SAMPLING GUIDE FOR THE COLLECTION OF … · Dragonfly Mercury Project – Sampling Guide Scope and...

U.S.GeologicalSurvey(USGS)ForestandRangelandEcosystemScienceCenterUniversityofMaine(UMaine)–SchoolofForestResources

SchoodicInstitute–AcadiaLearningProgramNationalParkService(NPS)–AirResourcesDivision(ARD)

DRAGONFLYMERCURYPROJECT

SAMPLINGGUIDEFORTHECOLLECTIONOFDRAGONFLYLARVAESAMPLESFROMNATIONALPARKSFORMERCURYANALYSIS

Preparedby:SarahJ.Nelson,AssociateResearchProfessor,UniversityofMaine

Phone:207-581-3454|Email:[email protected]

CollinEagles-Smith,SupervisoryResearchEcologist,USGS-FRESCPhone:541-750-0949|Email:[email protected]

JamesWillacker,Ecologist,USGS-FRESC


Editedby:ColleenFlanaganPritz,Ecologist,NPS-ARD


AmandaKlemmer,AssistantResearchProfessor,UniversityofMainePhone:207-581-4513|Email:[email protected]

Contributor:AndreaBlakesley,EnvironmentalSpecialist,DenaliNationalPark&Preserve


RevisedMay2017

DragonflyMercuryProject–SamplingGuide

TableofContentsScopeandApplication.............................................................................................................2Overview......................................................................................................................................41. Prepare..........................................................................................................................52. Collectsamples...........................................................................................................63. Identify..........................................................................................................................84. Choose,Measure,&Bag...........................................................................................85. Store&Send..............................................................................................................116. Usethedata!..............................................................................................................11AppendixA.Nets.....................................................................................................................12AppendixB.Howcleanis“clean”?....................................................................................13AppendixC.ResearchPermitApplication–exampleRPRStext............................14AppendixD.HowtouseiNaturalist..................................................................................15AppendixE.SacrificingDragonflyLarvaeforScience................................................19

ParkscientistsandstudentsfromArizonaCollegePrepAcademy searchfordragonflylarvaeinSaguaroNationalPark,AZ,2015.Photo:DanBell.


ScopeandApplicationBackground

Mercury(Hg)isagloballydistributedcontaminantthatcanharmhumanandwildlifehealth.Initstoxicmethylatedform,mercurybioaccumulates(buildsup)inaquaticandterrestrialfoodwebs.Effectscanincludereproductiveandneurologicalimpairment.Dueinparttoemissionsfromcoal-burningpowerplants,evenremotenationalparkenvironmentsreceivemercurydepositionfromtheatmosphere.(Seehttp://www.nature.nps.gov/air/AQBasics/mercury.cfmforbackgroundonmercuryinnationalparks.)

MercurythreatensnaturalresourcestheNationalParkServiceischargedwithprotecting.Thiscitizenscienceprojectencouragesstudentsandvisitorsinnationalparkstocollectdragonflylarvaeformercuryanalyses.Dragonflylarvae(Odonata:anisoptera)couldserveasindicatorsofecosystemhealthbycharacterizingtheriskandpotentialtoxiceffectsofmercury.Theseaquaticmacroinvertebratesarelong-lived(upto5yearsaslarvae)beforeemergingasadultdragonflies,widespreadacrosstheU.S.,predatory(i.e.,pronetohigherconcentrationsofmercury),importantpreyforfishspecies,andtheyreflectthemercurysensitivityofaspecificwatershed.Moreover,theyarerelativelyeasytocollect!

TheDragonflyMercuryProject(DMP)connectspeopletoparks,advancestheNPSeducationalmission,fostersbiodiversitydiscoveryopportunities,andprovidesbaselinedatatobetterunderstandthespatialdistributionofmercurycontaminationinnationalparks.TheDMPexpandsthegeographicscopeofresearchpreviouslyconductedbyscientistsandcitizenscientists,andprovidesdatathatcanbecomparedacrossparks.Earlydataarebeingusedtodevelophypothesesregardingwhethermercuryvarieswithodonatelarvalbodysizeorbyfamily,orwhetherasite’slandscapesettingdrivesvariabilityinmercuryinodonatelarvae.Seeprojectwebpage,availableathttp://www.nature.nps.gov/air/Studies/air_toxics/dragonfly/index.cfm.EducationalcontentandlessonplansforusebyteachersandNPSstaffarealsoavailable,(seehttp://www.nature.nps.gov/air/studies/air_toxics/dragonfly/educational.cfmandhttp://participatoryscience.org/)ultimatelyhelpingtoraiseawarenessaboutmercuryimpacts.TheDMPenlightensanewgenerationofcitizenscientistsabouttheconnectionofalllivingthingsandtheinfluencehumanshaveuponnaturalsystems,andhowenvironmentally-responsibledecisionscanprotectourparksandtheplanet.

