NEON Benthic Macroinvertebrate, Algae and Zooplankton Taxonomic Identification

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) project is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is managed by Battelle Ecology, Inc. (BEI). The mission of the NEON project is to design, implement and operate continental scale research infrastructure to open new horizons in ecological science and education, and to enable ecological analyses and forecasts for the benefit of society. There are 81 field sites across 20 ecoclimactic domains.

https://www.neonscience.org/about-neon-field-sites

Since 2014, EcoAnalysts has provided benthic macroinvertebrate and zooplankton taxonomic identification services for the NEON project. In 2019 we began providing algae taxonomy services. Annual sample numbers have increased each year as the project was being implemented. EcoAnalysts worked in close coordination with members of the NEON team to develop appropriate laboratory and data delivery procedures designed to meet the objectives of the project. Once standard operating procedures were approved, they were implemented for the project. Annual audits were conducted for each taxonomic analysis (benthic invertebrate, zooplankton, periphyton, phytoplankton).

As of September 30, 2020 EcoAnalysts has processed 2,296 benthic macroinvertebrate samples, 273 zooplankton samples and 239 algae samples for the NEON project.