Effectiveness of techniques for freshwater biomonitoring using benthic macroinvertebrates
PI(s): Voshell, Jr, J Reese
Investigators: Braccia, Amy, Willey, Tara, Ciparis, Serena, Hiner, Stephen W
Abstract: We have a longstanding interest in improving benthic macroinvertebrate-based biomonitoring methods and data analyses to draw valid conclusions about the environmental health of streams and rivers.
Description:
Benthic macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects and their relatives that live on the bottoms of water bodies) are the most commonly used organisms for assessing the biological integrity of streams and rivers. However, because of the diversity of these organisms and the complexity of the habitats where they live, there is no single, most effective protocol for study design, sampling methods, laboratory procedures, and data analysis. For example, the Aquatic Entomology Program has conducted studies to determine the most effective taxonomic level and sampling habitat to discern impaired streams from reference streams. We use research opportunities provided by a variety of sponsors to develop, evaluate, and modify techniques. The Aquatic Entomology Program was contracted by Washington and Jefferson National Forest and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to develop benthic macroinvertebrate-based biomonitoring programs to be used by agency employees. Dr. Voshell serves on VaDEQ's academic advisory committee. His research on multimetric indices of stream health has contributed to the development of the statewide Stream Condition Index by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, which is currently being validated. Government agencies have begun to use biological monitoring data collected by volunteers for official regulatory purposes, but questions have been raised regarding the validity of conclusions about stream health. The Aquatic Entomology Program conducted a study to evaluate, modify, and validate the Virginia Save-Our-Streams program, a popular volunteer monitoring program that is based on benthic macroinvertebrate samples. With the original VaSOS protocol, the results obtained by volunteers and professional aquatic biologists were not correlated and at times produced different conclusions about stream health. Modifications to VaSOS sampling techniques and data interpretation resulted in good correlation between volunteers and professional biologists and similar conclusions about stream health. The Aquatic Entomology Program is continuing to conduct validation studies for VaSOS. Additional ongoing studies involve considering the best techniques for linking the effects of environmental stressors on the observed benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage. Commonly used sampling protocols recommend visual estimates of important habitat variables (e.g., sedimentation, bottom composition) in order to reduce costs, but we believe that actual measurements of habitat variables may be necessary to explain the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages that occur in streams impaired by human activities such as agriculture, forestry, and urbanization.
Impact:
These studies are providing scientifically defensible techniques to monitor the environmental health of streams. Federal and state agencies, consulting companies, citizen groups, and universities are using our results. The biomonitoring programs developed for the U. S. Forest Service and National Park Service are helping these agencies provide sound environmental stewardship to more than 3000 miles of streams in Virginia.
Commodities:
Resources: Aquatic Entomology Laboratory
Disciplines: Aquatic Systems, Ecology, Environmental Quality
Audiences: Environmental Groups, Government Agencies, Researchers
