Key Concepts for Using Biological Indicators

• Role of ecoregions and watersheds
• What we really do with fish and benthic macroinvertebrates
• Multimetric indexes - becoming more useful and effective
• Lessons learned for biological monitoring and assessment
• Recommended bioassessment program requirements

What Do We Really Do With Fish and Benthic Macroinvertebrates?

You may have heard about sampling fish and benthos, and what good indicators they are, but do you know what really happens? How do we use these "bugs" and fish to assess watershed health?

Design a Sampling Effort		Collect The Organisms
	upstream/downstream tributaries random design reference condition		seining electrofishing cobble bottom muddy bottom dip-net artificial substrate large rivers
Identify Them (fish/inverterbrates)		Prepare and Analyze Data (Visit the Statistical Primer for more information)
	some types of organisms you may find include: worms, clams, insects, crayfish, minnows,  darters, sunfish
Obtain Water Quality Score Result		Present Results for Management Decision

Biological Indicators | Aquatic Biodiversity | Statistical Primer

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