On the last Wednesday of Term 4, 34 Year 9 students spent the morning working with Nature Agents, aquatic ecologists, sampling a small section of the Ōtākaro/Avon River.

They took measurements of the physical habitat e.g. temperature and water flow, as well as canopy cover and substrate type. The girls also collected and identified a range of aquatic invertebrates.

Taken together, these various factors allow us to judge the overall health of the stream. The students decided that our stream rates in the low to mid quality range, but it was encouraging to see a few species that can only tolerate good conditions present in our stream.

The data collected will be analysed, and in the new year it will be uploaded to a regional data base that will allow students from all over Canterbury to compare sampling sites and stream health. The students that carried out the sampling this year will be asked to assist with the Year 9 classes in 2021 when it is their turn to sample and analyse the stream.

The students would like to thank Kirsty, Ariana and Nick for coming in and helping them to improve their understanding of the river ecosystem. Find out more about Nature Agents HERE.