Certification Test

Question 0

There are two approaches to biomonitoring. What are they?

What approach does OBBN fall under?

Answer 0

Effects-based - biomonitoring (OBBN)

Stressor-based - water chemistry

Question 1

What is biomonitoring?

Answer 1

The process of sampling, evaluating, and reporting on ecosystem condition using biological indicators

Question 2

Why are Benthos good indicators?

Answer 2

Easily sampled, abundant and widespread, they are sedentary, long-lived, and have a wide array of tolerances. They also respond to both water and sediment chemistry

Question 3

Stressor – based, versus effects – based measurements of water quality

Answer 3

Stressor – based monitoring approaches include physical and chemical analysis such as water chemistry. These provide info on exposure

Effects – based monitoring approaches include biological assessment such as benthos testing. These provide us information on how ecosystems respond to stresses

Question 4

What are the barriers to a wider application of biomonitoring?

Answer 4

No standard protocol
No mechanism for data sharing
No consistent training

( purpose of OBBN)

Question 5

Who is responsible for implementing OBBN?

Answer 5

MOE
EMAN CO

Includes a technical advisory committee that incorporates conservation authorities, universities, environment Canada, MNR, MOE, trout Unlimited, and Muskoka

Question 6

What is the MOE’s role in OBBN?

Answer 6

To coordinate training, protocol manual development, database sharing, analytical software and research.

to provide technical advice and sampling equipment

To share data

Question 7

What is CABIN?

Answer 7

Canadian aquatic biomonitoring network

Question 8

The importance of reference sites

Answer 8

Reference sites are minimally impacted control sites used to define the normal range of biological conditions to be expected at the test site.

Question 9

Reference condition approach (RCA)

Answer 9

Uses minimally impacted control sites to defined the normal range of biological conditions be expected.

Is recognized in the scientific community in peer-reviewed scientific journals

Acknowledges that healthy is variable

Requires standardized collection methods for shared data purposes

Question 10

5 Steps in the RCA

Answer 10

1. random selection of minimally impacted reference sites
2. Group reference sites according to the similarity of their biological habitats/assemblages
3. Sample a test site to characterize its biological community and habitat
4. Select appropriate reference sites to find the normal or expected test site condition
5. Statistically test the bio assessment

Question 11

How many reference sites are required with the RCA system?

Answer 11

30 reference sites are ideal, but often a challenge due to the exposure of human impacts areas like southern Ontario.

20 reference sites are the protocol requirement

Question 12

CaBIN vs OBBN

Sampling differences

Answer 12

CABIN samples streams, while OBBN samples streams lakes and wetlands

CABIN uses a timed sample of 3 minutes, while OBBN uses time/distance (3 minutes/10 metres)

CABIN uses 1 300 count, while OBBN does 3 100 counts in a riffle-pool-riffle sequence

CABIN has minimum taxonomic detail of family

Question 13

True or false

There is no objective, quantitative criteria for “minimally impacted” reference sites

Answer 13

True. Any site should be considered a candidate reference site if it is not obviously impacted by human activity.

Question 14

Factors to consider when screening potential reference sites

Answer 14

• Point source contamination
• regulation of water level
• loss of natural riparian vegetation
• catchment Deforestation
• aquatic habitat disruption
• development or urban land use in catchment
• artificial drainage in catchment
• Water chemistry
• anthropogenic acidification

Question 15

What is a niche variable?

Answer 15

Natural and often physiographic habitat variables that account for a significant portion of the variance between different Biological assemblages

Question 16

What is the OBBN recommendation for subsampling?

Answer 16

A minimum 100 animal count per sample using a marchant box (preferred) or Bucket method

Question 17

While there are number of methods used, what is the standard sampling method for collecting benthos via OBBN protocol?

Answer 17

Traveling kick and sweep

Question 18

What is the standard OBBN net mesh size?

Answer 18

500 µm

Question 19

True or false

When sampling in spring, comparisons must be made using reference and test site data from spring also.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

The most stressful season for biota

Answer 20

Summer (July, August)

Invertebrates are most likely to show a response to impacts due to high water temperatures and low oxygen levels. Summer testing often provides a low richness to invertebrate variability

Question 21

Why is fall community composition of benthos least likely to reflect water quality?

Answer 21

Invertebrates tend to expand their ranges in cooler months via colonizing, and prevalence of small juveniles makes for difficulties with identifying

Question 22

Suggest one reason why seasonal variations occur in benthos community composition

Answer 22

Non-aquatic life stages of many macro invertebrates mean an emergence from water sources

Question 23

What can be triggers for invertebrate emergence and mating?

