ADAPTATION OF A STREAM RAPID BIOASSESSMENT PROTOCOL TO TEACH THE CONCEPT OF BIOMONITORING IN THE CLASSROOM

Biological monitoring of streams is a useful tool for teaching students how to apply scientific principles to detect environmental impacts in local waterways. Although more and more classrooms are moving outdoors to monitor water quality, many educators do not have access to stream sites. In an effort to extend lessons on water quality and to introduce biomonitoring techniques to students without access to nearby streams, we developed a modified version of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Rapid Bioassessment Protocol for Streams and Rivers that can be used in the classroom. As part of the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program at The University of Texas at Austin, we developed this laboratory exercise for 8th grade science students. Minor modifications can extend the usefulness of this exercise to other grade levels. Because this lesson requires only one or two class periods, the lesson also may be used to train students prior to implementing a long-term monitoring program.

Using a watershed approach, we selected eight stream sites around the City of Austin. To prepare the lesson, we completed a habitat assessment and assembled a sample community of stream invertebrates for the selected sites. We tailored invertebrate communities to demonstrate impacts resulting from both nutrient and chemical pollution. Although we used actual specimens, pictures may be used. In the classroom, we lectured on stream ecology and biomonitoring, specifically the methods of this protocol. Then, lab groups were assigned a site and given the sample invertebrate community along with the corresponding habitat assessment. Students used picture identification keys and recorded data for analysis.

Using this method, students become familiar with and employ several biomonitoring functions without leaving the classroom: habitat assessment, invertebrate identification and classification into pollution tolerance categories, the use of ratios to calculate indices, and graphing to compare sites and detect pollution impacts. This exercise allows students to evaluate stream health by including aspects of the stream and riparian habitat and by comparing among sites within a watershed. This learning activity is available to educators via UT-Austin’s Environmental Science Institute website (www.geo.utexas.edu/esi).