Interlaboratory Proficiency Test 10/2020. Taxonomic identification of macroinvertebrates

Proftest SYKE organized the proficiency test ZOO 10/2020 on taxonomic identification of macroinvertebrate. The test consisted of three parts: 1) lake profundal taxa, 2) lake littoral and lotic taxa and 3) brackish water taxa. The test material represented macroinvertebrates typically occurring in Fennoscandia and the Northern Baltic Sea. In total 26 analysts from 13 organisations and four countries took part in the test. Participants could choose which parts they wanted to particpate in. Overall, 81 % of the test scores reached 90 % taxa correctly identified. In the lake profundal taxa part the average score of taxa correctly identified was 89 %. In the lake littoral and lotic taxa part and the brackish water taxa part the average scores of taxa correctly identified were 93 % and 94 %, respectively. The majority of the participants showed good identification skills and proficiency to perform taxonomic identification of macroinvertebrates. Warm thanks to all the participants of this proficiency test!