Benthic Biomonitoring
Collecting and identifying benthic (bottom dwelling) macroinvertebrates is a useful tool in understanding the water quality of a system. These small critters can provide a window into the world of water quality. Knowing what invertebrates are at a site, and how abundant each type is, helps us understand the water quality characteristics of the site, due to their tolerance or intolerance of the surrounding environment. They are an important part of the ecosystem, both as a source of food to other organisms (e.g., fish), and as ‘recyclers’, breaking down organic materials, like leaves. Thus, it is important to understand what types of benthic creatures are taking part in this system and are available for us to explore.
The Healthy Headwaters Lab undertakes its own local stream ecology program of research and offers benthic biomonitoring services to external users using provincial (Ontario Benthic Biomonitoring Network; OBBN) and federal (Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network; CABIN) protocols to identify aquatic macroinvertebrate communities to the lowest practicable level or at least to the family level of identification. The Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol (OSAP) is followed for habitat measurements.
We currently offer the following services:
OBBN Lab Identification
5 sample minimum, can be spread across multiple dates in a calendar year
Field collection, including in-situ water chemistry & lab identification
6 sample minimum, can be spread across multiple dates within a calendar year
Includes mileage and transportation to sites up to 200km round trip from GLIER
Data are provided as raw numbers with options for preliminary analysis and upload to the OBBN database. Water quality analyses (e.g., NO3, PO4, DOC, TSS) can be coupled with benthic biomonitoring. Please contact us for negotiated pricing.
Healthy Headwaters Lab Director: Dr. Catherine Febria
OBBN & CABIN certified technician: Alyssa Frazao, MSc
Get in touch.
Interested in our biomonitoring services? Please contact us for pricing and service information including sample specifications and turnaround times.