SmartRivers Results for the Chess

In early May the CCSP team and a group of citizen scientists conducted SmartRivers surveys on the Chess. We collected samples from 6 locations on the Chess to get analysed by WildFish and the results are now back.

SmartRivers is a scientifically robust citizen science toolkit to assess water quality and biodiversity of rivers and chalk streams.

The samples are collected using the standard methodology of three minute kick-sweep sampling and one minute hand search. The samples are preserved in alcohol and then sent out to be analysed to species-level.

The survey is repeated twice a year, in autumn and spring and enables us to detect changes in invertebrate diversity and abundance, highlighting trends and areas at risk. Water quality ‘scorecards’ are also generated, grading the impact of five common water quality stress types.

The results in summary (see the full report for the map of sites):

Water Quality Scores:

• Chemical Pressure: Unimpacted scores at sites 2, 3, 4, and 6. Low impact at sites 1 and 5.

• Organic Pressure: Unimpacted score at site 3. Low impact scores at other sites.

• Sediment Pressure: Unimpacted scores at site 4 and 5. Low impact scores at other sites.

• Flow Pressure: Low impact at site 3. Unimpacted scores at other sites.

• Phosphorus Pressure: Unimpacted score at site 4. Low impact at other sites.

Invertebrates:

• Total species richness was highest at site 3 (33) and lowest at site 2 (20). Site 3 had the highest leech, caddisfly, and mollusc diversity. With the latter being notable compared to other sites.

• Total abundance was highest at site 3 (2397) and lowest at site 6 (245). Freshwater shrimp dominated numbers within samples at all sites (highest numbers at site 3). Site 5 had high relative numbers of true flies (Simulium sp.) compared to other sites. Lower total abundance at site 6 very distinct form other sites.

• Riverfly species richness was highest at site 3 (19) and lowest at sites 2 and 6 (12). High caddisfly diversity (14) at site 3 the key contributor, although two observations were at genus level. Site 5 had the highest mayfly diversity (6, 1 genus obs.).

• Riverfly abundance was highest at site 3 (439) and lowest at site 6 (66). Greater riverfly abundance at site 3 due to higher relative numbers of tiny grey sedge (Agapetus fuscipes), a gregarious cased species. Mayfly numbers higher at site 5 with large dark olives (Baetis rhodani/atlanticus) being the dominant species.

If you are interested in joining our next survey in autumn, please get in touch:

Chess Citizen Science <chesscs@chilterns.org.uk>

Chalkstreams Volunteers <chalkstreamsvolunteers@chilterns.org.uk>