Background/Question/Methods We have been collecting macroinvertebrate and water quality data in the Mill River, a local stream next to the Smith College campus, in an Introductory Biology Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) for several years. The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) also collects data on macroinvertebrates and water quality from 24 wadeable streams throughout the United States. Here we will show results from comparing our local Mill River to the Lower Hop Brook data collected by NEON. These two streams are useful to compare because they are both in Massachusetts (about 40 km away in a straight line) so they likely experience similar weather. However, the Mill River is in a more populated, urban area while the Lower Hop Brook is surrounded by forest and far less human development thus giving an interesting land use comparison. The methods in each dataset were not identical, but we compared 45 macroinvertebrate samples collected in the Mill River to 10 samples collected in the Lower Hop in 2018-2019. We also compared water quality samples taken in the Mill River to similar data continuously sampled in the Lower Hob Brook in 2018-2020. Results/Conclusions Macroinvertebrate density was lower and tolerance to pollution was higher in the Mill River compared to the Lower Hop Brook. The turbidity, pH and water temperature were greater in the Mill River. However, the dissolved oxygen was higher in the Mill River for a given water temperature. It is unclear what is causing these differences, but the land use around these two rivers very likely plays a role. The greater amount of forest and lower human development surrounding the Lower Hob Brook could help reduce run off and contribute to the lower turbidity and water temperature measured there. This in turn could contribute to the greater density of macroinvertebrates that are also less tolerance to pollution in the Lower Hop Brook. While additional research is needed to understand what is causing these patterns, the patterns are interesting and stimulated students to think about the effect of land use on macroinvertebrates and water quality. Comparing NEON data to our own data collected on campus was a rewarding way to involve undergraduate students in authentic research.
