Protocol implementation plan for dragonfly larvae sampling and mercury analysis: A contribution of the Dragonfly Mercury Project
Flanagan Pritz CM, Eagles-Smith CA, VanderMeulen DD, Nelson SJ, Willacker JJ. 2022. Protocol implementation plan for dragonfly larvae sampling and mercury analysis: A contribution of the Dragonfly Mercury Project. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NRSS/ARD/NRR—2022/2386. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/nrr-2291783
This protocol outlines a framework for monitoring mercury in dragonfly larvae and how data are collected, managed, analyzed, and reported for the Dragonfly Mercury Project (DMP). The DMP is a dynamic national-scale study that engages citizen scientists in the collection of dragonfly larvae for mercury analysis. The DMP aims to link mercury deposition with potential risks to aquatic resources and assess changes in mercury concentrations over time to inform resource management decisions and mitigation tools. The community and citizen science approach engages the public in critical conservation science while reducing monitoring costs by more than half compared to sampling by professional organizations, yet still results in high-quality data to support resource management and environmental protection. The DMP is jointly managed by the National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey with additional leadership from Appalachian Mountain Club and Dartmouth College. This protocol is adapted from a broader protocol for monitoring mercury in aquatic organisms, developed by the National Park Service Great Lakes Inventory & Monitoring Network.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Flanagan Pritz, Colleen; Eagles-Smith, Collin; VanderMeulen, David; Nelson, Sarah; Willacker, James
- Date of Issue
- 2022-05
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/nrr-2291783
- Units
- ARD , NRSS
- Keywords
- air, air monitoring, air pollution, air resources division, appalachian mountain club, citizen science, community science, connected conservation, dragonfly, dragonfly larvae, dragonfly mercury project, larvae, mercury, mercury deposition, national park service, public engagement, us geological survey, usgs
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Air and Climate | Air Quality | Air Contaminants , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Toxics , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Algae , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Freshwater Communities