Development of a biodiversity chip for the biomonitoring of benthic macro invertebrate communities.

The Biological water quality in Flanders is assessed aplying the Belgian Biotic Index (BBI). The aim of this proposal is the development of a biodiversity chip (DNA-array) for the identification of benthic macro invertebrate communities. We will start with the characterization of some key taxa of the BBI. With the biodiversity chip it will possible to assess the water quality in a correct and faster way compared to the classical identification of the BBI.