Overview

This European Standard gives guidance on procedures for the pro-rata Multi-Habitat-Sampling (MHS) of benthic macro-invertebrates in wadeable rivers and streams. The term "pro-rata" reflects the intention to sample adequate proportions of riverine habitats with reference to their percentage occurrence. The pro-rata MHS technique does not replace other techniques, but is rather, alongside other applications, a fundamental requisite of some multi-metric assessment approaches used to evaluate the ecological status of running waters. The method described in this document is one of the possible techniques among the existing pro-rata MHS techniques. This document also contains in a detailed manner how to sample different habitats that might be suitable for sampling approaches other than Multi-Habitat-Sampling. The method focuses on a multi-habitat approach, designed for sampling major habitats in proportion to their presence within a sampling reach. A sample consists of a number of sampling units (SU) taken from habitat types in relation to their spatial percentage cover. This standard has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 230 "Water analysis". The responsible German committee is Working Group NA 119-01-03-05-06 AK "Biologisch-ökologische Gewässeruntersuchung" ("Biological-ecological water examination") of Working Committee NA 119-01-03 AA "Wasseruntersuchung" ("Water Analysis") at NAW. The project has been funded by the Länderfinanzierungsprogramm "Wasser, Boden und Abfall" (federal funding programme "Water, soil and waste").

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 119-01-03 AA - Water quality (CEN/TC 230, ISO/TC 147)  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 230/WG 2 - Biological methods co-ordination group