Assessing the Biological Health of Freshwater Ecosystems

Studying freshwater invertebrates since 1984

Aquatic Biology Associates is the longest established independent laboratory in western North America providing consulting services for aquatic invertebrates. By choice, Aquatic Biology Associates remains a small lab so we can give personal attention to all phases of your project. We help clarify project objectives and assess your data needs to deliver cost-effective quality results.

Robert Wisseman, Senior Scientist, is closely involved in developing national and state bioassessment protocols for evaluating the health and integrity of freshwater ecosystems. Mary Jo Wevers, CEO, has nearly five decades of experience working as an aquatic ecologist. 

About Us

Our Technical Services

We are experts in freshwater macroinvertebrate identification, having analyzed tens of thousands of macroinvertebrate samples from streams, rivers, springs, wetlands, ponds, and lakes throughout western North America and Hawaii.

Our technical services include field sampling, endangered invertebrate species surveys, quantitative analysis of macroinvertebrate communities, and fish and bird food web analysis. We provide statistical data analysis in a variety of formats, interpretation of results to meet your needs, and prepared reports.

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Our Experience

Aquatic Biology Associates has completed over one thousand projects from freshwater, terrestrial, and estuarine habitats in western North America, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean in Alaska and Canada south into Arizona.

Our projects have ranged from a single sample to over 1,000 samples in size. The U.S. EPA has retained us to consult on developing Biological Condition Gradient models for the Pacific Northwest and actively work on standard taxonomic effort issues in western North America through PNAMP and SAFIT.

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Work with us

Send us your samples for analysis. Following our guidelines and recommendations ensures the safe delivery of your samples, efficient and accurate processing by our lab, and high-quality results from our analysis.

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Testimonials

Mary Jo began acquiring her knowledge and experience of Pacific Northwest watersheds and streams at the Oak Creek Laboratory of Biology as a graduate student and project supervisor. During this time, Mary Jo conducted her own research, supervised and assisted other graduate students, and managed undergraduates working in the field and laboratory on stream toxicology and watershed classification projects. She has extensive experience managing complex ...
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Robert Hoffman
Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey (retired)
Mary Jo began acquiring her knowledge and experience of Pacific Northwest watersheds and streams at the Oak Creek Laboratory of Biology as a graduate student and project supervisor. During this time, Mary Jo conducted her own research, supervised and assisted other graduate students, and managed undergraduates working in the field and laboratory on stream toxicology and watershed classification projects. She has extensive experience managing complex projects, tracking them, and paying attention to details while maintaining high standards.
Robert Hoffman
Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey (retired)
As a small volunteer group, the Cloud Peak Chapter of Wilderness Watch is especially grateful for the helpful, professional attitude of Aquatic Biology Associates. At the startup of our multi-year project, we needed detailed help in many ways, and ABA got us through all the steps from A to Z. ABA’s excellent reputation in the...
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Karen Ferguson
Cloud Peak Wilderness Watch
As a small volunteer group, the Cloud Peak Chapter of Wilderness Watch is especially grateful for the helpful, professional attitude of Aquatic Biology Associates. At the startup of our multi-year project, we needed detailed help in many ways, and ABA got us through all the steps from A to Z. ABA’s excellent reputation in the field of macroinvertebrate analysis also ensured acceptance of our data.
Karen Ferguson
Cloud Peak Wilderness Watch
My research lab has been very satisfied over the years with the quality and thoroughness of the data ABA Inc. has provided and with the help Bob has given in interpreting the data and tailoring analysis to fit our project-specific needs.
Mark Wipfli
University of Alaska-Fairbanks Institute of Arctic Biology
My research lab has been very satisfied over the years with the quality and thoroughness of the data ABA Inc. has provided and with the help Bob has given in interpreting the data and tailoring analysis to fit our project-specific needs.
Mark Wipfli
University of Alaska-Fairbanks Institute of Arctic Biology
Part of the abandoned mine site cleanup process requires benthic macroinvertebrate enumeration to assess potential impacts from former mining activities. This process requires a high-quality laboratory with extensive experience in identifying species in various Pacific Northwest montane stream ecosystems. Aquatic Biology Associates, Inc. has provided us with the requisite high-quality service at reasonable prices. Mr. Wisseman is exceptionally knowledgeable and always provides ...
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Ryan Tobias
Cascades, Earth Sciences, Oregon
Part of the abandoned mine site cleanup process requires benthic macroinvertebrate enumeration to assess potential impacts from former mining activities. This process requires a high-quality laboratory with extensive experience in identifying species in various Pacific Northwest montane stream ecosystems. Aquatic Biology Associates, Inc. has provided us with the requisite high-quality service at reasonable prices. Mr. Wisseman is exceptionally knowledgeable and always provides personal attention to assist us with site-specific abandoned mine cleanup options. Thank you, Mr. Wisseman. I look forward to working with ABA on future mine cleanup projects.
Ryan Tobias
Cascades, Earth Sciences, Oregon
Aquatic Biology Associates, Inc. has quantified the results of macroinvertebrate samples in the State of Idaho for two large USGS water quality projects: our Statewide Water Quality Network and the Boise River Water Quality and Biological Integrity Sampling Network. Since 1994 the USGS Idaho Water Science Center has received complete and accurate macroinvertebrate data that meet all of our data quality objectives for ...
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Dorene MacCoy
U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho
Aquatic Biology Associates, Inc. has quantified the results of macroinvertebrate samples in the State of Idaho for two large USGS water quality projects: our Statewide Water Quality Network and the Boise River Water Quality and Biological Integrity Sampling Network. Since 1994 the USGS Idaho Water Science Center has received complete and accurate macroinvertebrate data that meet all of our data quality objectives for very reasonable prices. Bob Wisseman has given us personal and professional assistance in identifying objectives for the use of macroinvertebrate data in our water quality studies as well as helped our office in reporting results. Bob is always available to answer any questions posed to him about our data. His lab has also provided quality assurance data to help identify sampling needs to reduce analytical error.
Dorene MacCoy
U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho
We were very happy with the work ABA did for us. Their skill with the identification of invertebrates from a variety of sources is hard to match. They worked hard to meet our deadlines, provided results that were clear and easy to use, and helped us reorganize the results to ease interpretation for us.
Sayre Hodgson
Salmon Research Biologist, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Washington
We were very happy with the work ABA did for us. Their skill with the identification of invertebrates from a variety of sources is hard to match. They worked hard to meet our deadlines, provided results that were clear and easy to use, and helped us reorganize the results to ease interpretation for us.
Sayre Hodgson
Salmon Research Biologist, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Washington
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