ABSTRACT

The Riverfly Partnership, launched in 2004, is a UK network of organisations and individuals working to protect river habitats and macroinvertebrate communities. The Riverfly Partnership’s Anglers’ Riverfly Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), launched in 2007, supports citizen science volunteers to monitor macroinvertebrates in their local rivers. In Manchester and surrounding areas, ARMI monitoring began in 2011 with volunteers from a fishing club active across the Irwell catchment. Whilst there has been mixed success establishing a robust long-term monitoring program, volunteers investigate issues raised by the local community and data provide a baseline against which river pollution events can be compared. For example, in April 2017 citizen scientists responding to a report of dead crayfish by an angler identified a pollution incident resulting in a catastrophic loss of macroinvertebrates along a 19 km reach of the River Irwell. Recognizing the limitations of the ARMI methodology for urban and degraded rivers nationwide led to the development of the Urban Riverfly index through the Riverfly Partnership so that citizen scientists can more effectively contribute to the work of government agencies mitigating urban river pollution. Citizen science has importantly been a catalyst for public engagement and environmental projects which should encourage wider public participation in river catchment management.

摘要

Riverfly合作伙伴关系始于2004年，是英国的一个组织和个人网络，致力于保护河流生境和大型无脊椎动物社区。Riverfly伙伴关系的Anglers'Riverfly监测计划（ARMI）于2007年启动，旨在支持公民科学志愿者监测其当地河流中的无脊椎动物。在曼彻斯特及周边地区，ARMI的监测始于2011年，当时活跃在Irwell流域的一个钓鱼俱乐部的志愿者开始对此进行监控。虽然建立稳健的长期监测计划取得了不同的成功，但志愿者们调查了当地社区提出的问题，数据提供了可以比较河流污染事件的基准。例如，2017年4月，公民科学家在回应钓鱼者死亡小龙虾的报告时发现了污染事件，导致沿Irwell河19公里的巨无脊椎动物灾难性损失。认识到ARMI方法在全国城市和退化河流中的局限性，导致通过Riverfly合作伙伴关系开发了Urban Riverfly指数，从而使公民科学家可以更有效地为政府机构减轻城市河流污染的工作做出贡献。重要的是，公民科学已成为公众参与和环境项目的催化剂，应鼓励公众更广泛地参与河流集水区管理。认识到ARMI方法在全国城市和退化河流中的局限性，导致通过Riverfly合作伙伴关系开发了Urban Riverfly指数，从而使公民科学家可以更有效地为政府机构减轻城市河流污染的工作做出贡献。重要的是，公民科学已成为公众参与和环境项目的催化剂，应鼓励公众更广泛地参与河流集水区管理。认识到ARMI方法在全国城市和退化河流中的局限性，导致通过Riverfly合作伙伴关系开发了Urban Riverfly指数，从而使公民科学家可以更有效地为政府机构减轻城市河流污染的工作做出贡献。重要的是，公民科学是公众参与和环境项目的催化剂，应鼓励公众更广泛地参与河流集水区管理。