The question asked is: “What is the water quality of the U-High creek based on invertebrates found in the water?”
There are many ways to measure water quality, primarily through pH, nitrogen, phosphorous, and dissolved oxygen. pH levels are the levels of acidity or alkaline found in the water. Low pH levels (under 7.0) mean that the water is too acidic. High pH levels (over 7.0) mean greater alkaline level. A pH range of 6.5 - 8.5 is a safe range for aquatic life. Nitrogen and phosphorus are elements in the water that support the life of underwater plants. If the levels are too high (over 3.0), this is dangerous for aquatic animals. If the nitrogen and phosphorus are at a safe level, (about 1.0 or possibly less) it can be very beneficial to the environment. Nitrogen and
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Dissolved oxygen is also good for the water, (in small amounts) and it helps fish and bacteria survive. Dissolved oxygen is oxygen molecules that have been mixed in with water molecules. If there’s not enough (2-4 mg), plants and animals cannot survive. Besides those nutrients, invertebrates are also helpful in determining water quality. Invertebrates typically have a long life cycle, so the pollution can be measured over time. If there is an increased number of algae-eating invertebrates or scavengers, it can be inferred that a chemical or nitrogen/phosphorus is causing increased algae growth. Invertebrates like types of snails, clams and worms signify that the water quality is poor, because they can live in polluted conditions. Types of larvae and nymphs signify a fair water quality, because they are moderately tolerant to pollution. Finally, an increased number of mayfly nymphs or stonefly nymphs signifies a good water quality, because they cannot survive in polluted water. An ecosystem needs to be diverse to be healthy and stable. If there is a variety of different plants, then more animals can survive, and the organisms and vegetation can survive off each other. Animals and
Our group found a total of 3 critters in group 3. Throughout this experiment we found many different types of critters. Some of the critters we found are Gilled Snails, Stonefly, Water Penny, Scud, Crayfish, Pouch Snails, and many more. Since the creek is not polluted, many critters can thrive there. Another experiment we did was the Eutrophication test.
These water samples were all taken from the shores of Barker Lake, meaning that they should be similar and they were. Our class data did not seem to be very precise. This is shown in the data in sites 1 and 2 when one group had 9 ppm and another group had 20 ppm. These samples both came from Salt Creek and should have been similar but were not. Another example of class data being inconsistent or imprecise was on site 4 when one group’s results showed 3 ppm and another group’s showing 6.
Plankton Activity Postlab 1) Apply 2.5: Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales. Explain how the abundance of phytoplankton in the pond depends on the abundance of an abiotic resource such as nitrogen. - Phytoplankton are the producers in the pond. Species of organisms in ecosystems have their own carrying capacity relative to other species, and carrying capacities are determined by particular abiotic and biotic resources in an ecosystem. An increase in nitrogen levels in the pond (e.g. from fertilizers) will result in a dramatic increase in phytoplankton levels, but once phytoplankton population reaches its carrying capacity (determined by availability of other resources besides nitrogen, [DO] levels, predation etc.),
According to Harrison Eutrophication is the excessive production of algae and higher plants through the enrichment of waters by nitrogen and phosphorus. Phosphorus in the form of phosphate is the limiting nutrient as the amount of biologically available phosphorus is small in relation to the amount needed for algal growth. Harrison states that sources of nutrients can be discrete, (sewage), or diffuse, (farmland fertilizers).
Eutrophication is the excessive nutrients in a lake or body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of a plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen. We tested for phosphate, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen. Phosphates and Nitrates are found in fertilizers, laundry detergents, and sewage treatments. Dissolved oxygen is microscopic bubbles of gaseous oxygen that are mixed in water and aailable to aquatic organisms for respiration. We found that there was a phosphate average of 0.1 parts per million (ppm).
We found a little number of Phosphates and Nitrates in the water. That is healthy because these two chemicals are in fertilizers and detergents, they can harm the creek and all the creatures living in the creek. They get into the water through the eutrophication process. Bacteria eat phosphates and nitrates so that means there is a little number of bacteria in this creek. The dissolved oxygen level of the creek is high which is healthy.
One issue found is the creation of smelly phytoplankton that makes murky unclear waters along with aquatic impurities. Moreover, the reduction of growth due to poor light conditions and dying plants make it difficult for predatory fish to hunt leading to overpopulation. (Chislock, 2013) Eutrophication can be found in many of our water resources such as ponds, estuaries, and bays. One region with high areas with eutrophication is in a lake shared by Kisumu, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda.
All organisms need oxygen to survive and when their is not enough oxygen, it leaves plants and animals to die. The area of water where there is a low count of oxygen are often called a dead zones. Also, an increase of the pH level in the water can be created because of algae blooms. The toxic killing algae can make humans sick. For the aquatic animals, these toxins attack mainly the organisms liver and nervous system (Nitrogen and
phosphates and nitrates ) - which is when fertilizers < such as those on farms > can seep through the soil or even run down the soil - called runoff - into the creek causing the water to have more nutrients than it should. ) Depending on how much pollution there is depends on how much algae there is ( the more eutrophication -there is the more nutrients in the water- results in how much algae there will be.) We were also testing on the pH scale ( which measures the acidity or alkalinity of water ) goes from 0 - 14 where 6 - 0 is higher acidity and 8 - 14 is higher alkalinity ( alkalinity is what neutralizes/destroys acid. ) 7 on the pH scale is neutral and that is the ideal water for the ecosystem. The pollution that we were testing for is where the acid came from to begin with.
Study Area Determining how water quality affects aquatic creatures includes large study areas. The watersheds of both the Chesapeake Bay and the New River are largely inclusive of multiple county boundaries. A larger study area makes it simpler to come by study samples, as fish are plentiful throughout. Protecting the quality of our watersheds is important because watersheds serve many purposes to both living and nonliving organisms.
Predators then eat the animals who eat the plants and each
Based on observing the organisms living in the creek, the water quality of the U-High creek was excellent. However, not all bodies of water have excellent water quality. Most bodies of water with below average water quality are affected by humans. One way humans could negatively impact water quality is through runoff. It is common for farmers to put many pesticides and fertilizers on their crops, but these substances can be washed into rivers and add extra nitrate and phosphorus into the water.
Water Pollution is a huge environmental problem that has serious effects on marine habitats, animals, and water quality. BP1: The world's marine habitat has been getting worse because of how bad the pollution has gotten. “ Over 80% of marine pollution comes from land based activities “ (source 5 ). This quote explains how most of the water pollution is caused by human activity. “ Plastic litter does not degrade, can be expected to last in the oceans for hundreds of years “ ( source 6 ).
Despite animals bring a superior capability to adjust what happens over plants do, they might also die. When the animals and plants die, the public loses two sources of food, plant nourishment and animal nourishment. They might additionally lose their homes. Hence as an result, they might take off those region or die. This would be called a breakage in the food chain, ultimately one thing leads to another thing and so on and so forth.
They can be found on educational campuses, institutes, roadsides, hospitals, gardens and offices. If you think of it practically, then plants are the real reason why there are life forms on this planet. Plants provide us with clean air, fresh water, healthy food, and a number of things. Plants are a major factor in all phases of a living bygones life; be it small or big, young or old, or living on land or it water. Plants are quite important to all but humans are most dependent on them.