EN ISO 8689-1:2000

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2000
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Water quality - Biological classification of rivers - Part 1: Guidance on the interpretation
of biological quality data from surveys of benthic macroinvertebrates (ISO 8689-1:2000)
Wasserbeschaffenheit - Biologische Klassifizierung von Fließgewässern - Teil 1:
Richtlinie zur Interpretation von Beschaffenheitsdaten zur Untersuchung von benthischen
Makroinvertebraten in Fließgewässern (ISO 8689-1:2000)
Qualité de l'eau - Classification biologique des rivieres - Partie 1: Lignes directrices
concernant l'interprétation des données relatives a la qualité biologique a partir d'études
des macro-invertébrés benthiques (ISO 8689-1:2000)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 8689-1:2000
ICS:
13.060.10 Voda iz naravnih virov Water of natural resources
13.060.70 Preiskava bioloških lastnosti Examination of biological
vode properties of water
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 8689-1
First edition
2000-03-15
Water quality — Biological classification of
rivers —
Part 1:
Guidance on the interpretation of biological
quality data from surveys of benthic
macroinvertebrates
Qualité de l'eau — Classification biologique des rivières —
Partie 1: Lignes directrices pour l'interprétation des données relatives à
la qualité biologique à partir d'études des macro-invertébrés benthiques
Reference number
ISO 8689-1:2000(E)
©
ISO 2000
ISO 8689-1:2000(E)
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ii © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

ISO 8689-1:2000(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO
member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical
committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has
the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this part of ISO 8689 may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard ISO 8689-1 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 147, Water quality,
Subcommittee SC 5, Biological methods.
ISO 8689 consists of the following parts, under the general title Water quality — Biological classification of rivers:
� Part 1: Guidance on the interpretation of biological quality data from surveys of benthic macroinvertebrates
� Part 2: Guidance on the presentation of biological quality data from surveys of benthic macroinvertebrates
Annex A of this part of ISO 8689 is for information only.
ISO 8689-1:2000(E)
Introduction
Many countries use benthic macroinvertebrates in surveillance and monitoring programmes to produce biological
[1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
classifications of running waters that evaluate a variety of man-made stresses . The list of benthic
macroinvertebrate taxa found during a survey is normally used to calculate a biological index or score which is related
[2,3,4,5,6,7]
to a particular stress . A classification can be produced by comparison between a reference community,
[6,8]
which represents unstressed conditions, and the observed community . This type of classification takes into account
the natural variability of biological communities.
[1,2,3,5]
As yet there is no single classification or index scheme that covers all geographical regions . For rivers which
cross national boundaries there is especially a need to have classifications which are the same or are at least
[9,10]
comparable . A comparison exercise allows conversion to be made between the differing classification
schemes, without the need to sample and analyse data using the different methods each time a comparison is
required.
According to the precise use to which this part of ISO 8689 is to be put, it is essential for specifiers and users
mutually to agree any necessary variation or optional procedural details prior to use.
iv © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 8689-1:2000(E)
Water quality — Biological classification of rivers —
Part 1:
Guidance on the interpretation of biological quality data from
surveys of benthic macroinvertebrates
1 Scope
This part of ISO 8689 gives guidance on the interpretation of biological quality data relating to running waters from
surveys of benthic macroinvertebrates. It is recognized that for a complete assessment of ecological status, other
elements of biological quality should be assessed.
NOTE Annex A gives guidance on how the comparison of the various classification systems can be made where
classifications of the biological quality of running waters using benthic macroinvertebrates already exist.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this part of ISO 8689. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these publications
do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this part of ISO 8689 are encouraged to investigate the
possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For undated
references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO and IEC maintain
registers of currently valid International Standards.
ISO 5667-3, Water quality — Sampling — Part 3: Guidance on the preservation and handling of samples.
ISO 7828, Water quality — Methods of biological sampling — Guidance on handnet sampling of aquatic benthic
macro-invertebrates.
ISO 8265, Water quality — Design and use of quantitative samplers for benthic macro-invertebrates on stony
substrata in shallow freshwaters.
ISO 9391, Water quality — Sampling in deep waters for macro-invertebrates — Guidance on the use of
colonization, qualitative and quantitative samplers.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this part of ISO 8689, the terms and definitions given in ISO 5667, ISO 7828, ISO 8265 and
ISO 9391 and the following apply.
3.1
watercourse
body of surface water that has running water perennially or at some time during the annual hydrologic cycle
ISO 8689-1:2000(E)
3.2
expected natural community
community present at a site when only natural stress (e.g. flooding) occurs and man-made stress is absent or not
sufficient to alter the natural community significantly
4 Classification
4.1 Introduction
To evaluate stress using data from surveys of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in running waters, the data
from the site (the observed data) should be compared with a set of reference data. The reference data represent
the expected natural community that would be found at the site, when only natural stresses are present and man-
made stresses are absent or considered to be insignificant. A classification of sites is based on the disparity
between observed data and reference data.
4.2 Observed data
The observed data set should be based on collections of macroinvertebrates using standard sampling methods as
described in ISO 7828, ISO 8265 and ISO 9391.
4.3 Reference data
It is recommended that reference data be collated in one or a combination of the following ways.
[11]
a) Where historical records exist for the site in its natural condition these should be used (e.g. AMOEBA
system).
b) Where similar unstressed sites have been surveyed, the data from these should be used to predict the
community for the sites under investigation. The prediction system can be a simple direct comparison with
unstressed sites in the same catchment or a comparable region. More complex predictions can be based on
national databases of sites where man-made stress is absent or considered to be insignificant and associated
[12,13]
computer programmes (e.g. River Invertebrate Prediction and Classification System ).
c) Where a procedure has been devised and validated that calculates an index value relevant to the level of
stress and this already takes into account a reference data set or the concept of reference conditions this
[14] [15] [6] [16]
should be used (e.g. Indice biologique global normalisé , Saprobien , Leitbild , Peeters et al. ).
Reference conditions may not be suitable as a management objective, in which case they are to be used in the
classification for comparison purposes only.
4.4 Indices/scores
To measure the level of a particular stress, a biological index or score specifically designed to evaluate the stress
[17]
should be used . The most widely evaluated stress, using the benthic macroinvertebrate community, has been
[2,3,5,18]
organic pollution and many scores and indices have been devised to evaluate this stress . In many countries
there is increasing use of macroinvertebrate based indices to evaluate other stresses e.g. current velocity, substratum
[16]
alterations and eutrophication .
When a national index or score for a particular stress does not already exist, it is recommended that one be devised
using the following method: a group of national experts gives each taxon a value reflecting its tolerance to the
[12,13] [6,15]
stress ; the value may also take into account the abundance of the taxon and its suitability as an indicator
(see Notes below). The site index is then derived using the tolerance for the taxa found at the site and can be
[6,11,12,13,14,15]
expressed as a total score or as an average score per taxon . It is recommended that in the first
instance family level identification be used; if more discrimination is required, higher resolution at genus or species level
is necessary.
2 © ISO 2000 – All rights reserved

