al, 2019;Southwood 1978). A sampling tool that is not efficient makes sampling…”

Linking Macroinvertebrates and Physicochemical Parameters for Water Quality Assessment in the Lower Basin of the Volta River in Ghana

“…At each sampling location, a surber sampler (30 × 30 cm and 250 micron mesh) was used for collecting macroinvertebrates based on the RBP as it is suitable to sample different habitats (Lima da Cunha et al 2019 ). On each site three replicates were collected and composited as one sample.…”

Macrobenthos as an indicator of water quality assessment in Kutaraja Fishing Port, Indonesia

“…The high activity in the Kutaraja Fishing Port area impacts the environment, one of which is the decline in water quality at the port (Muninggar et al, 2017). Due to many activities at the port, it is suspected that water quality will decline.Changes in water quality in the port can be seen from the biological parameters based on the structure of the aquatic community of organisms that act as bioindicators.One of the marine organisms that can be used as an indicator of water quality is benthos because of its sedentary nature (Cunha et al, 2019).…”