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Biological Monitoring Working Party
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| 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 |
| River Ouse, Sheffield Park Bridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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...
A similar result to the September 2007 score. Had we found live specimens of the empty caddis cases, it would have lifted the biological quality rating to good. A few of the Gammarus were infected with the parasite Echinorrhyncus. |
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| Location | River Ouse – A short distance below Sheffield Park road bridge (A275), Sheffield Park. | |
| Date | 12th June 2008 | |
| Grid Reference | TQ405236 | |
| Notes | Riffle and glide over gravel/clay substrate, robust flow, partly shaded. |
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| Also netted in this sample. | Several empty Sericostomatidae and Goeridae cases. |
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| Biological quality rating | C. Fair biological quality | |
| Water quality rating | Very good | |
| Species | Group | BMWP Score |
| Ephemeridae | Mayfly | 10 |
| Leptophlebiidae | Mayfly | 10 |
| Lepidostomatidae | Cased caddis | 10 |
| Brachycentridae | Cased caddis | 10 |
| Polycentropidae | Caseless caddis | 7 |
| Gammaridae | Shrimp | 6 |
| Hydropsychidae | Caseless caddis | 5 |
| Elminthidae | Riffle beetle | 5 |
| Simuliidae | Blackfly larvae | 5 |
| Tipulidae | Cranefly larvae | 5 |
| Baetidae | Mayfly | 4 |
| Sphaeridae | Mussels | 3 |
| Chironomidae | Midge larvae - various | 2 |
| Oligochaetae | Tubifex and Lumbriculus | 1 |
| Total Score | 83 | |
| ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon) | 5.93 | |
September 2007
A fair score for a lowland river similar to the May 2006 result. However, apart from Gammaridae and Baetidae, species abundance was low. There was very little submerged vegetation present compared with 2006, possibly due to the robust summer spates experienced this year. | Location | River Ouse – A short distance below Sheffield Park road bridge (A275), Sheffield Park. | |
| Date | 7th Septmber 2007 | |
| Grid Reference | TQ405236 | |
| Notes | Moderate flow – 3 minute kick sample from riffle and pool areas. Fine gravel substrate some Fontinalis (water moss) present. |
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| Also netted in this sample. | One empty Goeridus (caddis) case and one bullhead. |
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| Biological quality rating | C. Fair biological quality | |
| Water quality rating | Very good | |
| Species | Group | BMWP Score |
| Ephemerellidae | Mayfly | 10 |
| Ephemeridae | Mayfly | 10 |
| Leptophlebiidae | Mayfly | 10 |
| Heptageniidae | Mayfly | 10 |
| Polycentropidae | Caseless caddis | 7 |
| Rhyacophilidae | Caseless caddis | 7 |
| Gammaridae | Shrimp | 6 |
| Hydropsychidae | Caddis Fly | 5 |
| Elminthidae | Riffle beetle | 5 |
| Simuliidae | Blackfly larvae | 5 |
| Dendrocoelidae | Flatworms | 5 |
| Baetidae | Mayfly | 4 |
| Sialidae | Alderfly | 4 |
| Hydrobiidae | Snails | 3 |
| Chironomidae | Midge larvae - various | 2 |
| Oligochaeta | Tubifex and Lumbriculus | 1 |
| Total Score | 94 | |
| ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon) | 5.9 | |
May 2006
This is a good score for a lowland river with a relatively high average score per taxon. An abundance of sub aquatic flora and the augmented flow from Ardingly reservoir appear to be beneficial to the invertebrate population.| Location | River Ouse – A short distance below Sheffield Park road bridge (A275), Sheffield Park. | |
| Date | 19th May 2006 | |
| Grid Reference | TQ405236 | |
| Notes | Moderate flow – 3 minute kick sample from riffle area. Fine gravel substrate with abundance of Ranunculus fluitans and Callitriche spp. |
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| Also netted in this sample. | - | |
| Biological quality rating | C. Fair biological quality | |
| Water quality rating | Very good | |
| Species | Group | BMWP Score |
| Ephemerellidae | Mayfly | 10 |
| Ephemeridae | Mayfly | 10 |
| Lepidostomatidae | Cased Caddis | 10 |
| Goeridae | Cased Caddis | 10 |
| Polycentropidae | Caddis Fly (P. flavomaculata) | 7 |
| Limnephilidae | Cased caddis | 7 |
| Caenidae | Mayfly | 7 |
| Gammaridae | Shrimp | 6 |
| Ancylidae | Limpet | 6 |
| Hydropsychidae | Caddis Fly | 5 |
| Elminthidae | Riffle beetle | 5 |
| Simuliidae | Blackfly larvae | 5 |
| Baetidae | Mayfly | 4 |
| Erpobdellidae | Leech | 3 |
| Chironomidae | Midge larvae - various | 2 |
| Oligochaeta | Tubifex and Lumbriculus | 1 |
| Total Score | 98 | |
| ASPT (Average Score Per Taxon) | 6.1 | |
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