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Database Title	14.3 National Water Quality Network- Invertebrates
Keywords Type1. Type 11.	Freshwater; invertebrates; water quality Periphyton
Abstract	This is New Zealand's largest macroinvertebrate database. It provides biological information to supplement water quality data collected in the National River Water Quality Network.
Geographical Coverage	New Zealand
Dataset start date.	1989
Dataset end date.	Current
Status/currency.	In progress
Update frequency.	Annual
Maintenance.	Funded through NIWA's PGSF-funded programme "Nationally Significant Database: Water Resources and Climate".

 

Technical Evaluation
Parameters- what is measured	Invertebrate community composition and relative abundance Water depth Flow velocity Visual assessment of % cover of benthic algae
Parameters- what is calculated	Stored as raw data.
Methods used to measure parameters	Sites sampled annually between months of January and April under baseflow conditions and not less than four weeks after a bed-scouring flood. Seven 0.1m2 Surber samples (0.25mm mesh) taken within defined habitats. Depth, velocity, substrate and algal characteristics are estimated at each sampling point. Invertebrates are preserved in 70% IPA and sorted in the laboratory, with identification to lowest practicable taxonomic levels.
Secondary sources of data	N/A
Scale of use.	N/A
Number of records	66 sites x 12years. Invertebrate taxa list 200+ species.
GIS compatibility.	Sites are at or close to the water quality network sites. This is not always possible because some of the water quality sampling sites are unsuitable for macroinvertebrate sampling.
Available formats for users.	Excel spreadsheet. Likely to be translated to an access database.
Access constraints.	There are some conditions of access depending on proposed used of data.
Measurement Accuracy	Unknown. Sampling errors reduced by staff training. Data checked after entry.
Completeness of dataset	Approx 30 gaps as a result of adverse flow conditions during sampling period.
Positional accuracy	Sampling sites may vary slightly from year to year as river channels change (within 50-100m).
Database steward	NIWA
Database custodian	NIWA
Database custodian contact person	Mike Scarsbrook
Database custodian Contact Address Phone Fax Email	P.O. Box 11 115 Hamilton +64 7 856 1775 +64 7 856 0151 m.scarsbrook@niwa.cri.nz
References	Scarsbrook et al. (2000). New Zealand's National River Water Quality Network: long term trends in macroinvertebrate communities. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 34(2): 289-302.
Date metadata record prepared.	October 1999, updated 2001
Author of metadata record.	Victoria Froude

 

Management Evaluation
Original purpose.	To monitor long-term trends in water quality and to develop a better understanding of the nation's water resources so as to assist with their management.
Relationships with classification systems.	Site/Year. Taxonomic.
Relationships with other databases	Part of the "nationally significant" Water Resources Archive, and a major component of the New Zealand Water Quality Network.
Known relationships with proposed EPIP indicators.	Macroinvertebrates in rivers.
Who uses this database?	Regional councils (state of environment monitoring; identifying trends within a region and for the region). Consultants (information about particular rivers). NIWA (testing ecological theories e.g. links between flood frequency and invertebrate density)
Public awareness of the database	Low level of funding for conversion of data into information.
Database strengths.	National spread Consistent sampling method Ongoing funding Able to demonstrate long-term trends at a variety of scales
Database limitations.	Lack of funding to convert data into information.

 

What are the Current and Emerging Uses of the Database for:
Assisting with determining historic state/baseline.	The use of baseline sites can assist with determining historic state.
Assisting with determining current state/baseline.	The database is able to provide information about the current state and trends in macroinvertebrate community structure in a selection of the nation's rivers.
Assisting with modeling possible future outcomes.	The database is being used to identify relationships between benthic biota and various hydrological parameters in New Zealand rivers and streams.
Risk assessment.	The trends shown by the data may identify at risk locations.
Monitoring site selection and sample design.	Refer to National River Water Quality Network Database.
Aggregating and reporting data locally, regionally or nationally.	Trends can be reported by location, by region or nationally.