Comparability Papers

EPA and our partners, as well as other organizations, conduct studies and projects related to water quality monitoring and assessment. This page provides links to information regarding tools and data that have been developed from these related efforts. Links are provided as a DOI, or Digital Object Identifier. The DOI is a string of numbers, letters and symbols used to permanently identify an article or document and link to it on the web. Links are provided as reference and papers cited may not be open source.

Multiple Comparability Parameters

• Cao, Y., & Hawkins, C. P. (2011). The comparability of bioassessments: a review of conceptual and methodological issues. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 30(3), 680-701. https://doi.org/10.1899/10-067.1
• Carter, J. L., & Resh, V. H. (2001). After site selection and before data analysis: sampling, sorting, and laboratory procedures used in stream benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring programs by USA state agencies. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 20(4), 658-682. https://doi.org/10.2307/1468095

Target Population & Sample Design Comparability

• Miller, M. A., Colby, A. C., Kanehl, P. D., & Blocksom, K. (2009). Assessment of wadeable stream resources in the driftless area ecoregion in Western Wisconsin using a probabilistic sampling design. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 150(1), 75-89. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0679-6
• Paulsen, S. G., Hughes, R. M., & Larsen, D. P. (1998). Critical Elements in Describing and Understanding Our Nation's Aquatic Resources. JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 34(5), 995-1005. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.1998.tb04148.x
• Peterson, S. A., Larsen, D. P., Paulsen, S. G., & Urquhart, N. S. (1998). Regional lake trophic patterns in the northeastern United States: Three approaches. Environmental Management, 22(5), 789-801. http://doi.org/10.1007/PL00006707

Field Method Comparability

• Flotemersch, J. E., North, S., & Blocksom, K. A. (2014). Evaluation of an alternate method for sampling benthic macroinvertebrates in low-gradient streams sampled as part of the National Rivers and Streams Assessment. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 186(2), 949-959. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3426-6
• Gerth, W. J., & Herlihy, A. T. (2006). Effect of sampling different habitat types in regional macroinvertebrate bioassessment surveys. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 25(2), 501-512. https://doi.org/10.1899/0887-3593(2006)25[501:EOSDHT]2.0.CO;2
• Potyondy, J. P., & Sylte, T. L. (2008). Discussion–“Assessment of Methods for Measuring Embeddedness: Application to Sedimentation in Flow Regulated Streams” by Kelly M. Sennatt, Nira L. Salant, Carl E. Renshaw, and Francis J. Magilligan 1, 2. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 44(1), 259-261. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.2007.00156.x
• Sennatt, K. M., Salant, N. L., Renshaw, C. E., & Magilligan, F. J. (2008). Reply to Discussion–“Assessment of Methods for Measuring Embeddedness: Application to Sedimentation in Flow Regulated Streams” by John P. Potyondy and Traci L. Sylte 1, 2, 3. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 44(1), 262-264. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.2007.00157.x

Assessment Endpoint Comparability

• Allen, D. C., & Vaughn, C. C. (2010). Complex hydraulic and substrate variables limit freshwater mussel species richness and abundance. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 29(2), 383-394. https://doi.org/10.1899/09-024.1
• Peterson, S. A., & Urquhart, N. S. (2000). Estimating trophic state proportions of a regional lake population: Are larger samples always better?. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 62(1), 71-89. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006298230353
• Rehn, A. C., Ode, P. R., & Hawkins, C. P. (2007). Comparisons of targeted-riffle and reach-wide benthic macroinvertebrate samples: implications for data sharing in stream-condition assessments. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 26(2), 332-348. https://doi.org/10.1899/0887-3593(2007)26[332:COTARB]2.0.CO;2

Disclaimer: Providing links to non-EPA sites does not imply official EPA endorsement of or responsibility for the opinions, ideas, data, or products presented at those locations, or guarantee the validity of the information provided. Mention of commercial products/services on non-EPA websites is provided solely as a pointer to information on topics related to environmental protection that may be useful to EPA staff and the public.