Field testing the AWIC index for detecting acidification in British streams

Ormerod, Stephen James ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-302X, Lewis, Bethan R., Kowalik, Renata A., Murphy, John F. and Davy-Bowker, John 2006. Field testing the AWIC index for detecting acidification in British streams. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 166 (1) , pp. 99-115. 10.1127/0003-9136/2006/0166-0099

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Abstract

Using data from 132 acid-sensitive streams in Wales and Scotland from two available data sets, we tested a recently proposed indicator system that uses aquatic invertebrates to detect acidification in British rivers, the Acid Water Indicator Community (AWIC). Although many sites held less than a quarter of AWIC scoring taxa, index values at sites in both data sets correlated significantly with acid-base variables including pH, calcium concentration, alkalinity and dissolved aluminium. Relationships with acid-base status during acid episodes were particularly strong in the more comprehensive test set. Strong correlations between the AWIC index and pH in a subset of sites from Scotland indicated potential for some extrapolation beyond the initial calibration regions of England and Wales. Despite considerable pH variability within AWIC classes, measured base-flow pH was within 0.5 pH units of values expected from invertebrates at over 55–70 % of test sites, and within 1 pH unit at 87–100 %. This compares favourably with direct pH measurement, where samples at fortnightly-monthly intervals are typically required to confidently estimate mean pH within 0.7–1.2 pH units. These data, drawn from a realistic application, illustrate the potential accuracy and integrating value of invertebrate bioassessment in acid-sensitive waters. Further developments should involve more specific identification and targeted calibration to i) improve discrimination between sensitive streams of contrasting acidity; ii) further improve the accuracy of pH determination based on invertebrates; iii) avoid the apparent over-estimation of pH in the lower AWIC classes; iv) clearly differentiate between acid-sensitive and acidified streams.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Biosciences
ISSN:	0003-9136
Last Modified:	27 Oct 2022 08:37
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/62905

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