Aquatic Invertebrate Surveys
Surveying aquatic invertebrates can provide valuable information about the health of aquatic ecosystems and help identify potential environmental issues.
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Why are aquatic invertebrates surveyed?
Aquatic invertebrates are vital indicators of aquatic health, population/species diversity and the wider wildlife community of an area.
They can be used to observe changes in water chemistry such as salinity or nutrient input, or to monitor pollution incidents.
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When do I need to have an aquatic invertebrate survey?
Aquatic invertebrate surveys could be necessary when planning on impacting watercourses as part of development or planning habitat restoration.
These surveys can be undertaken year-round; however, it is best practice to perform three separate site visits – taking in spring months, summer months, and autumn months. This provides an accurate assessment of the species assemblage within the watercourse and can ensure species of interest are recorded.
Alternatively, aquatic invertebrate surveys may be carried out on behalf of governing bodies, charitable organisations, or landowners in order to monitor habitat improvements, conservation measures, or track populations.
What does Abrehart Ecology offer?
At Abrehart Ecology we offer professional, skilled, and efficient aquatic invertebrate survey work. We undertake in-house fieldwork, lab work, and expert report writing.
We have worked with a wide range of clients, such as government bodies, developers, and charitable organisations in order to monitor the health of aquatic environments, wetlands, and watercourses prior to, and following, restoration works. Our work includes projects on grazing marshes, shingle lagoons, streams, lakes, estuaries, and rivers. We carry out invertebrate community surveys, as well as surveys for species of interest such as Anisus vorticulus, Vertigo moulinsiana, and Nematostella vectensis.
Taxonomy is carried out in-house, within our laboratory. We have specialist knowledge in a large array of invertebrates and use microscopy and our extensive experience and library of taxonomic literature to identify specimens. Should specialist identification be required for families of invertebrates outside our remit, samples are sent away and analysed by industry-renowned entomologists.
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Sampling
Sample tubes
Microscopy
Gallery
