Bellingen Riverwatch

Macro Muster 8 Data

What waterbugs did Bellingen Riverwatch citizen scientists find in our rivers and what do they mean?

Written by Nakia Belmer, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, NSW Government.

What we did…

Bellingen Riverwatch volunteers and partners worked together to sample macroinvertebrates (waterbugs) at nine sites across the Bellinger, Kalang and Nambucca catchments, very unique river systems on the Mid-North Coast of NSW.

Macro Muster 8 saw Macro Helpers, Macro Helpers-in-training and Macro Teachers-in-training come together, both to conduct an accurate count of waterbugs at six sites, but also to learn from the Macro teachers, further their knowledge and become familiar with the process for future musters.

What we found

Our Macro Muster 8 data tells us that these rivers are in good health.

All the sites recorded SIGNALT scores in the very healthy range (above 4.9), which suggests good water quality persists, and a very healthy waterbug community occurs at all surveyed sites.

The information collected from a Waterbug Blitz sample provides us with good data that can be used to provide a preliminary assessment of waterway health. The primary indicators that we use to assess waterway health using waterbug (macroinvertebrate) data are biodiversity (Biodiversity Score) and pollution sensitivity (SIGNAL Score) of the community.
The Biodiversity score, which is calculated from the number of different individual waterbug taxa collected at this site.
The method for identification of waterbugs through the Waterbug Blitz sampling and application is known as the Agreed Level Taxonomy, or ALT method (https://www.thewaterbug.net/ALT.html).
ALT uses features that are visible to the naked eye to identify macroinvertebrates. ALT identifications result in data sets of mixed taxonomic levels, some at genus or species, and others at higher levels.
SIGNAL is an acronym for Stream Invertebrate Grade Number Average Level and is a scoring system for waterbugs that helps interpret the raw data. It is based on the sensitivity or tolerance of different waterbugs to pollutants and habitat degradation. Each waterbug has its own grade from 1 (very tolerant) to 10 (very sensitive). The average of these individual waterbug grades is calculated to give each waterbug site a SIGNAL score which can infer the water and habitat quality and help to assess the health of a waterway. The calculation of this score can be weighted by the abundance of each waterbug taxa within a sample or can be unweighted, using only the grade of the taxa.
This method applied through the Waterbug Blitz is currently being tested to see if the ALT levels retain enough taxonomic information to be used with a re-calculated SIGNAL score, which is termed SIGNALT, and is the indicator of waterbug community sensitivity communicated in this report.
It is anticipated that the ALT method will provide a quick, simple approach to waterbug identification and analysis that is a practical alternative for citizen scientists who want to assess stream health. Though it should be noted that the application of this method is still being tested. As such the results communicated in this report should be considered a preliminary only and assessed in the context of the monthly water quality results and the ongoing monitoring that Bellingen Riverwatch hope to continue into the future.
To assist understanding of the SIGNALT results the score categories in the image below are provided.
EPT% is the percentage of EPT taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera or Mayflies, Stoneflies and Caddisflies) found within each sample.

See sites and results on nambucca riverwatch & Bellingen Riverwatch Macro Map

See previous muster sites and results on Bellingen Riverwatch Macro Map

Macro Muster 8 Data Infographic

We have created two infographics to communicate the data from Muster 8. See our library of free resources here.

See Muster 8 Data Infographic

How does this Muster data compare with other Musters?

View Macro Muster SIGNALT Scores Graph

Tysons Bridge

B3.1

See site location on Bellingen Riverwatch & Nambucca Riverwatch Macro Map.

The site recorded a healthy SIGNALT score of 5.89 which is an increase from the 7th Macro Muster.
The site recorded a high abundance of known sensitive taxa from the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera and EPT richness score was 7. EPT taxa collected included the the mayfly family Leptophlebiidae, the stonefly family Gripopterygidae and the caddisfly families, Helicophidae and Calocidae and Hydrobiosidae (SIGNALT grades 9, 9, 10 and 8) respectively. These results suggest good water quality and habitats persist at this site.
- 7 EPT taxa
- 4 caddisfly taxa
- 2 mayfly taxa
- 1 stonefly taxa
Order: Ephemeroptera, Family: Baetidae and Leptophlebidae
Order: Trichoptera: Helicophidae and Calocidae and Leptoceridae
Order: Plecoptera, Family: Gripopterygiidae

This site recorded a diverse waterbug community with a taxa richness of 18 and a SIGNALT score of 5.89. This is one of the highest scores for this site.

Site B3.1 recorded a diverse waterbug community with a taxa richness of 18

Order: Mayfly

Family: Baetidae

Image by Shane Ruming, DPE

B3.1 SIGNALT Scores over time

B5

Leans Bridge

See site location on Bellingen Riverwatch & Nambucca Riverwatch Macro Map.

