Fish Field and Laboratory Methods for Evaluating the Biological Integrity of Surface Waters

This manual contains biocriteria and describes guidelines and standardized methods for using fish in evaluating the health and biological integrity of surface waters and for protecting the quality of water resources. Included are sections on quality assurance and quality control procedures; safety and health recommendations; fish collection techniques; specimen processing techniques; identification and taxonomic references; fish age, growth, and condition determinations; data recording; length-frequency; length-age conversion; annulus formulation; relative weight index; flesh tainting; fish kill investigation; bioassessment protocols for use in streams and rivers; family-level icthyoplankton index; fish health and condition assessment; guidelines for fish sampling and tissue preparation for bioaccumulative contaminants; and an extensive bibliography for fisheries.