Monitoring of freshwater ecosystem health often involves the measurement of invertebrate diversity. Biomonitoring studies assess the diversity of dragonflies/ damselflies, stoneflies, mayflies and caddisflies. The Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Inventory Network (CABIN) is a freshwater biomonitoring protocol developed for use in freshwater habitats. MREAC in the past has conducted biomonitoring field work in both its freshwater and estuarine environments as a partner with Environment Canada and universities using the protocol.

Summer 2008

During the summer of 2008, MREAC was a member of a team from UNB and EC involved in a "BioBlitz" conducted within the Miramichi River watershed. Below is a summary of their findings:

"The BioBlitz was carried out from 23-27 June, and involved a team of researchers and students from Environment Canada and the Canadian Rivers Institute at UNB Fredericton, working in collaboration with staff of the Miramichi River Environmental Assessment Committee (MREAC).  Adult insect sampling was carried out using several techniques: passive Malaise trapping, daytime active net and hand collection, and light-trapping at dusk.  Five study areas were selected to reflect a range of habitat types: McGraw Brook, Bay du Vin, Exmoor, Fins & Feathers and Moose Bog.

Following the BioBlitz, a set of light traps and Malaise traps were established to carry out low-level passive collection for the remainder of the summer period. Table 1 indicates the numbers of specimens obtained in total from all collections." (Donald Baird & Kristie Heard, Environment Canada, Fredericton)

Table 1: Preliminary numbers of adult insect specimens  of the four targeted taxonomic groups collected in the BioBlitz (grey shaded) and long-term collections (un-shaded) in 2008 in the  Miramichi. Numbers indicate specimens enumerated to date - more were collected and have not yet been fully sorted. Species identification is ongoing.

BioBlitz crew 2008 - Courtesy of Nelson Cloud