Biological intercalibration: Invertebrates 2021

Abstract

The 25th biological intercalibration of invertebrates in ICP Waters included three participants. 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 points, they achieved 97.0 % on identifying species and 99.3 % on genus. The mean Quality assurance index (Qi) ranged from 93.3 to 97.4. No laboratory 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 participating laboratories is 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.