The increasing popularity of benthic macroinvertebrate use for biological monitoring and assessment of lotic systems calls for new applications for regions with a lesser known fauna and an overall better understanding of how community measures are influenced by seasonal variability. Two separate studies are presented to address aspects of biological monitoring that are seldom studied. The first study focused on evaluation of Grass Riparian Filter Strip effectiveness in north central Missouri. Streams within conservation areas and unprotected reaches were sampled to identify metrics that could distinguish between undesired and best attainable conditions. These metrics were used to construct two assessment tools, a Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI) and a novel technique we call a Least Desired Index (LDI). LDI works in a reciprocal fashion to B-IBI in that the lowest scoring criteria of the metrics are set by anti-reference stream conditions, or conditions that represent an undesirable quality. B-IBIs were developed from the conservation stream samples and the LDI was developed from the unprotected stream reaches. Two test sites with established GRFS were sampled and assessed with the B-IBI and the LDI. B-IBI determined that the GRFS sites showed moderate improvements where the LDI showed that the GRFS sites made no improvements. The LDI was considered to be a more realistic assessment considering that the GRFS at the test sites had only been established for 2 years and the reference streams used to construct the B-IBI were most likely impaired. The second study utilized a state designated reference stream as a case study for temporally profiling the community structure. Samples of benthic macroinvertebrates and water quality were taken approximately monthly to fulfill four objectives. The first objective was to determine if a temporal profile of the community might better reveal members of the community that are rare and transient. The second objective was to consider the maturity of each individual in weighting abundances and how these might affect the interpretation of the community structure. The third objective examined annual variability of 120 metrics. Multiple regressions with physico-chemico-temporal variables were created to see if these metrics could be predicted for samples taken during the following year. The last objective was to construct a River Invertebrate Prediction and Classification System (RIVPACS) model that classified seasons based on the biota and to use this model to predict and compare the community composition of samples taken during the following year. Rare and two types of transient taxa were recognized. Rare taxa were considered to be residents of the community, but infrequently encountered. Transient type I taxa were considered adventitious, and transient type II were short lived. Maturity weighted abundances showed significant changes in community measures and were found to be useful in aspects of other analyses. Few metrics exhibited low variation over the annual period, and fewer were predictable, indicating that seasonal variation can have a significant impact on measurements used in biological monitoring. The RIVPACS model biologically classified three seasons. Overall, the model moderately predicted community structure, also highlighting that macroinvertebrate communities are difficult to consistently quantify. Lotic habitats are important resources but are dynamic systems exhibiting challenging perspectives with regard to monitoring and quality assessment.

North American and European governments have adopted national programs for environmental monitoring and assessment that include the use of aquatic biota. These programs will use a variety of indicators of environmental health; benthic macroinvertebrates are one of the most promising of them. The chapters in this book deal with the many different approaches available for using benthic macroinvertebrates in biological monitoring programs.

The assessment of the ecological integrity of running waters is a prerequisite to an understanding of the effects of human alterations. The evaluation of degradation processes provides key information on how to avoid further negative impacts. The success of future conservation, mitigation and restoration activities will rely on sound assessment methodologies and their ecological relevance and applicability. Assessment methodologies are therefore an integral part of sustainable river management. This book synthesizes and discusses state-of-the-art experiences in assessment methodologies. Including the latest knowledge on structures, processes and functions of running waters as a fundamental basis for developing adequate assessment methods, the book focuses on method development, application, and in particular on integrated assessment methods. This book is directed at scientists and managers with the aim of more effective preservation, restoration and maintenance of the ecological integrity of running water ecosystems.

Quantifying the effect(s) of human-induced changes on aquatic ecosystems is a fundamental objective in ecological assessment, and one that often requires the use of a reference condition. Because of the widespread degradation of many aquatic ecosystems, finding pristine or even minimally disturbed reference sites can be a challenging (read frustrating) and costly endeavour. This book gives a comprehensive description of present-day concepts and practices in working with the use of references in quantifying departures from conditions expected with no or only minimal anthropogenic effects.

This open access book surveys the frontier of scientific river research and provides examples to guide management towards a sustainable future of riverine ecosystems. Principal structures and functions of the biogeosphere of rivers are explained; key threats are identified, and effective solutions for restoration and mitigation are provided. Rivers are among the most threatened ecosystems of the world. They increasingly suffer from pollution, water abstraction, river channelisation and damming. Fundamental knowledge of ecosystem structure and function is necessary to understand how human acitivities interfere with natural processes and which interventions are feasible to rectify this. Modern water legislation strives for sustainable water resource management and protection of important habitats and species. However, decision makers would benefit from more profound understanding of ecosystem degradation processes and of innovative methodologies and tools for efficient mitigation and restoration. The book provides best-practice examples of sustainable river management from on-site studies, European-wide analyses and case studies from other parts of the world. This book will be of interest to researchers in the field of aquatic ecology, river system functioning, conservation and restoration, to postgraduate students, to institutions involved in water management, and to water related industries.