Thecitizenscienceefforttocollectdragonflylarvaefromnationalparksformercuryanalysisstartedin2011withfourNPSunitsintheNortheastandGreatSmokyMountains,expandedin2012toinclude11parks,andin2013toinclude23parksacrossallsevenNPSregions:Northeast,Southeast,NationalCapitol,Midwest,Intermountain,PacificWest,andAlaska.Theprojectcontinuedtogrowfrom33parksin2014to49parksfromaroundthenationin2015.In2016,theNationalParkServiceCentennial,59parksengagedintheDragonflyMercuryProject.Summarynumbersfrom2014-2016provideatotalof224sitesfrom77parkssampled,andover7,500dragonfliesanalyzedformercury.Over3,000citizenscientistshavebeenengaged.In2017,wearecontinuingtheeffortbysamplingsomenewparksandsupportingtheresamplingofsomeparksthathavealreadyparticipated.Citizenscientistsinvolvedincludestudentsrangingfromelementaryschooltocollege-aged,parkvisitors,andBioBlitzparticipants.


StudyDesignTheoptimalstudydesignis3sitesperparkthatrepresentagradientinmercury-relevantchemistry;oragradientinlandscapeconditions,suchasahighandlowelevation,amountofwetlandsadjacenttoorupstreamfromthesite,orforestedversusurbanlandcover.Considerscopingthesamplinglocationsinadvanceofcollectingsamples.Doestheproposedsamplinglocationhaveahealthypopulationofdragonflies?(Asamplesizeof15dragonflylarvaepersiteispreferred.)Willnearbyriparianfloraandfaunagettrampled?Isthesitespaciousenoughforagroup?

ResearchPermitAparkresearchpermitwillbeneededtoconductthisproject.Inaddition,insomecases,astatepermitmaybeneededtocollectdragonflylarvae.ExampletextforthepermitapplicationcanbefoundinAppendixAofthissamplingprotocol.TheDMP’sfactsheetandothermaterialswillprovidefurtherassistance.(SeeURL’sabove).

SafetyFieldworkcarriessomeinherentrisks,andthesafetyofstudyparticipantsisaprimaryconcern.Thevariedandspectacularresourcesofournationalparks,andtheengagementofcitizenscientistswhoarepotentiallylessskilledinfieldworkandtheassociatedhazards,presentachallengetosafelyconductthisproject.Further,travelinremoteareasmayberequiredtoconductsciencethathasmeaningfulinferencetotheparks’diverselandscapes,increasingrisks.BeattentiveofthepossiblerisksandrefertoadetailedSafetyStandardOperatingProcedure(SOP)ortoaJobHazardAnalysis(JHA)thatisdevelopedspecifictosurfacewatersampling,backcountrywork,travelinginhighelevations,poisonivy,tickbornedisease,etc.([email protected].)Riparianedgescanbeveryslippery,asarestreamandlakebottoms.Highwaterlevelsandturbulentflowsmaycauseanindividualtolosebalanceinthewater.Collectivelydefine,communicate,andenforceyourpark’ssafetyphilosophy,standards,andguidelines;followthetenetsofOperationalLeadership(e.g.,briefyourteampriortosamplingonmissionelements:Communication,ContingencyResources,Environment,Planning,TaskComplexity,Supervision,TeamFitness,andTeamSelection)andotherrelevantsafetytrainingssuchasswiftwaterrescue;allowsufficienttimeforoversightandinteractionwithyourgroup;andfollowDepartmentalguidelinesontheuseofpersonalprotectiveequipment,suchaspersonalflotationdevices(PFDs).WehighlyrecommendcitizenscientistsusePFDswhensamplingANYwaterbodies,andinfact,USGSscientistsarerequiredtowearPFDs.Nothinginthisprogram’smission,projectgoals,orday-to-dayobjectivesissoimportantastocompromisethehealthandwell-beingofthoseparticipatinginthisproject.


OverviewThisprotocolhasseveralsections.Eachsamplingprocedureisfairlystraightforward,afteryou’vegottenthehangofit.Youshouldreadeachsection’sspecificinstructionsonthefollowingpages.Thegeneralstructureisasfollows:

1. Preparebygatheringfieldgear.Somegearisprovidedinthesamplingkit,butyou’ll

needtoroundupafewitems.Checkwhat’sneededseveralweeksbeforesampling(incaseyouneedtoordersomething).

