Processing your collected sample

After you collect your stream sample, the sample needs to be picked (ie, cleaned), sorted and identified before any analysis such as the Index of Biological Integrity may be applied.

A word about Taxonomy. Depending on your monitoring goals you can apply the Index of Biological Integrity at the Family level of taxonomy or the Genus/Species level.

Genus/Species level identification provides a better understanding of biological integrity and allows application of the 10-metric B-IBI. However, Genus/Species identification requires professional taxonomy level of experience to achieve good results.

The Family level identification provides a good understanding of biological integrity and is easier to achieve for volunteer monitors. Family level identification allows application of the 5-metric B-IBI and can be achieved by non taxonomists with sufficient training.

If you don't have the funds to send your sample to a professional laboratory but desire to get a higher level taxonomy classification, you can preserve your sample and send them in when funding is secure.

Some options for processing a biomonitoring sample:

• Send your sample to a professional taxonomy laboratory. Prices vary according to how much you "clean" (i.e., pick) your sample (see Picking Benthic Macroinvertebrates Sample for more details). Many taxonomy laboratories provide an analytical output for your sample including the IBI.

• Identify the sample yourself AND garner support from local resource experts who can help you identify your sample. Local resource experts may be found in cooperative extension offices, universities, conservation districts, high schools, federal or state wildlife departments, fish conservation groups, fishing groups, and others.

Saturday, 01-Aug-1998 17:14:48 PDT