Volunteer Accuracy in a Benthic Macroinvertebrate Participatory Science Project
Concerns about the accuracy of volunteer-derived aquatic macroinvertebrate identifications and the resulting influence on calculated water quality metrics can limit use of volunteer-generated data in freshwater-focused participatory science programs. To address these concerns, we assessed 357 benthi...
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| Format: | Article |
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Ubiquity Press
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Citizen Science: Theory and Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://account.theoryandpractice.citizenscienceassociation.org/index.php/up-j-cstp/article/view/756 |
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| author | Virginia Hamilton Kristine F. Stepenuck Robert A. Zinna II Ann Marie Traylor David Penrose W. Adam Sigler |
| author_facet | Virginia Hamilton Kristine F. Stepenuck Robert A. Zinna II Ann Marie Traylor David Penrose W. Adam Sigler |
| author_sort | Virginia Hamilton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Concerns about the accuracy of volunteer-derived aquatic macroinvertebrate identifications and the resulting influence on calculated water quality metrics can limit use of volunteer-generated data in freshwater-focused participatory science programs. To address these concerns, we assessed 357 benthic macroinvertebrate quality control (QC) samples collected by volunteers using leaf packs, kick nets, and visual assessments between 2011 and 2016 for the Environmental Quality Institute (EQI) in North Carolina, USA. We reviewed each sample for quality, and compared macroinvertebrate identifications and water quality metric scores determined by volunteers to identification and metrics determined by an entomologist. About 80% of the QC samples were identified to be of high quality, indicating proper preparation, preservation, and labeling of samples. The majority of samples that received low quality ratings were improperly or poorly preserved. We recommend use of 95% (rather than 70%) ethanol for macroinvertebrate preservation, and increased communication to volunteers during QC sampling periods to enhance their success in properly preserving samples. We observed significant (p < 0.005) linear relationships between volunteer and entomologist-derived water quality metrics including a biotic index, Taxa Richness, and percent intolerant Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa. However, visual assessments – those in which no sampling equipment was used to collect aquatic macroinvertebrates – reduced the goodness of fit between volunteer and entomologist-derived biotic index scores and artificially increased the goodness of fit between volunteer and entomologist derived Taxa Richness and percent EPT scores. We recommend calculating water quality metrics based only on leaf pack and kick net samples collected by volunteers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8152e6cde97845a8b5e554a27e28f2e2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2057-4991 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Citizen Science: Theory and Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-8152e6cde97845a8b5e554a27e28f2e22025-08-20T02:52:38ZengUbiquity PressCitizen Science: Theory and Practice2057-49912024-11-0191272710.5334/cstp.756738Volunteer Accuracy in a Benthic Macroinvertebrate Participatory Science ProjectVirginia Hamilton0https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3529-1338Kristine F. Stepenuck1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9827-0567Robert A. Zinna II2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4934-6884Ann Marie Traylor3https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7794-3149David Penrose4W. Adam Sigler5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4815-0580Montana State University, Bozeman, MontanaUniversity of VermontMars Hill University, 100 Athletic Street, Mars Hill, North CarolinaEnvironmental Quality Institute, 104 Eastside Drive, Unit 302, Black Mountain, North CarolinaPenrose Environmental Consulting, 254 Brevard Rd, Asheville, North CarolinaMontana State University, Bozeman, MontanaConcerns about the accuracy of volunteer-derived aquatic macroinvertebrate identifications and the resulting influence on calculated water quality metrics can limit use of volunteer-generated data in freshwater-focused participatory science programs. To address these concerns, we assessed 357 benthic macroinvertebrate quality control (QC) samples collected by volunteers using leaf packs, kick nets, and visual assessments between 2011 and 2016 for the Environmental Quality Institute (EQI) in North Carolina, USA. We reviewed each sample for quality, and compared macroinvertebrate identifications and water quality metric scores determined by volunteers to identification and metrics determined by an entomologist. About 80% of the QC samples were identified to be of high quality, indicating proper preparation, preservation, and labeling of samples. The majority of samples that received low quality ratings were improperly or poorly preserved. We recommend use of 95% (rather than 70%) ethanol for macroinvertebrate preservation, and increased communication to volunteers during QC sampling periods to enhance their success in properly preserving samples. We observed significant (p < 0.005) linear relationships between volunteer and entomologist-derived water quality metrics including a biotic index, Taxa Richness, and percent intolerant Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa. However, visual assessments – those in which no sampling equipment was used to collect aquatic macroinvertebrates – reduced the goodness of fit between volunteer and entomologist-derived biotic index scores and artificially increased the goodness of fit between volunteer and entomologist derived Taxa Richness and percent EPT scores. We recommend calculating water quality metrics based only on leaf pack and kick net samples collected by volunteers.https://account.theoryandpractice.citizenscienceassociation.org/index.php/up-j-cstp/article/view/756biomonitoringcitizen sciencecommunity scienceparticipatory sciencebenthic macroinvertebratesvolunteer monitoringwater quality |
| spellingShingle | Virginia Hamilton Kristine F. Stepenuck Robert A. Zinna II Ann Marie Traylor David Penrose W. Adam Sigler Volunteer Accuracy in a Benthic Macroinvertebrate Participatory Science Project Citizen Science: Theory and Practice biomonitoring citizen science community science participatory science benthic macroinvertebrates volunteer monitoring water quality |
| title | Volunteer Accuracy in a Benthic Macroinvertebrate Participatory Science Project |
| title_full | Volunteer Accuracy in a Benthic Macroinvertebrate Participatory Science Project |
| title_fullStr | Volunteer Accuracy in a Benthic Macroinvertebrate Participatory Science Project |
| title_full_unstemmed | Volunteer Accuracy in a Benthic Macroinvertebrate Participatory Science Project |
| title_short | Volunteer Accuracy in a Benthic Macroinvertebrate Participatory Science Project |
| title_sort | volunteer accuracy in a benthic macroinvertebrate participatory science project |
| topic | biomonitoring citizen science community science participatory science benthic macroinvertebrates volunteer monitoring water quality |
| url | https://account.theoryandpractice.citizenscienceassociation.org/index.php/up-j-cstp/article/view/756 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT virginiahamilton volunteeraccuracyinabenthicmacroinvertebrateparticipatoryscienceproject AT kristinefstepenuck volunteeraccuracyinabenthicmacroinvertebrateparticipatoryscienceproject AT robertazinnaii volunteeraccuracyinabenthicmacroinvertebrateparticipatoryscienceproject AT annmarietraylor volunteeraccuracyinabenthicmacroinvertebrateparticipatoryscienceproject AT davidpenrose volunteeraccuracyinabenthicmacroinvertebrateparticipatoryscienceproject AT wadamsigler volunteeraccuracyinabenthicmacroinvertebrateparticipatoryscienceproject |