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APEM championing consistency, reliability, and quality in mari...
APEM’s benthic taxonomy team is one of the largest and most experienced operating anywhere in Europe and includes internationally respected and published marine scientists.
The team provide baseline condition assessments, impact assessments, monitoring for European directives and routine monitoring studies, for which consistency and quality of data are imperative. Their experience in marine benthic macrofaunal sample analysis includes specialist skills in marine and estuarine surveys, biological sample analysis, ballast water analysis and consultancy.
Our sample analysis includes marine invertebrates, meiofauna, zooplankton, phytoplankton, larval and adult fish, diatoms, seagrasses and macroalgae.
All team members are graduates with a degree in a relevant discipline and all are accomplished taxonomists. Many have published on the taxonomy of specific groups and as such are internationally-recognised experts in their fields.
Our world class laboratory team routinely process more than 2,500 marine samples a year, meeting deadlines even when timescales are tight and bringing forward our clients’ data delivery wherever possible.
APEM’s marine taxonomists are trained to the highest standard in benthic analysis, and all sorting and identification is subject to rigorous in-house quality assurance that follows North East Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control scheme (NMBAQC) best practice guidelines.
Our extensive in-house reference collection acts as a permanent record of the taxa recorded in a project and is a major aid to verifying identifications. We also maintain a large literature collection that is continually updated and expanded to ensure the accuracy of our identifications.
Our benthic experience covers the complete size range from the smallest meiobenthic organisms through to macrobenthos (both infaunal and epibiota) and megabenthos. Our benthic samples range from intertidal regions to offshore deep waters from worldwide locations and for a variety of purposes.
Worldwide experience
The APEM team have analysed samples from throughout the North East Atlantic, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, Greenland, the Gulf region, the Caspian Sea, West Africa, St Helena, the Falkland Islands, East Africa, South East Asia and Hawaii.
The team has also conducted independent surveys and taxonomic studies of specific groups from numerous other locations.
Whatever the nature or location of a project, APEM provide consistent and high-quality survey and sample analysis at competitive rates.
We are the contractor for the benthic invertebrate and particle size components of the NMBAQC scheme, creating intercalibration exercises, organising taxonomic workshops and providing audit services to participants throughout Europe. APEM therefore represent the benchmark for benthic analysis.
The national best practice macrobenthic sample analysis guidelines were co-authored by two senior members of APEM’s marine team (Worsfold and Hall, 2010) on behalf of the NMBAQC Scheme.
APEM are an approved supplier of sample analysis frameworks for the Environment Agency, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).
We work for a wide range of sectors and organisations including:
The team at APEM would be happy to answer any questions you have about sample analysis and the benthic taxonomy team. Please use the form below to get in touch.
Read one of APEM’s blogs, news articles or case studies to find out more.
The scientific community is full of acronyms; however, when it comes to quality control few are as important as NMBAQC
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