2026-06-09T19:24:45+02:00 https://library.wur.nl/oai

oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/404629 2026-04-02 edurep openaire public

urn:nbn:nl:ui:32-404629 2026-04-02 urn:nbn:nl:ui:32-404629/mods Comparison of bioassessment results and costs between preserved and unpreserved macroinvertebrate samples from streams Keizer-Vlek H.E. 251884449 0000000395016760 aut Goedhart P.W. 110351177 0000-0002-9586-9862 0000000389270287 aut Verdonschot P.F.M. 073342424 0000-0002-4126-7452 0000000034176021 aut text info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2011 10.1007/s10661-010-1555-8 2-s2.0-79952453318 000288026600048 en The choice to use or not use a preservative before sorting macroinvertebrate samples (i.e., dead specimens vs. living specimens) is based on studies not solely focused on the effects of preservation. Using identical sample processing protocols, we compared preserved and unpreserved samples for the following parameters: (1) the number of taxa and individuals for each major macroinvertebrate group, (2) ecological quality classes calculated with a multimetric index developed for the assessment of small Dutch lowland streams, and (3) costs of sample processing. We collected macroinvertebrate samples from three lowland streams in the Netherlands. At each site, we collected six replicate samples, of which three samples were preserved and three were not. Significantly different numbers of Ephemeroptera individuals and Hydracarina taxa and individuals were collected from preserved samples compared to unpreserved samples. In assessments based on these individual metrics, standardization of sample processing will be required. In streams with Ephemeroptera, the preservation of samples is necessary to optimize the number of Ephemeroptera individuals collected. In streams that contain Hydracarina, the preservation of samples will result in an underestimation of the number of Hydracarina taxa and individuals present. In only one instance there was a difference in ecological quality between preserved and unpreserved samples, indicating that assessing small Dutch lowland streams does not require standardization of sample preservation as part of the sample processing protocol. We detected no significant differences in sample processing costs between preserved and unpreserved samples. Wageningen Environmental Research Biometris CE - Freshwater Ecosystems benthic macroinvertebrates communities index level macro-invertebrates rapid assessment rivers sorting methods statistical power water-quality Wageningen Environmental Research Biometris CE - Freshwater Ecosystemen Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 175 1-4 613 621 01676369 urn:nbn:nl:ui:32-404629/obj 2026-04-02 http://purl.org/eprint/accessRights/OpenAccess