Sieve retention probabilities of stream benthic invertebrates

Abstract

Abstract Replicate samples of cobbles and loose inorganic and organic matter collected from 3 stream-riffle sites with different periphyton communities were passed through a geometric series of 9 sieves (0.063–16 mm mesh) to quantify sieve retention probabilities of benthic invertebrates. Sieves retained all organisms with a body length >10× the mesh size. Logistic regression models were estimated to describe retention probabilities as functions of body length and mesh size. Retention probability functions differed slightly but significantly among sites, operators, and taxa. Retention probabilities were higher for samples containing filamentous algae, which entangled invertebrates. Size distributions of straight, elongate invertebrates (e.g., oligochaetes, midge larvae) retained by sieves were more variable than distributions of more spherical organisms (e.g., gastropods). On average, the 1-mm sieve retained >90% of invertebrate biomass but <33% of individuals retained by a 63-μm sieve. Size distribution ...