Results for this site are recorded as good and very good.

This Bellinger River site has only been sampled on three occasions. It recorded a diverse waterbug community with a taxa richness of 17, the highest recorded at this site.

The site recorded SIGNALT of 5.94, which is the highest score for this site.
The site recorded 8 sensitive taxa from the orders Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera. The known sensitive taxa Leptophlebiidae (SIGNALT grade 9) and Helicophidae & Calocide (SIGNALT grade 10) were collected at the site along with the dragonfly taxa Telephlebiidae (SIGNALT grade 10). These results suggest good water quality and habitats continue to persist.
- 8 EPT Taxa
- 6 caddisfly taxa
- 2 mayfly taxa
- 3 dragonfly taxa
Order: Odonata, Family: Telephlebiidae
Order: Ephemeroptera, Family(s): Leptophlebiidae
Order: Trichoptera, Family(s): Helicophidae and Calocidae and Hydrobiosidae

Order: Odonata

Family: Telephlebiidae

Image by Shane Ruming, DPE

B5 SIGNALT Scores over time

See site location on Bellingen Riverwatch & Nambucca Riverwatch Macro Map.

Tuckers Nob

NN1

The SIGNALT score for this round was 6.45 which is at the upper extent of SIGNALT scores recorded at this site.
The site has recorded seven known sensitive taxa (EPT taxa 7), which would suggest that good water quality and habitats are persisting at this site.
- 7 EPT taxa
- 4 caddisfly taxa
- 3 mayfly taxa
- 2 dragonfly taxa
Order: Trichoptera, Family: Helicophidae and Calocidae
Order: Ephemeroptera, Family: Leptophlebiidae

The site recorded a high abundance of Helicophidae and Calocidae cadisflies, and Leptophlebiidae mayflies, which have SIGNALT grades of 10 and 9 respectively.

Site NN1 recorded a diverse waterbug community with a Taxa Richness of 20 and a SIGNALT score of 6.45

Order: Mayfly

Family: Leptophlebiidae

Image by Shane Ruming, DPE

NN1 SIGNALT Scores over time

R1

Rosewood River

See site location on Bellingen Riverwatch & Nambucca Riverwatch Macro Map.

Site R1 recorded a Taxa Richness of 18 and a high SIGNALT score of 7.06. This is the highest for this site across all the Macro Muster events.

results for the rosewood river site r1 are consistently recorded as good and very good

The SIGNALT score is the highest recorded of all the Macro Muster events.
The site recorded a very high abundance of known sensitive taxa from the orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera which resulted in an EPT richness of 7. Known sensitive taxa such as Leptophlebiidae, Helicophidae and Calocidae and Gripopterygidae (SIGNALT grades 9, 10 and 9 respectively) were collected which suggests that good water quality and habitats persist at this time
- 7 EPT taxa
- 3 caddisfly taxa
- 3 mayfly taxa
- 1 stonefly taxa
Order: Plecoptera, Family: Gripopterygidae
Order: Ephemeroptera, Family: Leptophlebiidae
Order: Trichoptera, Family(s): Helicophidae and Calocidae

Order: Stonefly

Family: Gripopterygidae

Image by Shane Ruming, DPE

R1 SIGNALT Scores over time

See site location on Bellingen Riverwatch & Nambucca Riverwatch Macro Map.

Kalang River

K1

K1 recorded a taxa richness of 13, identical to the previous macro muster.

The results suggest that good water quality and habitats continue to persist at this site and a healthy waterbug community remains presents.

The SIGNALT score at the site was 6.77 which is the highest recorded at this site.
The site recorded four taxa from the sensitive orders of Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera, including both the mayfly family Leptophlebiidae (SIGNALT grade 9) and the caddisfly family Helicophidae and Calocidae (SIGNALT grade 10). The site also recorded the Beetle larvae Ptilodactylidae which has a SIGNALT grade of 10.
- 4 EPT taxa
- 3 caddisfly taxa
- 2 mayfly taxa
Order: Ephemeroptera, Family(s): Leptophlebiidae
Order: Trichoptera, Family(s): Helicophidae and Calocidae
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Ptilodactylidae

Order: Mayfly

Family: Leptophlebiidae

Image by Shane Ruming, DPE

K1 SIGNALT Scores over time

taylors arm River

nv1

See site location on Bellingen Riverwatch & Nambucca Riverwatch Macro Map.

this is the first time this site at taylors arm in the nambucca valley has been tested as part of the macro muster

Site NV1 recorded a taxa richness of 12. Results suggest good water quality has allowed for a reasonably sensitive macroinvertebrate community to persist at the site.

