Benthic Invertebrates

These non-vertebrate organisms, such as aquatic insects, crayfish, worms, and molluscs are associated with the substrate in water bodies such as streams, rivers, ponds, or lakes. They allow scientists to assess water quality integrated over time and space using such measures and richness (i.e. number of different species) or relative abundance of those species. Since 1995, the NWQL has processed and identified benthic invertebrate samples all 50 states including Alaska and Hawaii. The NWQL processes samples with established national, state, or other published methods and can also perform custom sample processing to meet individual investigator’s needs.