10010

Introduction

Approved by Standard Methods Committee, 2006. Editorial revisions, 2022. Joint Task Group: Michael K. Hein (chair), Byron J. Adams, Steven N. Francoeur, Donald J.
Klemm, Ernst B. Peebles, Donald J. Reish, Miles M. Smart, Ann L. St. Amand, Paul V. Zimba.

The physical and chemical characteristics of waterbodies affect • Chlorophyll A (10150): Three methods for chlorophyll a anal-
the abundance, species composition, stability, productivity, and ysis are included: spectrophotometry, fluorometry, and HPLC.
physiological condition of aquatic organism populations. Bio- • Plankton (10200): A community of autotrophic (phytoplank-
logical methods used to assess water quality include the collec- ton) and heterotrophic (zooplankton, bacteria, fungi) organ-
tion, counting, and identification of aquatic organisms; biomass isms, usually drifting or suspended in water, nonmotile or
measurements; measurements of metabolic activity rates; mea- insufficiently motile to overcome transport by currents. In
surements of pollutant toxicity, bioconcentration, and bioaccu- fresh water, they generally are small or microscopic; in marine
mulation; and processing and interpretation of biological data. or estuarine environments, large plankters are often observed.
Information from these methods may serve one or more of the • Periphyton (10300): A community of autotrophic (algae) and
following purposes: heterotrophic (bacteria, fungi, protozoa) organisms associated
• To explain the cause of color, turbidity, odor, taste, or visible with the surfaces of submersed objects. Some are attached,
particulates in water; some move about. Many of the protozoa and other min-
• To help interpret chemical analyses (e.g., relating the pres- ute invertebrates and algae found in plankton also occur in
ence or absence of certain biological forms to oxygen defi- periphyton.
ciency or supersaturation in natural waters); • Macrophytes (10400): Large plants of all types. They are
• To identify the source of one water that is mixing with sometimes attached at the bottom (benthic), sometimes
another; free-floating, sometimes totally submersed, and sometimes
• To explain the clogging of pipes, screens, or filters, and to partly emergent. Complex vascular plants usually have true
help design and operate water and wastewater treatment roots, stems, and leaves. Macroalgae are simpler but may
plants; have stem- and leaf-like thalli.
• To determine optimal times for treating surface water with • Macroinvertebrates (10500): The invertebrates defined here
algicides and to monitor treatment effectiveness; are those retained by a U.S. Standard No. 30 sieve (0.6-mm
• To determine the effectiveness of drinking water treatment openings). They are generally bottom-dwelling organisms
stages, to help determine the effective chlorine dose in a (benthos) that live at least part of their life cycles within or
water treatment plant, and to indicate treatment problems or upon available substrates in lentic (standing) and lotic (flow-
deficiencies; ing) waterbodies.
• To identify the nature, extent, and biological effects of pol- • Fish (10600): Vertebrates of diverse morphology, ecology,
lution; and behavior, inhabiting (and generally limited to) aquatic
• To indicate the progress of self-purification in waterbodies; systems. They have fins and gills.
• To help determine the condition and effectiveness of unit • Benthic Meiofauna (10700): The invertebrates defined here
processes and biological wastewater treatment methods in a are those that pass through a U.S. Standard No. 35 sieve (0.5-
wastewater treatment plant; mm openings) and are retained by a No. 230 sieve (0.063-mm
• To document short- and long-term variability in water qual- openings) or No. 325 sieve (0.044-mm openings). Benthic
ity caused by natural phenomena or human activities; meiofauna include nematodes (Section 10750), express an
• To provide data on the status and trends of an aquatic system; extreme range of morphological and life history diversity,
• To correlate the biological mass or components with water and have free-living, parasitic, or symbiotic trophic habits.
chemistry or conditions. Note: A statistical correlation may • Nematological Examination (10750) provides background,
not always signify a cause-and-effect relationship because of collection and processing techniques, and dichotomous keys
the presence of confounding variables or unknown covariates. to the most common nematode genera.
The specific nature of a problem and the reasons for collect- • Identification of Aquatic Organisms (10900): This section
ing samples dictates which communities of aquatic organisms to includes dichotomous keys utilizing line drawings for the
examine and which sampling and analytical techniques to use. major groups of marine and freshwater aquatic organisms.
The following sections comprise Part 10000: This section also includes color plates of the common fresh-
• Algal Toxin Analysis (10110): Two methods for detect- water microalgae.
ing microcystins and nodularins including enzyme-linked Large numbers of bacteria and fungi are present in plankton
immunosorbent assay (ELISA, similar to US EPA Method and periphyton, and constitute an essential element of the total
546) and chemical oxidation and LC-MS/MS analysis for aquatic ecosystem. Although their interactions with living and
total microcystins and nodularins. dead organic matter profoundly affect larger aquatic organisms,

https://doi.org/10.2105/SMWW.2882.205 1
 10010 INTRODUCTION

techniques for their investigation are not included herein (see Part signs of environmental changes as reflected in various aquatic
9000). communities. Detecting environmental changes also depends on
Amphibians, aquatic reptiles, birds, and mammals are useful in the accurate and consistent identification of the organisms pres-
monitoring long-term changes in water quality and the presence ent. Sections 10600 (Fish), 10750 (Nematological Examination),
of toxic substances (see Section 8930). These organisms may be and 10900 (Identification of Aquatic Organisms) include basic
affected directly or indirectly by spills or other discharges of pol- keys, drawings of organisms, and selected references to help biol-
lutants. ogists identify the plants and animals collected in field surveys.
Field observations are indispensable for meaningful biological However, these cannot fully replace examination by taxonomic
interpretations, but many biological factors cannot be evaluated experts for key groups.
directly in the field. These must be analyzed as field data or field The primary orientation of Part 10000 is toward field collection
samples in the laboratory. Because the significance of the ana- and associated laboratory analyses to help determine the status
lytical result depends on the representativeness of the sample, of aquatic communities under field conditions and interpret the
attention is given to both field methods and associated laboratory influence of past and present environmental conditions. Principal
procedures. emphasis is on methods and equipment, rather than on interpre-
Before sampling begins, clearly define study objectives. For tation or application of results. The complex interrelationships
example, the frequency of a repetitive sampling program may existing in an aquatic environment often require many field and
vary from hourly, for a detailed study of diel variability, to every laboratory procedures, so frequent cross-references between sec-
third month (quarterly) for a general assessment of seasonal con- tions have been made.
ditions. The scope of the study must be adjusted based on limits Many other types of studies may be, and are being, conducted
in personnel, time, and budget. Before developing a study plan, that are oriented more toward laboratory research. Such labora-
examine historic data for the study area and conduct a literature tory studies will develop further basic knowledge of community
search to identify related work elsewhere. and organism responses under controlled conditions and will help
Whenever practicable, biologists should collect their own sam- predict the effects of future environmental changes on aquatic
ples. Much of an experienced biologist’s value lies in personal communities. However, such studies are not within the scope of
observations of field conditions and in the ability to recognize Part 10000.

Published Online: August 27, 2018

https://doi.org/10.2105/SMWW.2882.205 2