Aquatic Ecology Field Study Procedures

Author: 4. Draw a map of the aquatic ecosystem Laurie Rosenberg, Muhlenberg College being studied and identify key Grade Level: 5-8th landscape features that contribute to Lesson Time: 2.5-3hours the healthy functioning of the pond Suggested Class Structure: Small ecosystem. groups 5. Use an aquatic plant wheel to Subject Areas: Science, Language Arts identify common wetland and aquatic plants and describe how they BACKGROUND contribute to the pond ecosystem 6. Collect and observe algae living in See individual lessons. the pond and describe how they are influenced by water quality and what contribution they make to the aquatic ecosystem. 7. Describe the key features of the pond ecosystem and summarize the GOAL interactions between the chemical, physical and biological features they Students rotate through a series of have observed and studied. stations, investigating a different aspect of aquatic ecology at each station. At the end of the field trip, students will MATERIALS discuss how the pieces fit together to determine the overall health of the • Alkalinity test kit (Lamotte # 4491) aquatic ecosystem. • Barometric pressure probe • Board • Bottle of distilled water OBJECTIVES • Calcium test probe • Calculator The students shall: • Carbon Dioxide test probe • Collection bottle 1. Use chemical and physical test to • Collection trays determine water quality. • Compass 2. Identify aquatic macro-organisms • Conductivity test kit (Lamotte and explain what their presence #5-0039) indicated about the conditions of the • D nets habitat in which they were found. • Dissolved Oxygen probe 3. Make observations about soil color, • Dissolved Oxygen test kit (Lamotte structure, and texture and draw #7414) inferences about the drainage • Field microscope conditions in the area around the • 18 flags ponds and how this relates to water • Geotechnical gauge (Soil quality. color/texture guides)

• GPS instrument 2. Assign Stations • Hand lenses Explain stations and station • Kestrel wind speed guage rotations. Divide into groups and • Liter water start stations. Students should record • Macroinvertebrate field study guides their data in their field study • Meter stick/Yard stick logbooks. • Microscope slides and coverslips • Nitrate probe Stations are: • Nitrate test kit (Hach #14161-33) • Percolation can A) Water Chemistry • pH paper • pH probe • pH test kit (Lamotte #7462) • Pipette • Plankton field study guides • Plankton sampling net • Plastic spoons • Protoslo • Tape measure • Thermometer • Turbidity probe • Turbidity test kit (Lamotte #5887) • Waste bottles B) Aquatic Indicator Organisms

ADVANCE PREPARATION

Gather all materials and divide into large containers for carrying

PROCEDURES – Outline and Narrative

1. Introduction C) Plankton and Biodiversity Show overhead map picture of Bushkill watershed. Point out Graver. Show overhead of Graver map, point out ponds. Discuss how aquatic ecosystems at Graver are part of the Bushkill stream watershed. Show map of Delaware River Basin. Point out how the Bushkill Stream runs into the Delaware River.

89 D) Aquatic Landscapes b) What do the chemical parameters you measured tell you about the quality of the water in the pond or stream? Are there any areas of concern—DO, pH, turbidity, conductivity, etc.? How might these chemical parameters change as the season progresses? c) What kinds of plants were found around the pond or stream? What role do they play in the aquatic ecosystem? d) How many kinds of plankton 3. Collate Data were found in the pond? What After students have completed the role does the plankton play in the four stations, gather the whole class pond ecosystem? together to record all the data from e) What macro-organisms were all the stations. Record other data on found in the pond or stream? large sheets of butcher paper. These What do they tell us about sheets can be taken back to class for conditions in the pond? What is use in creating the “Aquatic Times” their role in the aquatic newspaper, or doing the optional ecosystem? extension activity titled “Representing the Study Site in a Optional Extension – Diagram.” Representing the Study Site in a Diagram - Two 50-minute sessions.

As a follow up back at school, students can create a diagram of the study site incorporating the data from all of the field trip study stations, (water chemistry, aquatic life, plankton and landscapes). A complete lesson plan for this activity can be found on the GLOBE Web site, (GLobal Observations to Benefit the Earth), at [http://www.globe.gov]. Click on 4. Discussion Questions "Teacher's Guide/Teacher's Guide Table Summarize by asking the students of Contents/Earth Systems the following questions: Science/Exploring the Connections/LC2: Representing the Study Site in a a) How does the topography (lay of Diagram." The URL for this lesson is the land) of the area around the [http://archive.globe.gov/tctg/earth_la pond influence the pond _connections_lc2.pdf?sectionID=271]. ecosystem?

ASSESSMENT

See “Aquatic Times” activity.

RESOURCES

See individual lessons.

STATE STANDARDS FOR ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

See individual lessons.

