Vocabulary Term Details

BMWP

Definition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_monitoring_working_party)

The biological monitoring working party (BMWP) is a procedure for measuring water quality using species of macroinvertebrates as biological indicators. The method is based on the principle that different aquatic invertebrates have different tolerances to pollutants. In the case of BMWP, this is based on the sensitivity/tolerance to organic pollution (i.e. nutrient enrichment that can affect the availability of dissolved oxygen. It is important to recognise that the ranking of sensitivity/tolerance will vary for different kinds of pollution. In the case of BMWP/Organic pollution rankings, the presence of mayflies or stoneflies for instance indicate the cleanest waterways and are given a tolerance score of 10. (Wikipedia)

Preferred Units: N/A

Scope Note:
N/A

Broader TermsNarrower TermsRelated Terms
Biological monitoring techniques
N/ABiological monitoring
Indicator organisms
Macroinvertebrates
RIVPACS

This term is used for the following terms: 
Biological monitoring working party

Approved Date
25-Nov-2013

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