Water quality and macroinvertebrate student citizen science project

This citizen science project is part of a larger Post-Fire Recovery Project that is looking at how the Warrumbungle National Park is recovering following the severe bushfire in 2013. After the fire, an intense thunderstorm washed large quantities of sediment and organic matter into the streams that drain the park. This can lead to increases in nutrient concentrations and high nutrient levels can alter the characteristics of the streams. Scientists from the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) are studying this area and monitoring how the streams recover from the bushfire. However, our scientists can't be there to monitor the streams all the time. This is where citizen science comes in.

The goal of this project is to introduce local school students to the concept of citizen science and demonstrate to them how they can collect and contribute meaningful data to help OEH assess stream health. We are partnering with the Warrumbungle Environmental Education Centre on this project and together we have designed two manuals and a demonstration video to explain basic concepts. One aim of the project is to develop a sampling protocol that can be readily used by students in creeks or wetlands near their local schools. Our second aim is to compare the data collected by students with data collected by experts to determine whether our scientists can have confidence in the information collected.

Resources

We've developed a Guide to macroinvertebrate sampling for students (PDF 784MB) for the school children to review in advance of their visit to the park and use as a reference guide. The manual provides guidance on the best places to sample for macroinvertebrates and describes the proper sampling technique and sorting protocol.

Our second manual, Guide to water quality monitoring for students (PDF 1.1MB), is also intended for students to review prior to their visit to the park and guides students through various tests of water quality. The information collected will complement the scientist's studies on the recovery of the streams following bushfire.

We've also developed a video 'How to monitor stream health' that demonstrates some of the water quality and macroinvertebrate sampling protocols explained in the manuals.

Field survey dates

So far we've had three successful 'water days' teaching and learning from students from local high schools. Our next trip is planned for September 2015. Contact Meg Leathart at the Warrumbungle Environmental Education Centre for more information.

Results

The results from the March 2015 trip are now available:

• March 2015 nutrient sampling results (PDF 171KB)
• Namoi River macroinvertebrate list March 2015 (PDF 198KB)
• Wambelong Creek macroinvertebrate list March 2015” (PDF 199KB)

Demonstrating macroinvertebrate sampling in Namoi River (Angela McCormack)	Demonstrating macroinvertebrate sampling in Wambelong Creek (Erin Roger)
Sorting Namoi River macroinvertebrates (Angela McCormack)	Sampling for macroinvertebrates in Wambelong Creek (Erin Roger)

The following results from November 2014 are now available:

• List of all the macroinvertebrates found in November 2014 at Wombelong Creek (PDF 157KB)
• Results from the nutrient sampling tests from November 2014 (PDF 116KB)

The graph below compares the preliminary measurements taken by students using simple measuring devices (pH strips, conductivity meter and thermometer) with measurements taken using a higher quality instrument (Horiba U-10). Preliminary results show that while electrical conductivity is comparable between the two methods, there are some differences between pH and water temperature. We'll continue to collect more data so we can compare methodologies.

Photo gallery

Please click on image to view full size.

Hugh Jones giving a presentation to the students (Erin Roger, OEH)	Students collecting samples (Erin Roger)
Sampling water qulaity (Erin Roger, OEH)	Kangaroo drinking from creek (Erin Roger)
Students sorting macroinvertebrates (Erin Roger, OEH)	Tadpoles (Erin Roger, OEH)
Warrumbungle National Park (Erin Roger, OEH)	Adult mayfly head (Peter Serov)
Adult mayfly (Peter Serov)	Dragonfly nymph (Peter Serov)
Mayfly larva Leptophlebiidae (Peter Serov)	Shrimp Crustacea Decapoda Atyidae (Peter Serov)
Water Beetle adult (Peter Serov)	Hemiptera Corixidae (Peter Serov)