Sampling Efficiency of Four Types of Mud Bottom Samplers

Results of tests comparing the sampling efficiency of two box samplers (Ekman type) and two tube samplers commonly used on mud bottoms in freshwater, i.e. a standard Ekman sampler, a modified Ekman sampler, a compound sampler and a commercial version of a single corer, are presented. Tests are focused on the efficiency of sampling chironomid larvae, these larvae being a major component of the bottom fauna in the area selected for the study. No sampler was found to diverge from the others to any great extent. However, statistical tests proved the standard Ekman and the multiple corer to be slightly more effective than the other two.