EN 15196:2006

Water quality - Guidance on sampling and processing of the pupal exuviae of Chironomidae (Order Diptera) for ecological assessment

This guidance standard specifies equipment and procedures for collecting floating pupal exuviae of Chironomidae from aquatic habitats; rivers from source to estuary, canals, ponds, lakes and sea coasts. Guidance in preparing specimens for subsequent identification is provided. These samples provide representative data on relative species abundance, suitable for numerical analysis, classification and monitoring of environmental conditions.

Wasserbeschaffenheit - Anleitung zur Probenahme und Behandlung von Exuvien von Chironomidae-Larven (Diptera) zur ökologischen Untersuchung

Diese Europäische Norm legt die Geräte und Vorgehensweisen fest, nach denen flotierende Puppenexuvien
von Chironomiden aquatischer Habitate gesammelt werden; die aquatischen Habitate umfassen Flüsse von
der Quelle bis zur Mündung, Kanäle, Teiche, Seen und die Meeresküste. Hinweise zur Präparation der
Proben für die anschließende Bestimmung der Arten werden gegeben. Diese Proben dienen zur Ermittlung
repräsentativer Daten über relative Artenabundanzen, die für eine zahlenmäßige Erfassung, Klassifikation
sowie für die Überwachung der Umweltbedingungen geeignet sind.

Qualité de l'eau - Guide d'échantillonnage et de traitement d'exuvies nymphales de Chironomidae (Ordre des Diptères) pour l'évaluation écologique

Le présent guide décrit l'équipement et les modes opératoires pour recueillir des exuvies nymphales de Chironomidae flottant à la surface des systèmes aquatiques : rivières depuis la source jusqu'à l'estuaire, canaux, étangs, lacs et littoraux marins. Il fournit les indications nécessaires à la préparation des spécimens pour leur identification ultérieure. Ces échantillons fournissent des données représentatives de l'abondance relative des espèces, convenant pour l'analyse numérique, la classification et la surveillance des conditions environnementales.

Kakovost vode – Navodilo za vzorčenje in obdelavo levov bub trzač (Diptera: Chironomidae) za ekološko ocenjevanje

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 01-Aug-2006
• ICS: 13.060.45 - Examination of water in general
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 230 - Water analysis
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 230/WG 2 - Biological methods
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 12-Jul-2022
• Completion Date: 14-Apr-2025
• Directive: 2000/60/EC - Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (substitutes Directive Reference 01/991 - Common Position on WFD)
• Directive: 91/271/EEC - Urban waste-water treatment
• Directive: 91/676/EEC - Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources
• Ref Project: SIST EN 15196:2007 - Water quality - Guidance on sampling and processing of the pupal exuviae of Chironomidae (Order Diptera) for ecological assessment

Overview

EN 15196:2006 - "Water quality - Guidance on sampling and processing of the pupal exuviae of Chironomidae (Order Diptera) for ecological assessment" - is a CEN guidance standard for collecting and processing floating chironomid pupal exuviae from aquatic habitats (rivers, canals, ponds, lakes and sea coasts). It describes the principle, required equipment, sampling procedures and laboratory processing so that samples provide representative data on relative species abundance for numerical analysis, ecological classification and environmental monitoring.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Sampling principle: Collect floating pupal exuviae (discarded pupal skins) which float briefly after emergence and represent recent adult emergence across the sampled area.
• Representative drift characteristics: In flowing water (canals/rivers ≤10 m wide, mean velocity ≤50 cm·s−1) about 90% of exuviae become trapped within 100 m of emergence and rarely drift further than 500 m - enabling point samples to integrate upstream communities.
• Season and frequency:
  • Northern temperate regions: main emergence during the warmest 5–10 months.
  • Rivers: combinations of three monthly samples (April–September) often capture ≥80% of genera.
  • Lakes: four monthly samples can capture 80–90% of species during the emergence season.
• Sampling equipment (specified sizes):
  • Handnet with mesh ≤250 µm and extendable handle (for shore collection).
  • Coarse sieve (≈30 cm, ≥4 mm mesh) and fine sieve (≈30 cm, ≤250 µm mesh).
  • Bucket/bowl (~10 L), 100–250 ml pot with watertight lid.
  • Low-power (×15–×100) and high-power (×100–×400) microscopes.
• Sample processing:
  • Sieving procedure, floated sub-sampling, picking exuviae under low-power microscope.
  • Quantitative sub-sample: 200 exuviae recommended for unbiased representation.
  • Qualitative single-sample: at least 500 exuviae for presence/absence use.
  • Preservation in 70% alcohol, slide mounting via transfer to 100% alcohol and mounting medium (Euparal) for species-level ID.
• Quality assurance: Follow EN 14996 for assuring biological/ecological assessment quality.
• Safety: Users must follow appropriate health and safety measures when working in/around water.

Applications

• Rapid bioassessment and long-term ecological monitoring of water quality.
• Species-abundance data for multivariate classification, biological indices and impact studies.
• Comparative surveys across lotic and lentic systems to detect ecological change, pollution effects or habitat restoration outcomes.

Who should use this standard

• Environmental agencies, water quality laboratories, ecological consultants, academic researchers and freshwater biologists performing chironomid-based biomonitoring or biodiversity assessments.

Related standards

• EN 14996 - Guidance on assuring the quality of biological and ecological assessments in the aquatic environment.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Water quality - Guidance on sampling and processing of the pupal exuviae of Chironomidae (Order Diptera) for ecological assessmentQualité de l'eau - Guide d'échantillonnage et de traitement d'exuvies nymphales de Chironomidae (Ordre des Dipteres) pour l'évaluation écologiqueWasserbeschaffenheit - Anleitung zur Probenahme und Behandlung von Exuvien von Chironomidae-Larven (Diptera) zur ökologischen Untersuchung13.060.70Preiskava bioloških lastnosti vodeExamination of biological properties of waterICS:SIST EN 15196:2007enTa slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 15196:200601-februar-2007SIST EN 15196:2007SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARDNORME EUROPÉENNEEUROPÄISCHE NORMEN 15196August 2006ICS 13.060.45 English VersionWater quality - Guidance on sampling and processing of thepupal exuviae of Chironomidae (Order Diptera) for ecologicalassessmentQualité de l'eau - Guide d'échantillonnage et de traitementd'exuvies nymphales de Chironomidae (Ordre desDiptères) pour l'évaluation écologiqueWasserbeschaffenheit - Anleitung zur Probenahme undBehandlung von Exuvien von Chironomidae-Larven(Diptera) zur ökologischen UntersuchungThis European Standard was approved by CEN on 26 June 2006.CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this EuropeanStandard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such nationalstandards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member.This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translationunder the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the officialversions.CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATIONCOMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATIONEUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNGManagement Centre: rue de Stassart, 36
B-1050 Brussels© 2006 CENAll rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reservedworldwide for CEN national Members.Ref. No. EN 15196:2006: E
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