This is the first time this site has been tested as part of the Macro Muster
The site recorded five known sensitive taxa (EPT taxa 5) from the families Odontoceridae, Hydrobiosidae, Leptoceridae and Hydropsychidae and the mayfly family Leptophlebiidae. These individuals have SIGNALT grades of 8, 8, 8, 6 and 9 respectively.
- 5 EPT taxa
- 4 caddisfly taxa
- 1 mayfly taxa
- 2 damselfly taxa
- 1 dragonfly taxa
Order: Trichoptera, Family: Odontoceridae, Hydrobiosidae and Leptoceridae
Order: Ephemeroptera, Family: Leptophlebiidae

Order: Caddisfly

Family: Hydrobiosidae

Image by Shane Ruming, DPE

See site location on Bellingen Riverwatch & Nambucca Riverwatch Macro Map.

south creek

nv2

this is the first time this site at south creek, bowraville in the nambucca valley has been tested as part of the macro muster

Site NV2 recorded a taxa richness of 14. Results suggest good water quality has allowed for a reasonably sensitive macroinvertebrate community to persist at the site.

The SIGNALT score was recorded as 5.14. This is the first time this site has been tested as part of the Macro Muster
The site recorded four known sensitive taxa (EPT taxa 4) from the families Leptoceridae and Hydropsychidae the stonefly taxa Gripopterygidae and the mayfly family Baetidae. These individuals have SIGNALT grades of 8, 6, 9 and 5 respectively.
- 4 EPT taxa
- 2 caddisfly taxa
- 1 mayfly taxa
- 1 stonefly taxa
- 2 beetle taxa
Order: Trichoptera, Family: Leptoceridae and Hydropsychidae
Order: Plecoptera, Family: Gripopterygidae
Order: Ephemeroptera, Family: Baetidae

Order: Caddisfly

Family: Hydropsychidae

Image by Shane Ruming, DPE

Lane’s Bridge

nv3

See site location on Bellingen Riverwatch & Nambucca Riverwatch Macro Map.

this is the first time this site at Lane’s bridge, bowraville in the nambucca valley has been tested as part of the macro muster

The SIGNALT score was recorded as 5.31. This is the first time this site was recorded for the Macro Muster
The site recorded five known sensitive taxa (EPT taxa 5) from the families Helicophidae, Leptoceridae and Hydropsychidae the stonefly taxa Gripopterygidae and the mayfly family Baetidae. These individuals have SIGNALT grades of 10, 8, 6, 9 and 5 respectively.
- 5 EPT taxa
- 3 caddisfly taxa
- 1 mayfly taxa
- 1 stonefly taxa
- 3 beetle taxa
Order: Trichoptera, Family: Helicophidae, Leptoceridae and Hydropsychidae
Order: Plecoptera, Family: Gripopterygidae
Order: Ephemeroptera, Family: Baetidae

Site NV2 recorded a taxa richness of 16. Results suggest good water quality has allowed for a reasonably sensitive macroinvertebrate community to persist at the site.

Order: Mayfly

Family: Baetidae

Image by Shane Ruming, DPE

wiaora bridge

nv4

See site location on Bellingen Riverwatch & Nambucca Riverwatch Macro Map.

this is the first time this site at wiaora bridge, missabotti in the nambucca valley has been tested as part of the macro muster

Site NV4 recorded a taxa richness of 11. Results suggest good water quality has allowed for a reasonably sensitive macroinvertebrate community to persist at the site.

The SIGNALT score was recorded as 5.45. This was the first time this site was recorded for the Macro Muster.
The site recorded four known sensitive taxa (EPT taxa 4) from the families Leptoceridae and Calamoceratidae the stonefly taxa Gripopterygidae and the mayfly family Baetidae. These individuals have SIGNALT grades of 8, 7, 9 and 5 respectively.
- 4 EPT taxa
- 2 caddisfly taxa
- 1 mayfly taxa
- 1 stonefly taxa
- 3 dragonfly taxa
Order: Trichoptera, Family: Leptoceridae and Calamoceratidae
Order: Plecoptera, Family: Gripopterygidae
Order: Ephemeroptera, Family: Baetidae

Order: Caddisfly

Family: Leptoceridae

Image by Shane Ruming, DPE

It is everyone’s responsibility to maintain and improve our rivers.

We report on our data to help influence policy and decision making, and educate the community, now and into the future.

Note - Our raw data is shared with with the NSW Government Saving our Species recovery program for the BRST and is additionally available at both the Waterwatch portal and the DPIE SEED portal.