2. Collect!

First,collectdragonflylarvaesamples.Manyhandssamplingmakesthisgoquicker.Larvaearecollectedusingnetsandtemporarilystoredinasmalltoteordishpanwithlakewateruntilbeingsorted.Onceatleast10larvae(butideally15)havebeencollected,samplesaresorted,andupto15individualsareselectedformercuryanalysis.Thesearemeasured,identifiedtofamily,thenindividuallybaggedtopreventcontamination.

Second,observationsaboutthesite.Manyarequalitative/visual,buttheyarestillveryusefuldata.Youknowyoursitebestandyoucanhelptheprojectscientistsunderstandyourwatershed.WealsoencourageobservationsthroughiNaturalist.org.

3. Shipyoursamples.You’llshipdragonflysamplesovernightinacoolerwithdryice.Dragonfliesshouldgoinafreezerafterthesamplingtripisover.Theycanstayinyourfreezerforseveralweeks,ifyouhavemultiplesitestosampleoverextendedtimeperiods.


1. PrepareThefollowingsamplingsuppliesareneededtocollectdragonflylarvaesamplesfromeachsite.Allsupplieswillbeprovidedinthesamplingkit,withtheexceptionofthosematerialsinbold.Participatingparksmustprovidethoseitemsseparately.

MaterialsDragonflysampling:

! Nets*–DNetsordipnets! Clean,whitedishpan,bucket,oricecubetrays! Clean,newplasticspoons

! Brandnewzipper-sealbags–30smallsize+3largesize! PowderfreeNitrilegloves(blueorpurplecolor)! Aplasticrulerwithmmscale–clearisbest! Tagsforouterbag,pre-printedwithIDcodes

Generalfieldsupplies:! Sharpiemarkerandpencil/pen! Fieldsheets! Onecooler! Trashbag! Optional–handlens,GPS,camera,macroinvertebratefield

guide,waders! TheparkorcitizensciencegroupmustprovidePFDs

(personalflotationdevices)

Shipping:! Dryicefordragonflies! Dryicelabelandpre-paidshippinglabelsforreturnshipping

Resources:• Seetheprojectwebsiteforeducationaltools,informationabout

mercuryanddragonflies,curriculumactivities,andnewsaboutprevioussamplingefforts.

• Watchthetrainingvideosavailableat:http://www.schoodicinstitute.org/what-we-offer/educational-scientific-partnerships/dragonfly-mercury-project/

• Follow“Six-LeggedScoutsintheNationalParks”onFacebookforupdatesandnews.*MoreinformationonnetsinAppendixA.


2. Collectsamples

• Fill-outthesiteinformation(includingpark,sitename,sitecoordinates,date,andleadcollector’scontactinformation)onbothfielddatasheets.Ifthisinformationisnotprovidedonthedatasheetsyouwillbecontactedbytheprojectcoordinatortogettheinformation.

• Collectdragonflylarvae.• Repeatthesamplingfor3waterbodiesperparkwhenavailable.• Wehighlyencourageyoutotakephotosofthesamplingsitesandofthecollectionefforts.

ImagesofengagedNPSemployees(inuniform)withcitizenscientists(wearingPFDsifsampling)areespeciallypreferred.WecannotusephotosofparticipantsinornearwaterwithoutaPFDon.

• TakeobservationsusingiNaturalist(ifusing;seeAppendixDforinstructions).• ReferenceAppendixEon“SacrificingDragonflyLarvaeforScience”inordertoaddresspotential

ethicalconcernsraisedbyyourteamofcitizenscientists.

Procedure1. Lookaround.Locatelikelyhabitatsfordragonflies:vegetatedbankmargins,snagsandlogs,

aquaticvegetationanddecayingorganicmatter,silt/sand/gravelsubstrate.2. Noteobservationsandfinishcompletingthefieldsheet.Takeasitephoto!3. Rinsethenetsanddishpanswithwaterfromthesiteyouaresampling.4. Partlyfilldishpanorbucketwithwaterfromthesite.Icecubetraysarenicesorting

containerstoo–theycanbefilledwithstream/pondwateraswell.5. Jabyournetintothelikelyhabitats.Startdownstreamfirst,andworkupstreamifinflowing

water.Jabafewtimesthensweepthenetuptothesurface.Emptythenetintothedishpanorbucket–eitherbytippingitintothebucketorplucking(withaNitrile-glovedhandoraplasticspoon)larvaedirectlyfromthenet.Spendafewminutesjabbingandemptyingthenet.Ifyoudon’tfindmuchafterafewminutes,movetoanotherareawithinthesamewaterbody.Seeavideodemonstrationofcollectingdragonflylarvae:https://youtu.be/YXXCOU2MxHg

6. Ifyourteamconsistsofmultiplehands,recorddragonflyspecimenswithiNaturalist(App.D).7. Disinfectwaders,nets,andanyothergearthathasbeeninthewaterbeforemovingtoyour

nextsite.Consultyourpermitsincesomeparkshavedifferentprotocolsfordisinfection.Most(butnotall)willspecifya5%or10%bleachsolution,whichisamixtureofhouseholdbleachandwater,orsomeotherdisinfectingsolution.

submitted(atGreatSmokyMountainsNationalPark,NC/TN).

