ABSTRACT
Careful design of biological sampling and analysis strategies is crucial for interpretation of pesticide effects in outdoor surrogate ecosystems. This paper discusses sampling and analysis strategies of biological designs that should be considered during the development of protocols for outdoor freshwater field studies. Rarely is it possible to collect all organisms living in an aquatic system, and estimations of populations are usually made based on samples taken from the general population. Biological considerations such as frequency of sampling, sampling method and level of taxonomic rank used to identify the biota may enhance or confound the results. Examples and concepts presented are illustrated with examples from published scientific literature and our microcosm and mesocosm studies at the University of North Texas Water Research Station.
