A standardized multi‐method survey to enhance characterization of riparian invertebrate communities

Riparian invertebrate communities are species rich, but variability in sampling methods hampers assessment of their distributions and inference of the quality of their habitats. To reduce this variability, a standardized, multi‐method survey protocol was recently developed. Here, riparian beetle community surveys conducted before and after the protocol's introduction were used to evaluate its effectiveness in characterizing communities and in limiting variability among surveys. Use of the standardized protocol reduced variability in sampling effort, and this had a limited effect on estimates of taxonomic richness. Surveys using the protocol captured significantly more species than surveys done before its introduction, evidencing the benefits of standardized multi‐method survey protocols. Our study highlights that standardized multi‐method survey protocols may enable identification and prioritization of sites requiring management to improve habitat quality. As such, we recommend the integration of such protocols into monitoring programmes, to enhance protection of biodiverse invertebrate communities in vulnerable riparian habitats.