 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Biological Monitoring Working Party
|
| 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 |
| Clapper's Bridge |
| North End Stream |
| Cooksbridge |
| Hamsey Road |
| Plumpton Mill Stream |
| Plumpton Mill |
| Ferrings Bridge |
| Longford Stream |
| Cinder Hill, Chailey |
| Ridgelands Lane - Newick |
| Longford Bridge |
| Great Bentley Stream |
| Brook Street, Cuckfield |
| Shortbridge Stream |
| Maresfield, Underhill |
| Shortbridge |
| Norlington Stream |
| Wellingham Lane |
| Longford Stream, Ridgelands Lane, Newick. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This sample was 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...
The score values are typical of this location. The profusion of Habrophlebia was unexpected and it is interesting to note that a different species of Baetis was present c.f. the B. rhodani found last week at Cinder Hill, approx 1.5km upstream. We found no oligochaetae, but suspect that they must have been there somewhere. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Longford Stream – Ridgelands Lane (Markstakes), near Newick. | |
| Date | 29th May 2008 | |
| Grid Reference | TQ416193 | |
| Notes | Moderate flow, high turbidity site unshaded. Bright sun but recent prolonged and heavy rain. Substrate silt/fine gravel. |
|
| Also netted in this sample. | Water mites, daphnia, empty Sericostomatid and Limnephilid cases. |
|
| Biological quality rating | C.Fair biological quality | |
| Water quality rating | Fair | |
| Species | Group | BMWP Score |
| Leptophlebiidae | Mayfly larvae | 10 |
| Limnephilidae | Cased caddis | 7 |
| Polycentropodidae | Caseless caddis | 7 |
| Gammeridae | Freshwater shrimp | 6 |
| Sialidae | Alderfly larva | 4 |
| Piscicolidae | Fish leech | 4 |
| Baetidae | Mayfly nymphs | 4 |
| Glossiphoniidae | Leech | 3 |
| Sphaeriidae | Mussel | 3 |
| Asellus | Hoglouse | 3 |
| Chironomidae | Midge | 2 |
| Total Score | 53 | |
| ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon) | 4.82 | |
August 2006
This is a slightly lower score and ASPT than in August 2005, but the difference is not significant.| Location | Longford Stream – Ridgelands Lane (Markstakes), near Newick. | |
| Date | 17th August 2006 | |
| Grid Reference | TQ416193 | |
| Notes | No perceptible flow. Substrate silt and some gravel. Depth > 1 metre. |
|
| Also netted in this sample. | several coarse fish fry (dace, roach or rudd) and an abundance of daphnia. |
|
| Biological quality rating | D. Poor biological quality | |
| Water quality rating | Very poor | |
| Species | Group | BMWP Score |
| Gammeridae | Freshwater shrimp | 6 |
| Dytiscidae | Divng beetle larva ( Agabus bipustulatus) | 5 |
| Dendrocoelidae | Flatworm (Dugesia) | 5 |
| Baetidae | Mayfly (Procloeon bifidum) | 4 |
| Glossiphoniidae | Leech (Helobdella stagnalis) | 3 |
| Valvatidae | Pond snail (Bithynia) | 3 |
| Sphaeriidae | Mussel | 3 |
| Asellidae | Hoglouse | 3 |
| Chironomidae | Midge (bloodworm & other) | 2 |
| Oligochaetae | Tubifex | 1 |
| Total Score | 35 | |
| ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon) | 3.5 | |
August 2005
It is curious that dissolved oxygen at this site is very low during the summer months but there it evidently supports a wide variety of organisms including a stonefly nymph which seems anomalous. However the BMWP score and ASPT are not as high as they should be in a lowland stream. | Location | Longford Stream – Ridgelands Lane (Markstakes), near Newick. | |
| Date | 23rd August 2005 | |
| Grid Reference | TQ416193 | |
| Notes | No perceptible flow. Substrate silt. Depth > 1 metre. |
|
| Also netted in this sample. | - | |
| Biological quality rating | C. Fair biological quality | |
| Water quality rating | Poor | |
| Species | Group | BMWP Score |
| Leuctridae | Stonefly | 10 |
| Ancylidae | River Limpet | 6 |
| Dytiscidae | Diving beetle | 5 |
| Corixidae | Water boatman | 5 |
| Baetidae | Mayfly | 4 |
| Glossiphoniidae | Leech | 3 |
| Lymnaeidae | Pond snail | 3 |
| Hydrobiidae | Snail | 3 |
| Planorbiidae | Ramshorn Snail | 3 |
| Sphaeriidae | Mussel | 3 |
| Asellidae | Hoglouse | 3 |
| Chironomidae | Midge | 2 |
| Total Score | 53 | |
| ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon) | 4.1 | |
Registered as a charity - No : 1082447