Martin received a Fulbright Award to travel to Africa next summer to develop a quick, economical method for monitoring watershed quality in developing countries such as Kenya. Rapid bioassessment takes advantage of the fact that the communities of small organisms found living in streams and rivers can tell a story about what types of pollutant stress the river has experienced. Certain families of organisms are particularly sensitive to specific types of pollutants. A stream that contains large numbers of diverse species from these "sensitive" families has probably not been exposed to much chemical pollution. A stream that has only a few representatives of the most hardy species of insects and other invertebrates has probably seen some sort of pollution and needs to be examined more thoroughly. Rapid bioassessment requires only a simple sieve-like tool, a calculator and a basic "pocket guide" for identifying the organisms in the stream or river. The river bottom is disturbed, and the organisms are allowed to settle onto the "sieve" where they will be counted and identified.
Rapid bioassessment boasts several advantages over tests for specific chemicals. First of all, it can indicate a problem that occurred prior to the time of testing. The absence of particular types of organisms indicates that certain pollutants may have been present in the water at some time prior to the test, whereas chemical analysis of water requires that the pollutant be present at the time the sample is taken. Bioassessment is also economical, requiring minimal equipment and training. According to Martin, these characteristics make it an excellent method for monitoring watershed quality in developing countries.
The United States, Canada and Europe already practice rapid bioassessment monitoring. Martin wants to introduce the method to the tropics. Her Fulbright proposal has several aims. First she will work with colleagues in South Africa to develop a bioassessment key for Kenya. After developing this key, she will travel to Kenya to test the bioassessment monitoring technique, and she will train watershed managers in Kenya to perform the technique.
While rapid bioassessment cannot detect all watershed problems, such as bacterial contamination, it does provide a simple and effective way to monitor water quality in countries where more elaborate testing is not available. Martin looks forward to the three months she will spend in Africa, although water sampling in Kenya does have hazards not common in the United States, such as angry hippos, crocodiles and water-borne parasites. Martin hopes to make an important contribution toward protecting the watersheds in these developing areas.
-- Michele Arduengo