Benthic Invertebrate Communities
Benthic invertebrates are organisms that live in or on the bottom sediments of rivers, streams, and lakes. The benthic invertebrate community—the population and species present—is strongly affected by its environment, including sediment composition and quality, water quality, and hydrological factors that influence the physical habitat. Because the benthic community is so dependent on its surroundings, it serves as a biological indicator that reflects the overall condition of the aquatic environment.
As of 2006, sediment quality is monitored by RAMP in conjunction with the Benthic Invertebrate Communities component to provide supporting data for interpretation of benthic invertebrate monitoring results.
- Read more about the Benthic Invertebrate Community monitoring component
- Query Benthic Invertebrates Monitoring Data
- View Taxonomic Database
- List benthic monitoring location names (including prior station names)
Online Maps
Reports