Ma. Brinkman et Wg. Duffy, EVALUATION OF 4 WETLAND AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE SAMPLERS AND 4 SAMPLE SORTING METHODS, Journal of freshwater ecology, 11(2), 1996, pp. 193-200
Four sampling devices commonly used to collect aquatic invertebrates i
n wetlands were evaluated for their for their ability to capture a sam
ple representative of the community. We also evaluated four benthic ma
croinvertebrate sorting techniques for their efficiency in separating
organisms from samples. Of the four sampling gears evaluated, two were
considered active (Gerking and core samplers) and two were passive sa
mplers (activity trap and artificial substrate). Sampling gear evaluat
ions were based on the number and diversity of aquatic invertebrates c
aptured. The Gerking sampler captured significantly (P = <0.0001) grea
ter densities of aquatic invertebrates than core or artificial substra
te samplers and slightly (P = 0.056) greater densities than activity t
raps. Fewer taxa (P < 0.0001) were recorded in core samples than in ot
her sampling gears. Sorting techniques included two types of dye, an e
lutriator device, and a behavioral extraction device. Dyes were evalua
ted on the basis of time taken to sort samples. More time (P < 0.0001)
was required to sort organisms from Gerking samples than from cores o
r activity traps, regardless of whether samples were stained with Rhod
amine B or Congo Red dyes. Efficiency of extracting organisms from sam
ples was highly variable for elutriation and behavioral extraction.