Overview
ISO 10870:2012 - Water quality - Guidelines for the selection of sampling methods and devices for benthic macroinvertebrates in fresh waters provides guidance on selecting, operating and evaluating sampling methods and devices used to study benthic macroinvertebrate populations in fresh waters (rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs). The standard covers criteria for device selection and performance characteristics for sampling the major components of the benthic assemblage. It explicitly excludes sampling of meiofauna (small benthic invertebrates that pass a 0.5 mm mesh).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose: Guidance for evaluating taxonomic composition, abundance and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates to support ecological assessment, monitoring, pollution diagnosis, conservation and biodiversity surveys.
- Device and method selection criteria: Devices are recommended based on three primary criteria - suitability for flowing vs standing water, suitability for shallow vs deep water, and the output type sought (qualitative, semi‑quantitative, quantitative).
- Catalogue of sampling devices: Includes handnet, Surber sampler, box sampler, cylinder sampler, naturalist’s dredge, Ekman–Birge grab, Ponar grab, Van Veen grab, polyp (orange peel) grab, air‑lift sampler, core/tube samplers and colonization (passive) samplers. Each device section outlines design, operation and performance considerations.
- Operational factors: Advice on sampling effort, seasonality, time of day, mesh size selection, and avoiding sampling during or immediately after spates unless specifically studying flood impacts.
- Design details (example): Handnet frame dimensions are given (width 200–400 mm; depth 400–500 mm; shoulder 100–200 mm; height 200–300 mm) and guidance on net shape, depth and mesh trade‑offs is provided.
- Biosecurity & QA: Users are advised to include precautions to prevent the transfer of diseases and non‑native invasive species and to consider quality assurance and statistical power in survey design.
- Safety note: Working in or around water is hazardous; users must ensure appropriate health and safety measures.
Practical applications and who uses the standard
ISO 10870 is used by:
- Environmental agencies and water authorities conducting ecological status assessments and surveillance monitoring
- Consultants and researchers designing benthic macroinvertebrate surveys for pollution control, habitat management, biodiversity and conservation studies
- Laboratories and field teams selecting sampling devices and documenting sampling methods for quantitative and qualitative analyses
Practical uses include selecting the right sampler for a given habitat, designing sampling programmes (replication, station placement, seasonal timing), and ensuring comparability and reliability of monitoring data.
Related standards
- ISO 5667‑1 (general guidance on sampling programmes)
- ISO 8689‑1 and ISO 8689‑2 (guidance on analysis and interpretation of benthic macroinvertebrate survey results)
Keywords: ISO 10870:2012, water quality, benthic macroinvertebrates, sampling methods, sampling devices, fresh waters, handnet, Surber, ecological status, monitoring, grab sampler, core sampler.
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