CitizenscientistssearchfordragonflylarvaeatLewis&ClarkNationalHistoricalPark,OR.


Procedures–CollectingDragonflyLarvaeSamples

KeepitClean!DragonflyLarvaeSamplingProtocolIt’seasytocontaminatesampleswithmercurybecauseit’sallaroundus:inourhair,insoil,leaves,etc.Soweneedtokeepeverythingultra---clean.

• Donottouchthesamples(individualdragonflylarvae)withanythingexceptacleanplasticspoonorpowder-freenitrileglove(purplegloves).

• Nevertouchtheinsideoftheinnerbag–thefirstbagyouputthesampleinto.• Thinkofeachindividualsampleasafreshstart–everythingneedstobecleanbetweensamplesandbetreatedjustlikethefirstsampleyoutook.

• Workinpairsandusethe“CleanHands–DirtyHands”method:1. Onepersonisinchargeofthesamplebags(“DirtyHands”)andtheotherwillpickup

andplacethesamplesinthebags(“CleanHands”).2. CleanHandsputsonaglove(oneglovedhandshouldsufficetopickandbaglarvae).

Oncethegloveison,CleanHandstouchesnothingbutthesampleandanypre-cleanedsupplies.DirtyHandsdoesnotneedtoweargloves.

3. Choose,measure,&bagupto15individualsperwaterbody/site.4. Ifyourteamconsistsofmultiplehands,recordspecimensusingiNaturalist(App.D).5. Usinganitrile-glovedhand,orplasticspoon,CleanHandsplacesonedragonflyintoa

samplebagwhileDirtyHandsholdsthebag.Nothingshouldtouchtheinsideofthebagexceptthedragonflylarva.CleanHandssealsthebag.

6. DirtyHandsusestheplasticruler,helduptotheindividualinthebag,andmeasuresthebodylength inmillimeters(mm)– fromthe frontofheadtoendof tailspine.Mostlarvaewillrangebetweenabout10–40mm,asareference.

7. DirtyHandsfillsoutatagforthebaggedindividualandslipsitandtheinnerbagintotheouterbag.YoursampleshaveanIDcodepre-printedonthelabels.Usethesecodesto record the lengths on the field sheet and to refer to a particular sample in yournotes.

8. DirtyHandssealstheouterbag.9. Be‘clean’withyourspoonand/orgloves.Iftheyhavebeentossedonthegroundor

contaminated–say,bybrushingbackyourhair–startwithafreshone.Swishyourspoonorglovedhandsinpondwater(inthedishpan)betweensamplestoensurethere’snocarryoverfromonesampletothenext.

10. Gotothenextindividualandrepeat.Placeallofthesmalldoublebagsintooneormoreofthelargerzippersealbagsforstorageandtokeepthemsafeandtogether.(SeeSection:4.Choose,Measure,&Bag)

11. Gentlyreturnextrasitewaterandinvertebratestothesamplesite.12. Packoutalltrash,disinfectgear.


3. IdentifyPleaseidentifydragonflylarvaetofamilyifyouarecomfortabledoingso.Thereareonly6majorfamiliesinmostplaces(seefollowingpages).Mostidentificationscanbeaccomplishedinthefieldwithahandlensandguidebook,oryoucanbagsamples(seeSectionIV)andbringthemtoacleanindoorworkspacetolookmoreclosely.Theonlinevideo“IdentifyingMaineDragonflyLarvaetoFamily”(http://vimeo.com/76713446)willalsoassistwithidentificationbecausesimilarlarvaefamiliesarefoundoutsideofMaine.

Identifyingtofamilyrequirescarefulinspection.TheIDwillbecheckedoncethelaboratoryreceivessamples,andsomesampleswillbefurtheridentifiedtospeciesthroughgeneticbarcodingorataxonomist,butidentifyingsampleswhentheyarefreshishelpfulintheeventofdamageduringshipping.

A. ItishelpfultodistinguishbetweenthetwoSuborderlevels:Dragonflies(Anisoptera)vs.Damselflies

(Zygoptera).Althoughbotharepredators,theAnisopterabodiesaremorerobustandmaythereforeconsumeandstoremoremercury.Anisopteraalsotendtohavelongeraquaticlifespans(upto5years)thanZygoptera(usually1year).

