Abstract
The estimation of the number of samples required for reliably monitoring lakes’ benthic macroinvertebrates is difficult due to the natural variability and cost and time constraints. To determine a statistically robust and effective sampling design, we collected benthic macroinvertebrate samples from 15 Greek natural lakes. We compared the spatial and temporal variability of the benthic macroinvertebrate community composition to identify differences among lakes, between lake zones (sublittoral and profundal) and sampling periods. Furthermore, we examined the sampling precision and determined the number of required samples to attain maximum taxa richness. The diminution of the sampling effort was estimated and the desired precision level, considering different benthic macroinvertebrate abundances, was modelled. No temporal or spatial variation between lake zones was observed in communities’ compositions. The precision of our sampling design was adequate, and rarefaction curves revealed an adequate taxa richness (>70%). The developed model could be applied to assess the required sampling effort in lakes within the Mediterranean ecoregion with similar benthic macroinvertebrate abundances.
Highlights
The implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) [1] requires the use of different Biological Quality Elements (BQEs), including phytoplankton, macrophytes, fish, phytobenthos, and benthic macroinvertebrates, to assess the ecological quality of surface water bodies
Benthic macroinvertebrates have been widely used as biological indicators for more than a century, as they meet the requirements of an effective ecological indicator due to their ability to respond to different pressures by changing their abundance, taxonomic richness, community composition, and biological traits [2]
Apart from Lake Mikri Prespa, the sublittoral zone contributed to the total taxa richness with one to 22 taxa (Figure 2a)
Summary
The implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) [1] requires the use of different Biological Quality Elements (BQEs), including phytoplankton, macrophytes, fish, phytobenthos, and benthic macroinvertebrates, to assess the ecological quality of surface water bodies. Benthic macroinvertebrates have been widely used as biological indicators for more than a century, as they meet the requirements of an effective ecological indicator due to their ability to respond to different pressures by changing their abundance, taxonomic richness, community composition, and biological traits [2]. These responses should be included and monitored in the framework of monitoring programs implemented by all European Member States (MSs). It should be cost and time effective [4]
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