Techniques of Water Resources Investigations (TWRI) Report, Book 5, Chapter A4, "Methods for Collection and Analysis of Aquatic
Biological and Microbiological Samples"


In Reply Refer To:                           August 4, 1988 
WGS-Mail Stop 4i2



OFFlCE OF WATER QUALlTY TECHNlCAL MEMORANDUM NO 88.07

Subject: PUBLlCATlONS--Techniques of Water Resources 
         Investigations (TWRI) Report, Book 5, Chapter A4, 
         "Methods for Collection and Analysis of Aquatic 
         Biological and Microbiological Samples" by 
         L.J. Britton  and P.E. Greeson, Editors

The subject report has been released as Open-File Report 
88-190.  This chapter in the TWRI series was prepared by 
several aquatic biologists and microbiologists to provide 
accurate and precise methods for the collection and analysis 
of aquatic biological and microbiological samples.  Detailed 
descriptions of 45 individual methods are included in the 
chapter, including those for bacteria, phytoplankton, 
zooplankton, seston, periphyton, macrophytes, benthic 
invertebrates, fish and other vertebrates, cellular contents, 
productivity, and bioassays.

The report supersedes "Methods for Collection and Analysis of 
Aquatic Biological and Microbiological Samples" edited by 
P.E. Greeson, T.A. Ehlke, G.A. Irwin, B.W. Lium, and K.V. 
Slack (U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources 
Investigations, Book 5, Chapter A4, 1977) and also supersedes 
"A Supplement to--Methods for Collection and Analysis of
Aquatic Biological and Microbiological Samples" by P.E. 
Greeson (U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources 
Investigations, Book 5, Chapter A4), Open-File Report 
79-1279, 1979.

In order to keep users informed of revised and new techniques 
in the field of aquatic biology, this chapter is updated 
periodically.  All methods have been reviewed and revised 
since the 1977 edition of the chapter and the 1979 
supplement.  Users are encouraged to read the procedures in 
the new report even if they have had experience in the 
collection and analysis of aquatic biological and 
microbiological data.  The major revision is that the 
"Collection" sections now occur at the beginning of each 
major biological heading and are not included in each method.  
The sections or methods that have been revised most 
extensively are the "Benthic lnvertebrate" section 
(especially collection techniques) and the "Carbon-14 light- 
and dark-bottle method for phytoplankion."  In addition, 
illustrations and references have been updated as much as 
possible to reflect new technology and recent literature 
sources.

Additional copies of the new report may be obtained from the 
Office of Water Quality.



                                  David A. Rickert

Attachment

This memorandum does not supersede any previous Office of 
Water Quality memorandums

Key Words: Biology, Microbiology, Analytical Methodology, 
           TWRI

Distribution w/o attachment: A, B, S 
Distribution w/attachment: PO, FO