B. Ittakesspecializedtrainingtoclassifydragonflylarvaetothespecieslevel;wewilldothisforsomeindividualsinthelabandprovidetheidentificationinformationtoyoualongwiththemercuryandotherdata.Thisinformationisespeciallyusefulforbiodiversitydiscoveryactivities!

4. Choose,Measure,&Bag• Lookatthesamplesyou’vecollected.Ifyouhaveidentifiedtofamilyalready,pleasechooseat

least3individualsineachofthefamiliesyoufound.Ifyouonlyfoundoneindividualinacertainfamily,pleasedon’tsubmitthatone.Ideally,atleast10andupto15individuallarvaewillbeselectedpersite.Wewouldliketoanalyzesamplesfromacrosstherangeofsizespresentatasite,however,larvaelargerthan15mmareeasiesttomeasuremercuryin–pleasechoosemediumtolargersamplesoververysmalloneswhenpossible.

• Giventheriskofcontamination,itisveryimportanttofollowtheKeepitClean!Protocol(above)whilechoosing,measuring,&baggingdragonflylarvaesamples,andthroughthewholesamplingouting.

• Insum,oncesampleshavebeencollected,identified,andselected,eachdragonflylarvaeisdouble-bagged;placedfirstinaninnerzipperbag,thenwithlabelplacedinanouterbag,andstoredonwetice.

• UseiNaturalisttorecordeachspecimencollected.(SeeAppendixDforinstructions.)Ifyouaretakingaphotoofthespecimen,considerusinganiPhone/Androidmacrolens,ifavailable,anddoingsojustbeforethelarvaisbaggedtoobtaintheclearestpicturepossible!


Aeshnidae

Macromiidae

Notevarietyofbodytypes

Photosofexuviae:A.Anderson,KingfisherPhotography,OldTown,ME

CordulegastridaeLabiumextended

CorduliidaeEpithecaprinceps Labiumextended

LibellulidaeLabiumextended


Diagram:KenSolteszNote:TheillustrationshowsatypicalGomphid,withpaddle---shapedantennaethathavefewer segments;most larvaehave long, filamentous antennaewithmoresegments.


5. Store&Send• Inthefield,putdragonflysamplebagsintoacoolerwithicepacksorwetice,

beingcarefulnottosquishdragonflylarvae.• Uponreturntothelaboratoryoroffice,storedragonflylarvaeinafreezeruntil

shipping.• Donotopentheinnerdragonflybags!Ifyouwanttocheckyouridentification,doso

quickly,beforefreezing,andthroughtheinnerbag.Donotallowdragonflysamplestothawandrefreeze;itisimportantthattheyremainfrozenonceplacedinthefreezer.

• Dragonflysamplescanbestoreduntilallsitesaresampled,thenmustbeshippedinacooleronDRYICE.It’sbesttoplacesamplesunderthedryice,andfillanyairspaceinthecoolerwithcrumplednewspaper.Includeacopyofyourfieldsheetintheshipment,andkeepacopyforyourself.Alternatively,thedatasheetscanbescannedandemailedto the coordinating labwith theoriginals included in the shipment. Contactus if youhavetroublefindingdryice,orhavequestionsaboutit.

• Note:Whenshippingsamplesondryice,youmustcheckthedryiceboxontheFedEx®label.Additionally,thecoolermusthavetheDryIcelabel(includedinsamplingkit)affixedwithwaterprooftape.

• Contactthecoordinatorwhenashipmentisreadytoverifythatsomeoneisavailabletoaccepttheshipment.ShipmentofcoolersshouldbesentFedExovernight(withpre-paidreturnlabelincludedinkit).

CoordinatorforShipmentofSamples:JamesWillacker([email protected]);541-750-0957(office)or541-243-3606(cell)ShippingAddress:USGSForestandRangelandEcosystemScienceCenterAttn:JamesWillacker3200SWJeffersonWayCorvallis,OR97331

6. Usethedata!Weaimtomakepreliminarypark-specificdataavailable~1yearafterthesampleshavebeencollected.Workwithyourcitizenscientiststodescribethefindingsatyourpark.Submitentriestothelocalsciencefair.Feelfreetocontactusifyouwanttodiscussyourpark’sdataandhowtoincorporateitintoparkprograms.UMaineandUSGSwillinterprettheresultsforthenationalparkseachprojectyear,throughwebinarsorotheroutlets.


