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Reliable and effective sampling gear type for large river substrate dwelling macroinvertebrates
Harrison, Audrey B.; Slack, William T.; Lewis, Bradley R.; Collins, Jay A.; Murphy, Catherine E.River Systems, (2018), p. -
Abstract
Benthic macroinvertebrates are touted as excellent indicators of ecological condition, water quality, and environmental history, and are used to assess biotic integrity of fluvial systems worldwide. These organisms are sampled most frequently in wadeable streams, less commonly in larger water bodies. Large river macroinvertebrates are notoriously difficult to sample, particularly those residing on and within benthic substrates. Following repeated difficulties in acquiring benthic macroinvertebrate samples in the Lower Mississippi River, USA, using commercially available samplers, we sought to find a gear type that samples reliably and effectively over all riverine substrates and flow conditions. We developed and tested a benthic sled and present its sampling efficacy. One sampling effort (72 samples) in June 2014 yielded a total of 54 unique taxa (> 2400 individuals). Based on its reliability and effectiveness, we advocate the use of this gear type over commercially available grab-type samplers for sampling substrates in large rivers, especially when describing and monitoring macroinvertebrate communities and conducting bioassessments.
