Page 252 - Freshwater-Biology-and-Ecology-Handbook

CHAPTER 5 3.1.25 – 3.1.26 3.1.25 Ecosystem function assessment

Another Riverfly Plus citizen science scheme, Ecosystem Function Assessment, assesses the ecological impact of river
restoration, but it can also be used to monitor the effects of invasive species and pollution events on ecosystem function.

Ecosystem function assessment

Ecosystem Function Assessment is used to assess the ecological impact of river restoration, and can also
be used to monitor the effects of invasive species, and pollution events on ecosystem function.

The method is still in development but is based around an extension of ARMI using simple colonisation traps.

A short section of drainpipe, divided internally in two, is placed on the riverbed. Inside each half of the pipe a known weight
of cloth paper is placed. A fine mesh placed over the entrance to one half of the pipe excludes macroinvertebrates but
allows access by microbes; macroinvertebrates and microbes can both gain access to the other half.

After 2–4 weeks, the drainpipe is removed, and the paper reweighed. The reduction in weight of paper gives the microbial
and macroinvertebrate decomposition rate and a measure of ecosystem function. The greater the decomposition rate, the
more energy is released back into the ecosystem. For more information, see https://www.riverflies.org/Ecosystem_
Function_Assessment

252 | Freshwater Biology and Ecology Handbook
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