Standard hemispheres as indicators of flow characteristics in lotic benthos research

SUMMARY. 1. Standard hemispheres of identical size and surface but different densities were exposed on a horizontal plane at the bottom of streams. The heaviest hemisphere moved was used as an indicator of flow conditions close to the substrate. 2. Techniques of manufacture, maintenance, and use of the equipment were considered in detail. 3. The method was an easily applicable and integrated indicator of key hydraulic characteristics (turbulence or force of flow prevailing at the stream bottom) previously measured in lotic benthos research, and can replace these more laborious techniques. 4. The hemispheres enabled a rapid flow characterization in stream reaches, in smaller areas where the benthos was being quantitatively sampled, and in en/exclosure cages used in experimental studies. 5. The method also has the potential to characterize and compare physics of flow in individual running water segments with regard to frequencies and intensities of disturbances caused by long‐term variations in discharge. 6. The hemispheres could be used as a standard in benthic research. since they offer a well defined scale that is directly comparable not only between studies in running waters but also in wave‐exposed shores of lakes and oceans.