UNE-EN ISO 23611-5:2024

This part of ISO 23611 specifies a method for sampling, extracting and preserving macro-invertebratesfrom soils, including the litter zone. The proposed method is a prerequisite for using these animalsas bio-indicators (e.g. to assess the quality of a soil as a habitat for organisms). The main premise ofthis method is rapid assessment (completing the sampling of a plot in one or two days with only basicequipment and a small number of field assistants) in order to be able to address all the taxonomicgroups of soil macro-invertebrates at the same time and in the same place. The Tropical Soil Biology andFertility (TSBF) method has evolved and some modifications have been introduced in order to use it intemperate regions.The sampling and extraction methods in this part of ISO 23611 are applicable to almost all types of soil,with the exception of soils in extreme climatic conditions (hard, frozen or flooded soils) and matricesother than soil, e.g. tree trunks, plants or lichens.A sampling design is specified in ISO 23611-6.NOTE 1 The method specified in this part of ISO 23611 is based on guidelines developed under the TropicalSoil Biology and Fertility Program (TSBF method)[1].NOTE 2 Basic information on the ecology of macro-invertebrates and their use can be found in the referenceslisted in the Bibliography.