Biological Monitoring Working Party

BMWP Results

Introduction

BMWP scores for the locations sampled by S.O.C.S. can be viewed below:

River Ouse

East Mascalls

Scaynes Hill - Main river

Scaynes Hill - Canal Cut

Sheffield Park

Barcombe Mills

Bevern Stream

Stoneywish Country Park

Spatham Lane

Streat Lane

Swansyard Farm

Holmans railway bridge

North End Stream

Plumpton Mill Stream

Longford Stream

Ridgelands Lane - Newick

Longford Bridge

Great Bentley Stream

Brook Street, Cuckfield

Shortbridge Stream

Maresfield, Underhill

Shortbridge

Norlington Stream

Wellingham Lane

These samples were taken a short distance downstream from where we perform chemical tests each month on the quality of the water. We intend to carry out biological tests at this site on a regular basis to monitor the long term effects that water quality has on invertebrate life in the stream.
See the latest water quality test results for this location...

July 2008

The findings show a stream in good health, with an abundance of different caddis fly larvae and a varied but sparse population of mayfly nymphs. It was unusual to find an absence of tubifex worms. A very popular habitat for P. jenkinsi!

Location	North End Stream – Cooksbridge.
Date	2nd July 2008
Grid Reference	TQ402139
Notes	Small boulder/clay substrate. Heavily shaded, very low flow. Sample taken 20 metres down stream from road bridge, riffle & pool.
Also netted in this sample.	2 bullheads, 2 empty Lymnaea glabra shells.
Biological quality rating	B. Good biological quality
Water quality rating	Very good
Species	Group	Score
Leptophlebiidae	Mayfly nymph	10
Ephemeridae	Mayfly nymph	10
Lepidostomatidae	Cased caddis	10
Leptoceridae	Cased caddis	10
Sericostomatidae	Cased caddis	10
Limnephilidae	Cased Caddis	7
Ancylidae	Limpet	6
Gammaridae	Shrimp	6
Hydropsychidae	Caseless Caddis fly	5
Tipulidae	Cranefly larvae	5
Simuliidae	Blackfly larvae	5
Haliplidae	Water beetle	5
Elminthidae	Riffle beetle	5
Baetidae	Mayfly nymphs	4
Glossiphoniidae	Leech	3
Physidae	Snails	3
Hydrobiidae	Snail	3
Sphaeriidae	Mussels	3
Chironomidae	Midge larvae	2
Oligochaetae	Lumbriculus worms	1
Total Score		113
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)		5.65

April 2007

A very good result for this stream.

Location	North End Stream – Cooksbridge.
Date	27th April 2007
Grid Reference	TQ402139
Notes	Recent rain, water clear with moderate flow. Substrate clay with some large stones, partly shaded. 3 minute kick sample from pool and riffle.
Also netted in this sample.	4 bullhead fry.
Biological quality rating	B. Good biological quality
Water quality rating	Very good
Species	Group	Score
Leptophlebiidae	Mayfly	10
Lepidostomatidae	Cased caddis	10
Leptoceridae	Cased caddis	10
Ephemerellidae	Mayfly nymphs	10
Agriidae	Damselfly nymphs	8
Psychomyidae	Caseless caddis	8
Limnephilidae	Cased Caddis fly	7
Ancylidae	Limpet	6
Gammaridae	Shrimp	6
Hydropsychidae	Caseless Caddis fly	5
Planariidae	Flatworrm	5
Simuliidae	Blackfly larvae	5
Elminthidae	Riffle beetle	5
Baetidae	Mayfly nymphs	4
Piscicolidae	Fish leeches	4
Lymnaeidae	Snails	3
Glossiphoniidae	Leech	3
Hydrobiidae	Snail	3
Asellus	Hoglouse	3
Chironomidae	Midge larvae	2
Oligochaeta	Tubifex & lumbriculus worms	1
Total Score		118
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)		5.6

September 2006

Compared with September 2005, The BMWP score is lower and with less diversity, but the ASPT about the same. Both BMWP and ASPT scores are low for a relatively unpolluted stream. Unless otherwise indicated, the number of specimens identified from each taxon was between one and five.

Location	North End Stream – Cooksbridge.
Date	13th September 2006
Grid Reference	TQ402139
Notes	Recent rain, water very turbid but low flow. Substrate clay with some large stones. Partly shaded. 3 minute kick sample from pool and riffle.
Also netted in this sample.	Stoneloach and a Bullhead.
Biological quality rating	D. Poor biological quality
Water quality rating	Fair
Species	Group	BMWP Score
Leptophlebiidae	Mayfly	10
Limnephilidae	Cased Caddis fly	7
Gammaridae	Shrimp	6
Hydropsychidae	Caseless Caddis fly	5
Dytiscidae	Diving beetle	5
Elminthidae	Riffle beetle	5
Glossiphoniidae	Leech	3
Hydrobiidae	Snail	3
Erpobdellidae	Leech	3
Chironomidae	Midge larvae	2
Oligochaeta	Hair worm	1
Total Score		50
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)		4.5

September 2005

Fairly good diversity of organisms but mostly of those confined to water of poor quality.

Location	North End Stream – Cooksbridge.
Date	26th September 2005
Grid Reference	TQ 402139
Notes	Water flow slow, partly shaded, silt substrate with large stones and short riffle.
Also netted in this sample.	Stoneloach and a Bullhead.
Biological quality rating	C. Fair biological quality
Water quality rating	Fair
Species	Group	BMWP Score
Lestidae	Damselfly	8
Psychomyiidae	Caseless Caddis fly	8
Gammaridae	Shrimp	6
Hydropsychidae	Caseless Caddis fly	5
Simuliidae	Blackfly larva	5
Dytiscidae	Diving beetle	5
Elminthidae	Riffle beetle	5
Chrysomelidae	Terrestrial beetle larva	5
Baetidae	Mayfly	4
Piscicolidae	Fish leech	4
Glossiphoniidae	Leech	3
Planorbiidae	Snails Ramshorn snail	3
Lymnaeidae	Spireshell snail	3
Sphaeriidae	Pea mussel	3
Asellidae	Hoglouse	3
Chironomidae	Midge larvae	2
Oligochaeta	Hair worm	1
Total Score		73
ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon)		4.3

May 2004