Answer 23

Water temperature and photoperiod.

Question 24

Two considerations concerning sample picking with live samples

Answer 24

Samples must be protected from heat or animals will die and decompose Predation occurring in the sample can alter composition

Question 25

What are some considerations with preserving samples for sample picking?

Answer 25

At least a 70% concentration of alcohol is required, or 5% formalin Formalin requires buffering to prevent calcareous shells from dissolving PReservation removes identification cues related to movement and requires safety of disposal

Question 26

One main concern when using a bucket method for sample picking

Answer 26

Inadequate randomization can bias results

Question 27

The preferred picking method

Answer 27

In lab, with preserved samples using Marchant box subsampling and microscope assisted picking

Question 28

Minimum level of OBBN identification

Answer 28

27 phyla, classes, orders, and families

Question 29

What is a sampling unit?

Answer 29

The area of which the sampling takes place

Question 30

What is a lake sampling unit called?

Answer 30

Lake segment Shallow, near-shore areas that are generally wade able and support benthic taxa

Question 31

What is a wetland sampling unit referred to as?

Answer 31

A wetland segment

Question 32

Stream sampling units are referred to as...

Answer 32

Reaches And typically are comprised of a meander sequence containing pool and riffle areas

Question 33

True of false Replicates are not sub samples

Answer 33

True Replicates refer to one of the three samples taken at test site

Question 34

To evaluate point source impacts, where May lake sampling take place?

Answer 34

Near lake inflows

Question 35

In the case of wetlands and lakes, assessment of biological condition in what zone of the lake can provide early warning of main basin impacts?

Answer 35

Near shores

Question 36

The difference between sub samples and replicates

Answer 36

Replicates take place in laks and wetlands, which are divided into three segments when sampling. 100-animal samples are collected from each segment. Sub samples are done in streams; 3 transects are sampled in a riffle-pool-riffle area, resulting in 3 100-animal samples along the sampling reach

Question 37

What is the process for sampling a lake segment?

Answer 37

Apply appropriate safety measures Choose a set of three Lake segments Fill out a field data sheet Use a 500 µm mesh net and a traveling kick and sweep Long transects to collect the sample. Vigorously kick the substrate to disturb it to a depth of 5 cm Sample for approximately 10 minutes per replicate ... Or until you're certain that 100 animals have been collected Transects are from the shore to a minimum of 1 m in depth Record sampling time

Question 38

What are some variables that are used to characterize lake habitat?

Answer 38

Dominant and second dominant substrate particle size Coverage of woody debris and detritus Riparian zone community types Abundance of algae Perimeter, volume, fetch, surface area, order

Question 39

In straightened channels such as a municipal drain, the sampling reach can be defined as what?

Answer 39

14 to 20 times the bank full width This corresponds to the normal Meander wavelength of similar sized streams with natural channels

Question 40

In streams, traveling Kick and sweep should take place over what length and time?

Answer 40

10 m in three minutes, or until you have 100 animals at least Substrate should be kicked to a depth of 5 cm perpendicular to current flow

Question 41

What sampling method should be used in non-wadable streams? How many samples should be taken?

Answer 41

Grab samples At least three grab samples per transect to ensure 100 animals

Question 42

What is the preferred sampling method for wetland segments?

Answer 42

Must sample at least one transects that spans the length of the wetland segment and collect long enough to gather 100 animals- 10 minutes Kick and sweep is preferred... But in soft muck the jab and sweep method might have to be used

Question 43

Variables that are used to calculate wetland habitat

Answer 43

Dominant substrate particle size, coverage of woody debris, riparian communities, algae abundance, wetland class, location, presence of standing water, surface area and perimeter

Question 44

Define sub-sample

Answer 44

Either a portion of the same that is about to be picked, or a transects sample

Question 45

Why 100-animal counts in sample picking?

Answer 45

100-animal fixed counts yield reliable estimates of relative abundance and allow samples to be processed relatively quickly

Question 46

True or false Specimen must have enough Intech body parts to permit it's identification ... And it must have a head Empty shells do not count

Answer 46

True

Question 47

Animals that cannot be identified should be recorded on the tally sheet and considered part of the 100 animal subsample

Answer 47

False They should be tallied, but do not count as part of the 100-animal count

Question 48

If picking counts contain less than 80 specimens, what is the protocol?

Answer 48

Re sample