As one of the most recognized community science projects across the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. National Park Service, the Dragonfly Mercury Project (DMP) is a decade-long, nationwide assessment that uses dragonfly larvae as indicators of mercury risk in protect lands. Mercury is a neurotoxin that harms environmental health. The DMP engages public through field sampling and data collection to support providing actionable science about mercury in freshwater ecosystems. It also informs policy and resource management, and advances understanding of mercury pollution. Spanning more than 700 water bodies across 48 states, mercury concentrations in over two-thirds of sites indicate that predatory fish may exceed EPA benchmarks for human health. In addition to quantifying risk, long-term records also contribute to spatial and temporal models of mercury across the U.S., feeding into our understanding of the effectiveness of both domestic and global mercury emission reduction policies and informing how to mitigate mercury risk.
Developing educational opportunities and informing policy, the DMP demonstrates how participatory science can lead to more effective research outcomes by integrating scientific expertise with local knowledge and community engagement. The program prospers on an integrated design, or a “network of networks” where participant groups, including resource managers, scientists, schools, and local community members are linked together to make the program possible. Local engagement continues to spark the roughly 7,000 public participants contributing greater than 20,000 volunteer hours to the study. Data integrity is accomplished through standardized sampling procedures coupled with a centralized laboratory that employs robust quality assurance measures and high-quality data documentation. The diversified funding model amplifies the program’s resilience, while the participatory science component leverages new and existing partnerships and reduces the costs of mercury monitoring. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and making science more accessible and engaging, programs like the DMP can have a positive impact on multiple audiences, including the next generation of environmental stewards.