In response to growing concern in Australia for maintaining ecological values, the National River Health Program (NRHP) was formed. A major component of the NRHP was the development of the computer program for the Australian Rivers Assessment System (AUSRIVAS) for use in assessing river health. AUSRIVAS was developed at the CRC for Freshwater Ecology in Canberra and is based on the British River InVertebrate Prediction And Classification System (RIVPACS) II program (Wright et al. 1993). AUSRIVAS consists of standardized sampling methods, computer software and mathematical models, which can be tailor made for use in different aquatic habitats and for different times of the year. These models predict the aquatic macroinvertebrate fauna expected to occur at a site in the absence of environmental stress, such as pollution or habitat degradation. The AUSRIVAS predictive system and associated sampling methods offer a number of advantages over traditional assessment techniques. The sampling methods are standardized, easy to perform and require minimal equipment. Rapid turn around of results is possible and the range of outputs from the AUSRIVAS models are tailored for a range of users including community groups, managers and ecologists.

AUSRIVAS models have been developed for each state and territory, for the main habitat types that can be found in Australian river systems. These habitats include the edge/backwater, main channel, riffle, pool and macrophyte stands. The models can be constructed for a single season or data from several seasons may be combined to provide more robust predictions. To date, the AUSRIVAS predictive system has been developed primarily for lotic environments. Future research and development of the AUSRIVAS system is aimed at widening its scope for use in estuarine and wetland environments.

1.1        References

AUSRIVAS predictive modelling manual:

http://ausrivas.canberra.edu.au/Bioassessment/Macroinvertebrates/Man/Pred/

 

Sampling and processing manuals and datasheets:

Go to the AUSRIVAS macroinvertebrate bioassessment home page at http://ausrivas.canberra.edu.au/Bioassessment/Macroinvertebrates/ and select 'Manuals & Datasheets' from the left-hand menu.

AUSRIVAS training and accreditation: http://ausrivas.canberra.edu.au/Bioassessment/Macroinvertebrates/Training/

 

Other:
Chessman, B.C. (1995). Rapid river assessment using macroinvertebrates: a procedure based on habitat specific sampling, family level identification and a biotic index. Australian Journal of Ecology 20, 122-129.

Wright, J.F., Furse, M.T., Armitage, P.D., and Moss, D. (1993) New procedures for identifying running-water sites subject to
environmental stress and for evaluating sites for conservation, based on the
macroinvertebrate fauna. Archiv für Hydrobiologi 127(3), 319-326.