Benthic Invertebrate Communities - Forillon

This dataset covers the monitoring of benthic invertebrate communities in 11 streams or rivers in Forillon National Park since 2007. The sampling methods and techniques used for this monitoring are based on those of the Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) established by Environment Canada. This follow-up is usually done in early fall. The collection site is located near the brook trout community and water temperature monitoring site for each of the watercourses studied. Benthic invertebrates are collected using a dip net. For each watercourse visited, several data that characterize the aquatic habitat are collected, in addition to physicochemical data related to water quality, and data on the channel as well as on the streambed substrate.

Six parameters are used to assess the status of benthic invertebrate communities. These are the total number of taxa, the total number of EPT taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera), the percentage of EPT, the percentage of chironomids, the percentage of the dominant taxon as well as the FBI (Hilsenhoff biotic index, family identification variant).