CABIN - Laboratory Methods, Processing, Taxonomy, and Quality Control of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Samples

Abstract

The Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) is the national biomonitoring program developed by Environment Canada. It provides a standardized biomonitoring sampling protocol and data analysis for the comparability of biomonitoring data from across the country and various agencies. CABIN provides the tools necessary to conduct consistent and scientifically credible biological assessments of freshwater. Each office or laboratory participating in the CABIN program must implement the prescribed quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures. This ensures that precision, accuracy, completeness, comparability and representativeness of the data are known and documented (Barbour et al. 1999). The quality assurance (QA) component provides data users and project managers with the confidence that the accuracy and quality of data is within controlled and acceptable limits. The quality control (QC) component provides users with standard procedures to reduce the error rate in sample sorting and identification.

The objectives of this document are to provide: • Requirements to assure quality in the processing and identification of benthic macroinvertebrates • Descriptions of quality control procedures for the sorting and taxonomic identification of benthic macroinvertebrates

To maintain data quality in the national CABIN database all taxonomy laboratories must process samples and provide data using the following methods.

Details of field sampling procedures, data analysis and associated QA/QC procedures can be found in other CABIN documentation.

The preparation of this manual relied on protocols developed by other authors and is adapted from existing QA/QC programs. In particular:

CABIN: Reynoldson, T.B., C. Logan, T. Pascoe and S.P. Thompson. 2001. CABIN (Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network) Invertebrate Biomonitoring Field and Laboratory Manual, National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada 47 pp.

AUSRIVAS: WATER ECOscience. 2004. National River Health Program AusRivAS Quality Assurance and Quality Control Project. Appendix B: Literature Review QA/QC methodology for rapid bioassessment programs. Prepared for the Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Heritage. WATER ECOscience Report Number: 543 Program: http://ausrivas.canberra.edu.au/

USGS: Moulton, S.R., Carter, J.L., Grotheer, S.A., Cuffney, T.F., and Short, T.M. 2000. Methods for analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory – processing, taxonomy, and quality control of benthic macroinvertebrate samples: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-212, 49 p.

EPA: Barbour, M.T., J. Gerritsen, B.D. Snyder and J.B. Stribling. 1999. Rapid bioassessment protocols for use in streams and wadeable rivers: Periphyton, benthic invertebrates and fish. Second Edition. EPA 841-B-99-002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Office of Water; Washington, D.C.