On the use of meiofauna in ecological monitoring: who needs taxonomy?
Herman, P.M.J.; Heip, C.H.R. (1988). On the use of meiofauna in ecological monitoring: who needs taxonomy? Mar. Pollut. Bull. 19(12): 665-668. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0025-326X(88)90386-4
Taxonomic problems have hindered the widespread use of meiobenthos for the purpose of pollution monitoring despite its potential usefulness. The question whether it is necessary to go down to species level in order to distinguish assemblages and stations was studied. From a practical point of view, it may be sufficient to identify the animals to genus or family level. It is proven that this result is not due to ecological similarities between congeneric or confamiliar species. Randomly assembled "families" allowed a separation of the stations as clear as that based on taxonomic groups. The information contained in species abundances was preserved, at least partially, when the species are grouped, even at random. The grouping in higher taxonomic categories was as good as any, and more convenient than all the others.
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