Tanzania River Scoring System (TARISS): a macroinvertebrate-based biotic index for rapid bioassessment of rivers

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dc.creatorKaaya, Lulu Tunu
dc.creatorDay, Jenny
dc.creatorDallas, Helen Fiona
dc.date2015-12-15T12:56:03Z
dc.date2015-12-15T12:56:03Z
dc.date2015-06-22
dc.date.accessioned2021-05-03T13:36:17Z
dc.date.available2021-05-03T13:36:17Z
dc.descriptionThe biological assessment of rivers using aquatic macroinvertebrates is an internationally recognised approach for the determination of riverine ecological conditions. In this study a Tanzanian macroinvertebrate-based biotic method, Tanzania River Scoring System (TARISS), was developed in 2012, based on the South African Scoring System (SASS). Macroinvertebrate samples were collected from 101 sites, including both reference and test sites, in the Pangani, Rufiji and Wami–Ruvu basins in the Pangani highlands and central eastern Africa ecoregions. TARISS modification involved adjustments of the list of taxa and the assigning of sensitivity weightings to three new families. Six SASS taxa were excluded and three new taxa were included, resulting in a total of 96 TARISS taxa. Assigned sensitivity weightings of the new taxa were: 10 for Dicercomyzidae, 9 for Ephemerythidae and 4 for Neritidae. Through validation, TARISS proved to be reliable in distinguishing reference from test sites, based on macroinvertebrate assemblages and TARISS metrics. The degree of reliability in distinguishing reference from test sites was higher when river types were used. TARISS scores and average score per taxon (ASPT) showed stronger correlations with the disturbance gradient, and were more reliable in distinguishing between reference and test sites than the number of taxa.
dc.identifierLT Kaaya, JA Day & HF Dallas (2015) Tanzania River Scoring System (TARISS): a macroinvertebrate based biotic index for rapid bioassessment of rivers, African Journal of Aquatic Science, 40:2, 109-117, DOI:10.2989/16085914.2015.1051941
dc.identifier1608-5914
dc.identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/135
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/47594
dc.publisherNISC (Pty) Ltd and Taylor & Francis
dc.subjectmethod
dc.subjectreference
dc.subjectmacroivertebrate taxa
dc.subjecttest
dc.subjectvalidation
dc.subjectdisturbance gradient
dc.subjectsensitivity weightings
dc.titleTanzania River Scoring System (TARISS): a macroinvertebrate-based biotic index for rapid bioassessment of rivers
dc.typeJournal Article, Peer Reviewed

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