AppendixA.NetsParticipating parks must provide their own sampling nets. There are many options for nets, ranging fromexpensiveD-netstomodifiedinexpensivebaitwellnets.Seeafewoptionsbelow.Noneisnecessarilybetterthantheother,sochooseaccordingtosubstrate(ifknown),resourceavailability,andgroupsize.1. TheD-Net:LaMotteD-Net,

$70,item#138658atwww.benmeadows.com

2. Forsmallermountain

streams–ortofacilitategroupmanagement–aquarium-sizednetsmaybemoreusefulthanalargeD-Net.Thesenetscanbepurchasedforas #1lowas$4(seeexamplesatwww.carolina.com).Ahelpfultechniquemaybetoalloweachcitizenscientistorsmallgrouponenet.Eachgrouporindividualthensearchesadesignatedsectionofthestream/shore,bringingpotentialpositivesamplesbacktoacentrallocation(i.e.,bucket)wherethelargergroupcancollectivelyobserve,identify,andselect.

3. Agood,inexpensivenet(specifictodragonfly

larvaeandnotgoodforquantitativebiomonitoring)canbemadebymodifyingabaitwellnet–stretchthenetacrosslikeapoolskimmerandattachwithplasticziptiesorsmallnylonstrings.Thisworkswellbecauseitwon’tplugupwithsediment(drainsquickly)andretainslargeinvertebrateslikedragonflylarvae.Costis$20-30andtheyareavailableonline(http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/View_Catalog_Page.asp?mi=5061)oratlocalfishingshops.Thesenetsarelightweightaswell.

#3#2


AppendixB.Howcleanis“clean”?Mercuryisallaroundus:inourhair,insoil,leaves,etc.Weneedtokeepeverythingcleansotonotcontaminateoursamples.Readonforrecommendationsongettinggearready....

Howweareusingtermsinthisproject:• Clean:Materialsandsuppliespreparedinsuchawaythattheywouldnothavecontaminationthatcouldaffectouranalysesandinterpretationofmercury.

• New:Weusethistermwhenreferringtoitemslikeplasticspoonsanddishpans.By“new”,wemeanthatthematerialsareeitherbrandnewfromthestore,oryouknowtheyhaveonlybeenusedtoholdnaturalwaterandinvertebrates,similartowhatisdoneinthisstudy.Forinstance,dishpansmighthavebeenusedbeforeinyourfieldsamplingformacroinvertebrates,whichisfine.Whatwemeanby“new”isthatthisisadesignatedfieldsupply,notanolddishpanorspoonthatwasusedwithfood,ormaterialsthatyoureallydon’tknowabout.

Levelofcleaningneededforeachfielditem:Manysuppliesare“disposable”:plasticspoons,gloves,andextrabags.Theycometoyoupre-cleanedandreadytotakeintothefieldtousejustastheyare.Theseshouldbemarkedas“used”whenyouaredoneatonesiteandheadingtothenext.Eachsitehasitsownsamplingkitandyoushouldstartfreshateachnewsite.Agoodpracticeistodrawan“X”onthetrashbagwithanysuppliesthathavebeenusedatasite,tokeepthemfrombeingconfusedwithfresh,un-usedsupplies.

Beforeyougointhefield:• Fornewsupplies(e.g.,ifyouboughtadishpan),rinseitoutthreetimeswithhottapwaterbeforetakingitoutinthefield.Thenrinseitinsitewateraswithitemsyouarere-using(see“New”).

• Youcanusenewgarbagebagstotransportlargeitemsintothefield(tominimizeroad/traildirt),andtostoreequipmentbetweensamplingdays.Justbesureeverythingisdryfirsttoavoidmildew.

Beforeyourfirstsiteorbetweensites:(evenwithnewitems)IfyouareheadingfromSiteAtoSiteB,youhavesomefieldgearthatwillcontactthesamplesthatneedstobere-used:nets,anddishpans.WhatdoyoudotoensureyouarenotintroducingSiteAcontaminationatSiteB?Andfornewitems,howdoyouensurethatthere’slimitedcontaminationfromthestoreorfromtransit?• First,youwillprobablyhavedisinfectedyournets,boots/waders,anddishpansafteryoufinishedworkatSiteA.Manyparksrequiredisinfectiontoreducethespreadofamphibiandiseaseorotheraquatic-bornepestsfromsitetosite.Eachparkhasitsownpolicyandrequirements.Often(butnotalways)thismeanssoakingorsprayingnets,boots/waders,anddishpanswithableach-watersolution.Checkyourpermitforprocedures.

• Then,youwillprobablytossyourwet,disinfectedgearinthebackofavehicleandmaybedrivedowndustyroadsorhikethroughthewoodstogettoSiteB.

• WhenyougettoSiteB(oryourfirstsite,fornewgear),locateanareaofthepondawayfromthattargetsamplinglocation,ordownstreamofitinthecaseofariver/stream,andrinseyourwaders.

• Havetherestofthecrewrinsetheirboots,waders,andnetsinpond/streamwaterawayfromtheprobablesamplingsiteordownstream.Dunkgearinthewaterthreetimestorinse.Thenproceedwithsampling.

