Slideshow

The water quality and sediment sampling survey will be conducted every 50km – 100km along the Yangtze River between Yichang and Shanghai. The purpose of this survey is to gather reliable data about the condition and variation of the water quality in areas where Yangtze freshwater cetaceans occur in both high and low densities. To avoid disturbing the line transect or acoustic survey teams, water sampling will be conducted every half hour before the survey effort begins, and immediately after the survey effort ends. Special arrangements will be made to ensure that samples can be taken near river confluences and sand bars. The team will sample both directly from the KeKao No.1 and will use a small zodiac for near-shore sampling.
Beat Muller will travel to the Tian-e-Zhou Oxbow Semi Natural Baiji Reserve during the first week of the survey to take water and sediment samples. This work is part of an ongoing water-quality monitoring program that began during the March 06 Pilot Expedition. It is essential to develop a continuous and rigorous monitoring program at the reserve for the safety of the resident Yangtze finless porpoise population and for any baiji that may be translocated there in the future.
The organic contaminant samples will be sent to SGS in Shanghai for analysis. The samples for trace metals, nutrients and ions will be analyzed at EAWAG in Switzerland.

To learn more, download «Habitat Survey Design (pdf, 653kb)»