Comparison of quantitative and semi-quantitative sampling methodologies for biomonitoring of Mediterranean streams using benthic macroinvertebrates: a case study from Greece

In Greece, the implementation of the Water Framework Directive for rivers is based mainly on benthic macroinvertebrates and uses a semi-quantitative method with a D-frame net, which is certified by the International Organization for Standardization. Before the official adoption of this method, a quantitative shovel sampler (“Cretan shovel”) was used in southern Greece (Crete), which has been implemented for almost three decades due to the specific river habitats found in Crete (e.g., seasonal flow, narrow riverbeds, and coarse substrates). In this study, we compared community metrics, diversity indices, feeding groups, locomotion types, and ecological quality derived from data collected using timed semi-quantitative kick samples and quantitative shovel samples collected from the same sites simultaneously. In total, 20 samples from the north and south of Greece were collected. The majority of community metrics, diversity indices, and traits were comparable between samplers. However, there were statistically significant differences in the relative abundance of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera, passive filterers’ and the (semi) sessil groups, and Pielou’s index. Most differences in the ecological quality between the kick and shovel samples were observed in 50% of the sites in northern Greece because the shovel is less effective at capturing motile zoobenthos. The ecological quality assessment in Crete by the Cretan shovel is comparable with the D-frame net in 75% of the samples. Thus, the Cretan shovel could efficiently sample the Cretan streams, which are characterized by coarse, narrow, turbulent, and hydrologically fluctuating river habitats. Such comparisons could improve sampling effectiveness and make additional data available to assess ecological quality.