Abstract
Surface area measurement is a common component of benthic research, especially in the quantification of chlorophyll. Multiple techniques are available and 10 are described: artificial substrates, area-specific sampling, geometric approximation, stone shape equations, foil wrapping, grids, stamps, wetted layer, particle layer, and planar area measurement. A literature search of 130 papers indicated the most common methods: using artificial substrates of known area, subsampling a specific area using a template or sampler, measuring stone dimensions and using an equation to derive area, and using the weight of foil wrapped on stones. Methods were compared using spheres of known area, smooth and rough granite stones, and plastic macrophytes. Most methods produced highly correlated measurements and accurately estimated surface area. The wetted layer method was sensitive to stone roughness and plant complexity, but may overestimate the area of complex surfaces. Replication of one method by 10 biologists indicated that individual differences in technique can affect surface area values. Factors to consider in choosing an appropriate method include ease of use, characteristics of the substrates (e.g., porosity and flexibility), fineness of scale in measuring area, and whether methods must be field-based or can include laboratory techniques.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J. E. Aloi (1990) ArticleTitleA critical review of recent freshwater periphyton field methods Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 47 656–670 Occurrence Handle10.1139/f90-073
D. J. Behmer C. P. Hawkins (1986) ArticleTitleEffects of overhead canopy on macroinvertebrate production in a Utah stream Freshwater Biology 16 287–300
E. A. Bergey (2005) ArticleTitleHow protective are refuges? Quantifying algal protection in rock crevices Freshwater Biology 50 1163–1177 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1365-2427.2005.01393.x
B. J. F. Biggs M. E. Close (1989) ArticleTitlePeriphyton biomass dynamics in gravel bed rivers: the relative effects of flows and nutrients Freshwater Biology 22 209–231 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXksVGrs7Y%3D
P. Calow (1972) ArticleTitleA method for determining the surface areas of stones to enable quantitative density estimates of littoral stonedwelling organisms to be made Hydrobiologia 40 37–50 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00123590
M. Carlsson L. M. Nilsson B. Svensson S. Ulfstrand R. S. Wotton (1977) ArticleTitleLacustrine seston and other factors influencing the blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) inhabiting lake outlets in Swedish Lapland Oikos 29 229–238
A. Cattaneo R. Carignan (1983) ArticleTitleA colorimetric method for measuring the surface area of aquatic plants Aquatic Botany 17 291–294 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0304-3770(83)90064-5
M. Coler Y. Y. Chang R. A. Coler (1989) ArticleTitleThe determination of limestone area by linear regression Hydrobiologia 184 165–168 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00027024
P. C. Dall (1979) ArticleTitleA sampling technique for littoral stone dwelling organisms Oikos 33 106–112
T. Doeg P. S. Lake (1981) ArticleTitleA technique for assessing the composition and density of the macroinvertebrate fauna of large stones in streams Hydrobiologia 80 3–6 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00130676
G. M. Gíslason (1985) ArticleTitleThe life cycle and production of Simulium vittatum Zett. In the River Laxá, North-East Iceland Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 22 3281–3287
A. A. Graham D. J. McCaughan F. S. McKee (1988) ArticleTitleMeasurement of surface area of stones Hydrobiologia 157 85–87 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00008813
W. W. Gregg F. L. Rose (1982) ArticleTitleThe effects of aquatic macrophytes on the steam microenvironment Aquatic Botany 14 309–324 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0304-3770(82)90105-X
J. J. Harrod R. E. Hall (1962) ArticleTitleA method for determining the surface areas of various aquatic plants Hydrobiologia 20 173–178 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00046315
W. P. Kovalak (1978) ArticleTitleDiel changes in stream benthos density on stones and artificial substrates Hydrobiologia 58 7–16 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00018889
M. E. Ledger A. G. Hildrew (1998) ArticleTitleTemporal and spatial variation in the epilithic biofilm of an acid stream Freshwater Biology 40 655–670 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2427.1998.00364.x
J. W. McCreadie M. H. Colbo (1991) ArticleTitleA critical examination of four methods of estimating the surface area of stone substrate from streams in relation to sampling Simuliidae (Diptera) Hydrobiologia 220 205–210
G. W. Minshall J. N. Minshall (1977) ArticleTitleMicrodistribution of benthic invertebrates in a Rocky Mountain (U.S.A.) stream Hydrobiologia 55 231–249 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00017555
R. Morales-Alamo (1993) ArticleTitleEstimation of oyster shell surface area using regression equations derived from aluminum foil molds Journal of Shellfish Research 12 15–19
A. Morin (1987) ArticleTitleUnsuitability of introduced tiles for sampling blackfly larvae (Diptera: Simuliidae) Freshwater Biology 17 143–150
W. N. Rosine (1955) ArticleTitleThe distribution of invertebrates on submerged aquatic plant surfaces in Muskee Lake, Colorado Ecology 36 308–314
T. E. Shelly (1979) ArticleTitleThe effect of rock size upon the distribution of species of Orthocladiinae (Chironomidae: Diptera) and Baetis intercalaris McDunnough (Baetidae: Ephemeroptera) Ecological Entomology 4 95–100 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1365-2311.1979.tb00564.x
A. D. Steinman G. A. Lamberti (1996) Biomass and pigments of benthic algae F. R. Hauer G. A. Lamberti (Eds) Methods in Stream Ecology Academic Press San Diego 295–313
F. B. Thompson L. Leyton (1971) ArticleTitleMethod for measuring the leaf surface area of complex shoots Nature 229 572 Occurrence Handle16059351 Occurrence Handle10.1038/229572a0 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2MzpvVyisg%3D%3D
U. Uehlinger (1991) ArticleTitleSpatial and temporal variability of the periphyton biomass in a prealpine river (Necker, Switzerland) Archiv für Hydrobiologie 123 219–237
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bergey, E.A., Getty, G.M. A Review of Methods for Measuring the Surface Area of Stream Substrates. Hydrobiologia 556, 7–16 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-1042-3
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-1042-3