Biological intercalibration: Invertebrates 2020

Abstract

The 24th biological intercalibration of invertebrates in ICP Waters included three laboratories. The intercalibration is important for harmonizing taxonomic work across countries, to ensure high quality data in the ICP Waters database and to increase the taxonomic skill of the participants. The laboratories correctly identified a high proportion of the specimens in the test samples. In total, 97.3 % of the species and 97.7 % of the genera were correctly identified. The mean Quality assurance index ranged between 91 and 97.3. No laboratories had a mean value below 80, which is the limit for acceptable taxonomic work. The intercalibration under the ICP Waters programme was the first regular test of species level identification. Here, we present trends in the intercalibration of invertebrates from the initial intercalibration in 1992 up to the present. The average number of laboratories that took part on each occasion was 4.75. The results show that the Qi has remained above 80% for the full period, suggesting skilled taxonomists in the laboratories affiliated to ICP Waters.