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.

See Services

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.

See Projects

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.

See Guidelines

Testimonials

The personable and knowledgeable staff at ABA, Inc., combined with high-quality results and transparent interpretation, make returning to ABA year after year with our macroinvertebrate samples an easy choice.
Rachael Pecore
Columbia, Riverkeeper, Oregon
The personable and knowledgeable staff at ABA, Inc., combined with high-quality results and transparent interpretation, make returning to ABA year after year with our macroinvertebrate samples an easy choice.
Rachael Pecore
Columbia, Riverkeeper, Oregon
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 ...
read more
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)
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
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...
read more
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
I have been very pleased with the quality of work and customer service provided by Aquatic Biology Associates, Inc. My stream food-web studies have included benthic invertebrates, fish diets, and terrestrial invertebrate infall, and they have the expertise to handle all of types of samples. I have been very satisfied with the accuracy and timeliness of the data, and it has been ...
read more
Dave Rundio
Fisheries Biologist, National Marine Fisheries Service, California
I have been very pleased with the quality of work and customer service provided by Aquatic Biology Associates, Inc. My stream food-web studies have included benthic invertebrates, fish diets, and terrestrial invertebrate infall, and they have the expertise to handle all of types of samples. I have been very satisfied with the accuracy and timeliness of the data, and it has been extremely helpful to me to be able to talk directly to the person who has identified the samples when I have had questions or additional requests during the course of an ongoing project. Their high quality of work and customer support at reasonable prices provide excellent value.
Dave Rundio
Fisheries Biologist, National Marine Fisheries Service, California
I found ABA, Inc. very easy to deal with, competent, and reasonably priced. They were very flexible in terms of inputting our data into a web-based database, which they had not done before. They have been very accessible for help and advice through either the phone or email.
Mike Papa
Water Quality, City of Everett, Washington
I found ABA, Inc. very easy to deal with, competent, and reasonably priced. They were very flexible in terms of inputting our data into a web-based database, which they had not done before. They have been very accessible for help and advice through either the phone or email.
Mike Papa
Water Quality, City of Everett, Washington
Submitting Samples