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ABSTRACT
A new field washing technique for removal of invertebrates from aquatic vegetation was investigated. This technique, which involved field washing samples in alchohol (ETOH), was developed and tested with aquatic vegetation samples from two undisturbed lotic systems in Southern Nevada. Results indicated that approximately 60% of the animals were removed from watercress and algal mat samples by vigorous water washing in a bucket. Field washing of algal and watercress samples using ETOH removed an additional 20–40% of the total macroinvertebrates, with ETOH wash efficiency being higher in the watercress samples. Generally, tightly clinging organisms such as hydroptilid caddisfly pupae or case building midges were the only invertebrates not effectively removed from aquatic vegetation samples by a cambination of alchohol and water-washing in the field.