Ej. Kirk et Sa. Perry, A COMPARISON OF 3 ARTIFICIAL SUBSTRATE SAMPLERS - MACROINVERTEBRATE DENSITIES, TAXA RICHNESS, AND EASE OF USE, Water environment research, 66(3), 1994, pp. 193-198
Density, taxa richness, and composition of macroinvertebrates collecte
d by three types of samplers were compared to determine their relative
effectiveness for sampling in large rivers. Three multiplate samplers
and three gravel basket samplers were deployed in the water column, a
nd three large-cobble basket samplers were deployed on the river botto
m. Two sites were sampled at monthly intervals from October 1988 to No
vember 1989. Macroinvertebrate densities were significantly (p < 0.05)
different among the three sampler types. Mean monthly macroinvertebra
te density was highest on the multiplate samplers at both sites-1 742
and 1 239 macroinvertebrates/m2 and was lowest on the large-cobble bas
ket samplers at both sites-174 and 266 macroinvertebrates/m2. Mean mon
thly macroinvertebrate density was moderate on the gravel basket sampl
ers at both sites-278 and 472 macroinvertebrates/m2. Mean monthly taxa
richness was generally higher on the gravel basket and large-cobble b
asket samplers than on the multiplate samplers. Multiplate samplers co
llected larger numbers of Chironomidae, Oligochaeta, Trichoptera, and
Ephemeroptera, but were least effective at collecting Turbellaria, bur
rowing Ephemeroptera, Odonata, and Mollusca. Gravel basket samplers co
llected larger numbers of Chironomidae, Oligochaeta, Crustacea, and Ep
hemeroptera, and in addition collected more Odonata and Mollusca. Larg
e-cobble basket samplers collected more burrowing Ephemeroptera.