Call for long-term benthic invertebrate data from European streams and rivers

A group of high-profile European freshwater scientists have released a call for invertebrate data submissions to contribute to a major new study.

The research team, led by Peter Haase from the Senckenberg Research Institute, are seeking long-term benthic invertebrate data from European streams and rivers. Their aim is to compile a comprehensive dataset on European riverine benthic invertebrates, which in turn will help untangle the key trends in their populations and the drivers affecting them.

The study is important because recent analyses of long-term data on benthic invertebrates (aka. those which live on the bed of a water body) in European rivers have not shown a clear picture of their ecological health and status. The new collaborative study aims to address this knowledge shortfall, and thus support effective conservation management and policy.

The team are looking for datasets sampled over a minimum of 8 years at the same site, using consistent methods, and which include taxa lists with abundance data identified from species to families. You can see a more detailed criteria here.

In return for contributions, the research team offer co-authorship on the resulting study to all data providers. The aim is to publish the results in a high impact factor journal.

The deadline for data contributions is 30th June 2020.

Enquiries and submissions to Peter Haase – peter.haase@senckenberg.de

Research team: Peter Haase, Nuria Bonada, Wolfram Graf, Jani Heino, Daniel Hering, Sonja Jähnig, Astrid Schmidt-Kloiber