Withinasite:IfyouareatSiteA,andyouarebaggingallofyourdragonflylarvaefromSiteA,youcanrinseyourplasticspooninlake/streamwaterbetweensamples.ThesameistrueforyourNitrile(purple)gloves.Butdon’tusethoseSiteAspoonsorglovesatSiteB–theyarecontaminatedwithSiteAmaterials.


AppendixC.ResearchPermitApplication–exampleRPRStext

Projecttitle:TheDragonflyMercuryProject–engagingcitizenscientistsinmonitoringmercurycontaminationinNationalParksPurpose:Mercury,initstoxicmethylatedform,isapotentneurotoxinthatisdeliveredtoecosystemsviadepositionfromaglobalatmosphericpool,andultimatelybioaccumulatesinaquaticandterrestrialfoodwebs.InthenortheasternU.S.,researchsitesin‘pristine’areashavefishandotherbiotathatexceedthresholdsconsideredsafeforhumanconsumptionorwildlifeprotection.AllNewEnglandstates,andmanyotherstates,havestatewidefishconsumptionadvisorieswithrespecttomercurybecause,inlargepart,ofthedifficultyinpredictingwhichsystemsarelikelytobemostaffected.Thisstudywillbepartofongoingcitizenscienceresearchthatisevaluatingtheutilityofdragonflylarvae(Odonata:Anisoptera)asindicatorsofmercurystatus.Ourearlydataarebeingusedtodevelophypothesesregardingwhethermercuryvarieswithodonatelarvalbodysizeorbyfamily;orwhetherasite’slandscapesettingdrivesvariabilityinmercuryinodonatelarvae.Todate,researchhasbeenprimarilycarriedoutbycitizenscientistsinnationalparksinthepilotprogram;thispermitrequestisinsupportofanefforttoexpandtheworkbeyondthepilotparkstoidentifybroader-scalespatialpatternsandbetterunderstandtheutilityofthisbio-sentinel.Summaryofproposedfieldmethodsandactivities:AquaticmacroinvertebratesaretypicallycollectedusingstandardD-netswith500micronmeshordipnetswithlargermesh(ifdragonflylarvaeonlyaretargeted),and/orbyinspectionofcobbles,submergedoremergentvegetation,andwoodymaterial.Individualdragonflylarvaearepicked(withglovesorpre-cleanedforcepsorspoons)fromnetsanddoublebaggedinzippersealbags.Individualsarefrozenuntilshipmentandanalysis.Bodylengthofindividualsandidentificationtotaxonomicfamilymaybedoneatthefieldsiteorafterreceivedinthelab,bypriorarrangement.Atthefieldsite,individualsnotselectedforanalysisareimmediatelyreturnedtothewaterbodyoforigin.RepositoryType:WillbedestroyedthroughanalysisordiscardedafteranalysisObjectsCollected:

− Odonata:anisoptera(dragonfly)nymphs;45perparkpersamplingouting.(15persite,2–3sites).

LocationInformation:

− Listsites:(Specifictoeachpark;tobedetermined.)− Access:(Specifictoeachpark;accessbyfootonroadsortrails.)

Wherewilldata,maps,photos,etc.(notspecimens)resideuponcompletionofthisproject?Dataarestoredinoriginallaboratoryfiles,ontheprojectPIscomputer(andassociatedbackups),andwillbeuploadedtoIRMAafterfinalqualityassuranceandpublicationofresults.Datacollectedbystudents/teachersfromsitesinthepilotstudiesarealreadyavailableonIRMA.


AppendixD.HowtouseiNaturalist

From hikers to hunters, birders to beach-combers, the world is filled with naturalists, and many of us record what we find. What if all those observations could be shared online? You might discover someone who finds beautiful wildflowers at your favorite birding spot, or learn about the birds you see on the way to work. If enough people recorded their observations, it would be like a living record of life on Earth that scientists and land managers could use to monitor changes in biodiversity, and that anyone could use to learn more about nature. That's the vision behind iNaturalist.org. So if you like recording your findings from the outdoors, or if you just like learning about life, join us! What Are Observations? An observation records an encounter with an individual organism at a particular time and location. This includes encounters with signs of organisms like tracks, nests, or things that just died. When you make an observation, you’ll record:


Make an observation from the Web

Start by tapping Add from the dropdown in the top menu

Type a name for what you saw and choose from one of the choices. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, leave it blank or use some placeholder text. If you entered a scientific name that's not recognized, click ‘Search external name providers’ to first import the organism from elsewhere. Let us know if the organism you observed was captive or cultivated.

Type in an address and click ‘Search’ in order to calculate coordinates and an accuracy circle

describing where you were. You'll probably also need to zoom into the map and manually adjust the marker position and accuracy circle size.

