🌊 Rib
eDNA Biodiversity Report Card
15 EPT families
Outstanding diversity of pollution-sensitive invertebrates indicating pristine water quality.
Top 15 families detected by eDNA analysis:
| Species | Family | Sites | ESVs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoxinus phoxinus (Minnow) | Cyprinidae | 9 | 47 |
| Barbatula barbatula (Stone Loach) | Nemacheilidae | 9 | 23 |
| Gasterosteus aculeatus (Three-spined Stickleback) | Gasterosteidae | 8 | 60 |
| Salmo trutta (Brown Trout / Sea Trout) | Salmonidae | 8 | 25 |
| Squalius cephalus (Chub) | Cyprinidae | 7 | 18 |
| Leuciscus leuciscus (Dace) | Cyprinidae | 4 | 8 |
| Gobio gobio (Gudgeon) | Cyprinidae | 2 | 9 |
| Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Pink Salmon) | Salmonidae | 2 | 2 |
| Species | Family | Sites | ESVs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baetis rhodani (Large Dark Olive) | Baetidae | 9 | 17 |
| Paraleptophlebia submarginata (Turkey Brown) | Leptophlebiidae | 5 | 14 |
| Baetis vernus (Medium Olive) | Baetidae | 5 | 9 |
| Ephemera danica (The Mayfly) | Ephemeridae | 5 | 9 |
| Serratella ignita (Blue Winged Olive) | Ephemerellidae | 2 | 6 |
| Baetis scambus (Small Dark Olive) | Baetidae | 2 | 2 |
| Centroptilum luteolum (Small Spurwing) | Baetidae | 1 | 1 |
| Caenis luctuosa (Angler's Curse) | Caenidae | 1 | 1 |
| Habrophlebia fusca (Ditch Dun) | Leptophlebiidae | 1 | 1 |
| Species | Family | Sites | ESVs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leuctra fusca (Late Needle Fly) | Leuctridae | 5 | 16 |
| Leuctra digitata (Rolled-winged Stoneflies) | Leuctridae | 4 | 7 |
| Nemurella pictetii (Pictet's Stonefly) | Nemouridae | 3 | 4 |
| Species | Family | Sites | ESVs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glyphotaelius pellucidus (Northern Caddisflies) | Limnephilidae | 8 | 15 |
| Limnephilus extricatus (Northern Caddisflies) | Limnephilidae | 4 | 7 |
| Silo nigricornis (Humpless Case-maker Caddisflies) | Goeridae | 4 | 5 |
| Hydroptila sparsa (Microcaddisflies) | Hydroptilidae | 2 | 2 |
| Micropterna lateralis (Northern Caddisflies) | Limnephilidae | 1 | 2 |
| Apatania vepsica (Apataniid Caddisflies) | Apataniidae | 1 | 1 |
| Crunoecia irrorata (Lepidostomatid Caddisflies) | Lepidostomatidae | 1 | 1 |
| Athripsodes albifrons (Long-horned Caddisflies) | Leptoceridae | 1 | 1 |
| Leptocerus tineiformis (Long-horned Caddisflies) | Leptoceridae | 1 | 1 |
| Chaetopteryx villosa (Northern Caddisflies) | Limnephilidae | 1 | 1 |
| Halesus radiatus (Northern Caddisflies) | Limnephilidae | 1 | 1 |
| Lype phaeopa (Tube-case Caddisflies) | Psychomyiidae | 1 | 1 |
| Notidobia ciliaris (Sericostomatid Caddisflies) | Sericostomatidae | 1 | 1 |
| Site | Location | Species | Genera | EPT Families | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R5 | A10 Bridge Hay Lane | 216 | 168 | 9 | 🌟 |
| R9 | Wadesmill - Old Church Lane | 203 | 153 | 8 | |
| R7 | Standon A120 Road Bridge | 198 | 155 | 9 | |
| R1 | River Green (Buntingford) | 183 | 134 | 2 | |
| R4 | Westmill below south bridge | 174 | 128 | 3 | |
| R8 | Cold Christmas | 157 | 120 | 8 | |
| R3 | Aspenden Road Bridge (Buntingf... | 150 | 113 | 2 | |
| R2 | Buntingford Watermill (upstrea... | 96 | 78 | 2 | |
| R10 | Bengeo (downstream site) | 66 | 57 | 6 |
🌟 = Most diverse site on river
The Rib flows through the Upper Lea (Hertfordshire) catchment, where our eDNA survey sampled 10 sites along its length. Analysis of water samples revealed a rich invertebrate community with 528 distinct genetic sequences (Species) representing 526 identified species and 180 families.
Compared to other chalk streams surveyed, the Rib shows moderate diversity compared to other rivers in the study (#7 of 11). The river supports 15 families of mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies (EPT) - key indicators of water quality.
Notable findings include the detection of conservation priority species (Water vole, Water shrew) and invasive species requiring management attention.
528 Species detected across 10 sites — CSV format, opens in Excel
