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.

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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.

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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.

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Testimonials

Aquatic Biology Associates provided cost-effective and conscientious services tailored to our project objectives. Their high-quality data sets were presented in a way that could readily be understood by expert and non-expert reviewers alike. And Bob’s succinct interpretation of results related to water quality conditions being assessed for our project enabled us to determine likelihood of risk to the invertebrate...
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Brett L Tiller
Environmental Assessment Services, Washington
Aquatic Biology Associates provided cost-effective and conscientious services tailored to our project objectives. Their high-quality data sets were presented in a way that could readily be understood by expert and non-expert reviewers alike. And Bob’s succinct interpretation of results related to water quality conditions being assessed for our project enabled us to determine likelihood of risk to the invertebrate community from project operations.
Brett L Tiller
Environmental Assessment Services, Washington
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
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
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 ...
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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)
Aquatic Biology Associates, Inc. has quantified the results of macroinvertebrate samples in the State of Idaho for two large USGS water quality projects: our Statewide Water Quality Network and the Boise River Water Quality and Biological Integrity Sampling Network. Since 1994 the USGS Idaho Water Science Center has received complete and accurate macroinvertebrate data that meet all of our data quality objectives for ...
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Dorene MacCoy
U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho
Aquatic Biology Associates, Inc. has quantified the results of macroinvertebrate samples in the State of Idaho for two large USGS water quality projects: our Statewide Water Quality Network and the Boise River Water Quality and Biological Integrity Sampling Network. Since 1994 the USGS Idaho Water Science Center has received complete and accurate macroinvertebrate data that meet all of our data quality objectives for very reasonable prices. Bob Wisseman has given us personal and professional assistance in identifying objectives for the use of macroinvertebrate data in our water quality studies as well as helped our office in reporting results. Bob is always available to answer any questions posed to him about our data. His lab has also provided quality assurance data to help identify sampling needs to reduce analytical error.
Dorene MacCoy
U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho
I’ve worked with Mary Jo Wevers at ABA for over 25 years. Throughout that time, ABA has provided excellent service and timely processing of aquatic macroinvertebrate samples while I was a manager of the biomonitoring section for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and for work I’ve performed as an independent consultant. Mary Jo and ABA have been a pleasure to work...
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Rick Hafele
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
I’ve worked with Mary Jo Wevers at ABA for over 25 years. Throughout that time, ABA has provided excellent service and timely processing of aquatic macroinvertebrate samples while I was a manager of the biomonitoring section for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and for work I’ve performed as an independent consultant. Mary Jo and ABA have been a pleasure to work with and continue to provide excellent service and results.
Rick Hafele
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Submitting Samples