Adding evidence for what you saw in the form of photos or sounds provides. You can upload photos from your hard drive or import photos or sound from your other social networks by linking them.

Use the calendar to enter when you observed the organism.


Save your observation. How to Make an Observation with your iPhone

Tap observe.

Add one or more photos as evidence.

Enter what you saw or leave this blank.

When you saw it should be added automatically.

Where you saw it should be added automatically, if not check Privacy in the Settings app.

Save your observation.

Upoad to share with the community. This should happen automatically, if not tap the button. You can turn off autoupload from the app settings from the Me tab.

Check back for activity on your observation from the community.


Make an observation from your AndroidTap the observe button from the My Observations tab.

Add one or more photos as evidence.

Enter what you saw or leave this blank.

When you saw it should be added automatically.

Where you saw it should be added automatically, if not check Privacy in the Settings app.

Save your observation.

Sync to share with the community. This should happen automatically, if not tap the button. You can turn off autoupload from the Settings tab.

Check back for activity on your observation from the community.


AppendixE.SacrificingDragonflyLarvaeforScience:WhatistheImpact? Dragonfliesaretypicallyfoundinveryhighdensities,andourprojectsamplesarelativelytinynumberperwaterbody.Evidence:

• Rangeis20-200individuals/m2dependingontimeofyearandspecies1,2

Butwedidn’tfindmanylarvaeinoursite!• That’sOK–it’slikelythatthetimingisoffandyoumightbebetweenpopulationsthatare

emergingandthosethatarelayingneweggs.• Ifyouarelookingfor20minutesandfindnothing,tryanotherspotalongtheshore.Thereare

hotspotsinmicrohabitats.

Dragonfliesareprolificreproducers(rstrategists):theyproducealotofoffspringbecauseitisexpectedthatmostwon’tsurvivetoadulthood.Evidence:

• RearingstudiesinMaine:asinglefemalelays400-1600eggsandcandothismorethanonceperseason.

• Otherstudiesshowthatfemalescanlayfrom800-2600eggsovera9dayperiod.3• Innature,>95%oflarvaedon’tsurvivetoadulthood.4,5

Otherthreatssuchasvehicletrafficcanposeasignificantthreattodragonflies:• Toadragonfly,roadsarewarm,sunnyclearingswithampleflyinginsectprey;thus,dragonflies

oftenuseroadsasrestingandforagingsites.• InonestudyatAcadiaNationalPark,researchersfoundthatvehiclecollisionswithflyingadult

dragonflieswerecommonnearroadways:atleast3.2Odonataperkilometerofroadwerestruckeachdayduringthebreedingseason,alonghigh-trafficroadwaysnearfreshwaters.6Further,thesemortalityrateswerelikelyunderestimatesbecauseresearcherswereunabletocountinsectsthatremainedstucktovehicles,andweatherwasunusuallyrainyduringthestudy.

Theimpactofthisprojectondragonfliesisexpectedtobeminimal.• Wesamplethesmallestnumberofindividualsthatarestatisticallymeaningful.• Poweranalysesareusedtooptimizethenumberofsamples.• Otherfactorsareresponsibleforevenhigherratesofmortality(cannibalism,predation,

automobilecollisions(seeabove))• Dragonfliesareubiquitousandfoundinsomanyhabitatsaroundyourregion–evenurban

sites,irrigationditches,cattleponds,coldregions,andnutrient-enrichedsites.

1Benke,A.C.,&Benke,S.S.(1975).Comparativedynamicsandlifehistoriesofcoexistingdragonflypopulations.Ecology,56(2),302-317.2Benke,A.C.(1976).Dragonflyproductionandpreyturnover.Ecology,57(5),915-927.3Hopper,K.R.,etal.Crowley,P.H.,&Kielman,D.(1996).Densitydependence,hatchingsynchrony,andwithin-cohortcannibalisminyoungdragonflylarvae.Ecology,77(1),191-200.4Wissinger,S.A.(1988).Lifehistoryandsizestructureoflarvaldragonflypopulations.J.N.Am.Benth.Soc.,7(1),13-28.5McPeek,M.(2012).DartmouthCollege,pers.comm.6Remsburg,A.,&Blaker,P.(2009).OdonatacommunitiesofAcadiaNationalParkandMtDesertIslandfromexuviaandroadsidesurveysin2009.Unpubl.projectreport,UnityCollege,UnityME.

SAMPLING GUIDE FOR THE COLLECTION OF … · Dragonfly Mercury Project – Sampling Guide Scope and...

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Transcript of SAMPLING GUIDE FOR THE COLLECTION OF … · Dragonfly Mercury Project – Sampling Guide Scope and...