Field Work Italy

Collection of water samples for the analysis of environmental DNA.

River water is filtered in the field using the Sterivex filters, and analysed for aquatic bacteria and fungi

Examples of pitfall traps installed along river banks.

These simple traps are ideal for assessing the diversity and composition of riparian arthropods.

Dragonflies (Odonata) are insects with aquatic and terrestrial life stages. Here, a beautiful adult Golden-ring dragonfly emerges from its aquatic larval case (exuvia), ready to hunt prey along the riparian zone.
 

Rivers and riparian zones can collect and transport huge quantities of micro and macro plastics. 

Here are two examples of what can be found even in upland rivers. Not only plastic debris, but even an old ski-boot!

Fixing the acoustic sensor (Audiomoth) along the riparian zone of the Noce river (Trentino region, Italy).