Macroinvertebrates of the river Conwy catchment, UK

The data consist of species level descriptions of macroinvertebrate communities from the Conwy catchment in Wales, UK sampled over three years 2008 - 2010. Supporting habitat and geographical data are included.

The waterbodies studied are tributary streams of the Conwy, Wales, UK. Sampling took place in November 2008, 2009 and 2010. Macroinvertebrates were sampled using a 1mm kick net following the RIvPACS field protocol as described in Murray-Bligh, J. A. D., Furse, M. T., Jones, F. H., Gunn, R. J. M., Dines, R. A. & Wright, J. F. (1997) Procedure for collecting and analysing macro-invertebrate samples for RIVPACS. Environment Agency and Institute of Freshwater Ecology, Bristol, UK.

Site variables (depth, width, velocity, substrate cover, macrophyte cover) were also recorded as described in the above document.

Samples were washed into plastic sample bags, labelled and preserved with a 4% formaldehyde solution in the field. In the laboratory, samples were washed through a 500μm sieve and all macroinvertebrates were picked from the samples and identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible, usually species. Valid taxonomic names and unique taxon identification codes were provided in Davies, C. and Edwards, F.K. (2011) Code list for recording the macroinvertebrates in freshwater in the British Isles. Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford.

Data entry was validated by crosschecking data print outs with laboratory sheets.

Map variables were derived for those point locations using the Intelligent River Network (Version 17), which was first described in Dawson, F.H., Hornby, D.D. and Hilton, J. (2002), A method for the automated extraction of environmental variables to help the classification of rivers in Britain. Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst., 12: 391-403. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.534