Table 4-13. Cost information 



Sampling costs (per site)= $1 ,540 



Field Crews: $1200 



• Includes salary, benefits, per diem, and lodging for 4 persons 



• Based on 1 site per day collecting data for multiple indicators 



• Does not include costs associated with vehicles 



• Includes cost of acquisition of specimens for fish tissue, biomarkers, 

 and genetics indicators 



Laboratory Costs: $325 



• Data analysis and data management 



• Identification, verification, and archiving voucher specimens 



Supplies: $15 



• Jars, waterproof paper, formalin 



Field equipment (per crew): $3,515 



• Backpack electrofishing unit: $3,000 (one-time cost for multiple years' use; 

 annual maintenance = $300) 



• Dip nets and seines: $200 



• Measuring board: $65 



• Miscellaneous equipment: $250 



• Estimate 15% annual maintenance and replacement cost 



Summary 



The greatest cost for this indicator Is salary for a field crew. Per-site costs may depend on field logistics and 

 accessibility of sites. Much of the cost for supplies and equipment can be distributed over several years (for 

 the life of the equipment or duration of the monitoring program). Similarly, costs for field crews and site visits 

 could be distributed to other indicator measurements made at the same sites. Examination of costs for this 

 indicator, using estimates presented here and with similar information obtained from other published sources, 

 suggests that data collection and analysis may be less expensive for this indicator than for other biological or 

 chemical indicators that might be implemented within the proposed monitoring. 



Phase 3: Response Variability 



Guideline 8: Estimation of Measurement Error 



The process of collecting, transporting, and analyzing ecological data generates errors thiat can obscure 

 the discriminatory ability of an indicator Variability introduced by human and instrument performance 

 must be estimated and reported for all indicator measurements. Variability among field crews should 

 also be estimated, if appropriate. If standard methods and equipment are employed, information on 

 measurement error may be available in the literature. Regardless, this information should be derived or 

 validated in dedicated testing or a pilot study. 



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