Aquatic Bug Bags Pilot 2024 Waikirikiri awa
Enviroschools Selwyn facilitator Matt Stanford has been collaborating with Dr Issie Barrett from Lincoln University to engage young people in a unique approach to monitoring the water quality of Waikirikiri River. Aquatic macroinvertebrates are a critical group of animals within a freshwater ecosystem and support mahinga kai species higher up in the food web, like tuna. They are commonly used as indicators of freshwater waterway health monitoring.
The Waikirikiri/ Selwyn River supports amazing aquatic biodiversity from the mountains to Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere. However, the ability for aquatic creatures to find suitable homes in the awa is under threat. On the stretch of awa close to Glentunnel School there is a small population of green stone flies that are intolerant to pollution, so high numbers of stoneflies indicated better water quality. On the flip side, high numbers of invertebrates like snails and worms would suggest that the waterway might be polluted.
Matt and Dr Issie developed the concept of introducing “aquatic bug bags” along the river to create habitat and aid monitoring of macro-invertebrates.
Matt works on one of the prototype bags.
The original bug bag.
Developing monitoring skills.
Learning in about and for their awa
They have involved tamariki from Glentunnel School to help create and test out some bug bags. This has involved classroom learning as well as getting out in the awa. Glentunnel School embrace an integrated curriculum that is place-based, with students building connections with their local environment, developing understandings about attitudes and values and innovatively addressing issues.
There are other schools and groups along the Waikirikiri/ Selwyn River. This is a whole catchment community approach.
Water quality
When tamariki arrived at Waikirikiri/Selwyn River, Matt had pre-collected water samples which contained invertebrates that the children might find in their bug bags. This included mayflies and caddisflies, and the children were encouraged to use the identification charts and species sensitivity then, armed with information, guess what the quality of the water would be.
Tamariki then retrieved bags Matt had placed in the awa weeks before and opened them to see what invertebrates were inside. Unfortunately, the mesh the bags were made from seemed to have tightened as it absorbed water and the holes were too small for most bugs to get in.
Dr Issie and students ensure the bag is secured.
Undeterred, Glentunnel School students returned to the classroom to create bags, making theirs loose enough to capture bugs.
They returned to Waikirikiri that afternoon and secured their bug bags in the water with ropes and rocks, and plan to return in a few weeks to see what the invertebrates will tell them about the water quality of the awa.
“Invertebrates are food for fish and also feed on algae, so they’re really important,” Issie told the tamariki. “If anything happens to these bugs, the whole system can fall apart.”
Finding out about river health
Issie said, “there are lots of different types of bugs that can live in the river and what we want to see is lots of diversity, because that’s going to be the healthiest river.”
Glentunnel student creativity and design.
Bug bags submerged in water for two to three weeks will act as safe habitat and the invertebrates (bugs) will congregate. They can be made from cotton or hemp (for the trial they were made from recycled coffee sacks!), or any material with small holes for the bugs to enter.
The recommended approach is to fill the absorbent, perforated bags with items such as flax, rocks, and leaves, which act as a shelter for the invertebrates drifting downstream.
Bug bags are tied down with rope to nearby trees, roots or rocks and left in streams or awa for around two to three weeks. By the time they are retrieved, in theory, the bags should be filled with bugs from the awa.
Bug bags are easy for children to make, which allows them to express their creativity with the designs they bring to life.
To support this local single-issue learning and action about water health and restoration along the Waikirikiri Awa, Matt and team have developed a learning guide based on the Action Learning Cycle with the following objectives:
- Whakawhanaungatanga – connect local Enviroschools communities along the Waikirikiri to each other and the values of the awa through action learning
- Learn about habitat function and how to take action for freshwater invertebrates
- Understand the significance of invertebrates in a functioning ecosystem (food chains)
- Learn and take action for the awa based on issues affecting water quality
- Students will lead monitoring of and analyse macroinvertebrate drift along the Waikirikiri.
There are a range of experiential activities within the resource that help build knowledge and understanding, awareness and sensitivity to the awa ecosystem and the issues. It taps into the Enviroschools Water of Life Theme Area and utilises activities that have been developed by this enthusiastic team.
Matt has also talked about the value of having passionate and articulate scientists involved in this sort of collaboration. These people are great role models for young people who might be considering their future in ecological sustainability, he says.
Successfully retrieved bug bag.
Careful dissection before counting and checking effectiveness.
Offering the Resource to adapt and trial other Regions
The resource is a great example of the power of the Action Learning Cycle to guide the process of learning and action through a locally relevant context.
The Bug Bag team are still refining the techniques and are keen to offer up the resources and activities to other regions, to help with testing the material and Exploring Alternatives. Matt explains that this is still in development and he and Issie would like to find out if the concept is transferable and what the ecological and learning outcomes are for others using this approach.
The updated Resource is available here. 2024_ES_Canterbury_COR10370 Bug Bag amendments AUG 24 FINAL
In the spirit of collegiality and closing the feedback loop, Matt asks that you track progress and provide him with monitoring results and learning and action reflections.
Thanks to all those who have contributed to this pilot.
Please contact Matt Stanford Matt.Stanford@ecan.govt.nz for further information and feedback.
identifying, sorting and counting bugs.
Galaxiid fish and bugs.