More than meets the eye
Freshwater invertebrates play a vital role in maintaining the quality of our water resources; they help to process organic matter and provide a food source for other species.
They are also key indicators of the health of aquatic ecosystems – freshwater invertebrate surveys are typically carried out to assess the water quality of a particular waterbody as there is evidence that links their species occurrence and density to the quality of the environment.
WWT Consulting has undertaken freshwater invertebrate surveys in various locations in the United Kingdom. Our clients range from landowners, environmental groups and other consultancies to local Government and multinational companies.
During field surveys, our ecologists strive to identify specimens in situ as much as possible; however, some species do require identification in the laboratory, after which lists per sampling location are produced and our data is ready for further analysis.
Some of the most commonly used biological indices to provide information on water quality using freshwater invertebrates are the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) and the Average Score per Taxon (ASPT), which make use of the principle that different taxa have different tolerances to pollutants.
Either as a punctual assessment or as part of a monitoring programme to evaluate the effect of different activities and practices in the environment, the analysis of freshwater invertebrate data can provide meaningful results to inform management, meet environmental objectives and ultimately safeguard the ecosystem services provided by wetlands.
If you require a freshwater invertebrate survey, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss your needs.