ISO 8689-1:2000(E)
NOTE 1 It is possible to directly compare the taxonomic lists of the observed data and the reference data, using Community
[19]
Comparison Indices . If there is no significant difference in the two sets of data, no man-made stress is indicated. Disparities
in the two sets of data can indicate that stress is occurring. The types of stress can be investigated using specific indices (e.g.
organic pollution index, acidity index etc.). Knowledge of the ecological requirements of the taxa missing may also indicate
possible stressors. The number of taxa missing can indicate the severity of a stress.
[7] [20]
NOTE 2 Moog and Walley and Hawkes have shown that when sufficient biological and environmental data are
[21]
available tolerance values can be derived objectively. Peeters and Gardeniers have shown that habitat requirements for
macroinvertebrates can be derived from large databases with the help of logistic regression procedures.
4.5 Classification/banding
A classification should be produced by comparing the observed data with the reference data. When an index is used,
separate indices or scores for the observed data and reference data should be calculated. The disparity between the
observed and the reference indices or scores should then be calculated. The classification system should be based on
the disparity between the observed and reference; this disparity is considered to represent the degree of stress and can
be expressed as the ratio of the observed to reference.
Where a suitable national classification does not exist, it is recommended that a classification be produced with five
bands which indicate increasing degrees of stress as shown in Table 1.
Table 1 — Five-band classification for benthic macroinvertebrate quality
Benthic macroinvertebrate Comments
quality classifications
High The observed community corresponds totally or
nearly totally to conditions where man-made stress
is absent or considered insignificant (undisturbed)
Good There are slight changes in the observed
community compared with the reference
community.
Moderate The composition of the observed community differs
moderately from the reference community. Major
taxonomic groups of the reference community are
absent.
...