Field Studies Procedures Appendix

Copy Masters for:

Aquatic Ecology Field Study Log Book: Cover & back page Pages 12, 1 Pages 2,11 Pages 10, 3 Pages 4, 9 Pages 8, 5 Pages 6,7

Aquatic Ecology

Field Study Log Book

Name:______

School:______

Grade:______Year:______Equipment Checklist • Alkalinity test kit (Lamotte # 4491) • Barometric pressure probe • Board • Bottle of distilled water • Calcium test probe • Calculator • Carbon Dioxide test probe • Collection bottle Saturation • Collection trays • Compass Chart • Conductivity test kit (Lamotte #5-0039) • D nets • Dissolved Oxygen probe • Dissolved Oxygen test kit (Lamotte #7414) • Field microscope • 18 flags • Geotechnical gauge • GPS instrument • Hand lenses • Kestrel wind speed gauge • Liter water • Macroinvertebrate field study guides • Meter stick/Yard stick Metric Conversion • Microscope slides and coverslips • Nitrate probe When You Know Metric MultiplConversiony by To Find • Nitrate test kit (Hach #14161-33) • Percolation can Length • pH paper Inches 2.5 centimeters (cm) • pH probe Feet 30 centimeters • pH test kit (Lamotte #7462) Yards 0.9 meters (m) • Pipette • Plankton field study guides Area • Plankton sampling net square inches 6.5 square centimeters (cm²) • Plastic spoons square feet 0.09 square meters (m²) • Protoslo acres 0.4 hectares (ha) • Soil color/texture guides Volume • Soil moisture probe • Stopwatch fluid ounces 30 milliliters (mL) gallons 3.8 liters (L) • Tape measure cubic feet 0.03 cubic meters (m³) • T-bar/square • Thermometer Temperature (exact) • Turbidity probe degrees Fahrenheit, subtract 32, multiply by 5/9 = degrees Celsius (°C) • Turbidity test kit • Waste bottles 12 1 Beaufort Wind Scale Wind Speed (MPH) Wind Effects Observed on Land Terms Used in NWS Forecasts 0-1 Calm; smoke rises vertically. Calm

1-3 Direction of wind shown by smoke Light drift, but not by wind vanes. Hydrology Investigation 4-7 Wind felt on face, leaves rustle, Light ordinary wind vane moved by wind.

Student/Group Name ______8-12 Leaves and small twigs in constant Gentle motion; wind extends light flag. Date ______Time ______13-18 Raises dust and loose paper; small Moderate branches are moved.

19-24 Small trees in leaf begin to sway; Fresh crested wavelets form on inland waters. Temperature 25-31 Large branches in motion; whistling Strong Name of Test/ Source of Temperature heard in telephone wires; umbrellas Equipment used Water Sample used with difficulty.

32-38 Whole trees in motion; inconvenience Strong felt walking against the wind.

39-46 Breaks twigs off trees; generally Gale impedes progress. pH Test 47-54 Slight structural damage occurs; Gale

Name of Test/ Source of pH Result 55-63 Seldom experienced inland; trees Whole gale Equipment used Water Sample uprooted; considerable structural damage occurs.

73 or more Very rarely experienced; Hurricane accompanied by widespread damage. Conductivity Slope Calculation Stream Velocity and Discharge/Flow Name of Test/ Source of Conductivity Equipment used Water Sample Reading Run distance Distance Floated _____ft. Float Time 1 ______sec Average Float Time 2 ______sec Float 0 ance 90 t Float Time 3 ______sec Time _____sec

dis e Distance Average Average

Turbidity Ris Floated ÷ Float = Surface ______(ft) Time Velocity Name of Test/ Source of JTUs (sec) (ft/sec) ÷ Equipment used Water Sample Slope = Rise distance Run distance Cross Average Stream Section x Velocity = Discharge ______Area (ft/sec) (cu.ft/sec) (sq.ft)

2 11 Weather Conditions Dissolved Oxygen

Air Temperature: ______Name of Test/ Source of DO % Saturation Equipment used Water Sample Was There Precipitation in the last 48 hrs.? Yes No

Description: Sunny Partly Overcast Rain Alkalinity Cloudy Name of Test/ Source of Alkalinity Barometric Pressure: ______Equipment used Water Sample Reading

Wind Speed: ______Wind Direction:______

Relative Humidity: ______Nitrate

Soil Conditions Name of Test/ Source of Nitrate Equipment used Water Sample Reading Soil Color:

Lt Brown Yellow/ Green/ Olive Lt Gray Dark Orange Gray Gray Gray

Soil Texture: Mostly Clay Mostly Sand Mixture of Clay Carbon Dioxide (soil clumps hold their shape) and Sand

Soil Moisture: Name of Test/ Source of CO2 Soggy Moist Dry Equipment used Water Sample Reading

Type of Bedrock: ______Soil pH: ______

Soil Percolation Rate: Calcium Finish Time Start Time Total Time Average Rate

Name of Test/ Source of Calcium Equipment used Water Sample Reading

Slope: ______

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Macro Invertebrate Study

Student/Group Name ______

Date ______Time ______:

s used Intolerant of Low Oxygen Somewhat Sensitive to Tolerant of Low Oxygen

Levels Low Oxygen Levels Levels

____ case-building ____ blackfly larvae ____ segmented worm mb y

caddisfly larvae s

____ riffle beetle larvae ____ leech f o ____ hellgramite ____ clam ____ midge larvae ____ mayfly larvae ____ crane fly larvae ____ lunged/pouch snail ____ riffle beetle adult ____ crayfish ____ mosquito larvae Key

____ stonefly nymph ____ damselfly nymph ____ rat-tailed maggot ____ water penny larvae ____ dragonfly nymph ____ tubifex worm ____ dobsonfly larvae ____ scud ____planaria ____ aquatic sowbug ____horsehair worm ____ alderfly larvae ____ threadworm/nematode ____ net-spinning ____ pyralid/moth caterpillar caddisfly larvae ____water snipe larvae Pollution Sensitive Organisms For Ponds: ____ water boatmen and giant water bug ____ diving beetle

Boxes checked x 3 = Boxes checked x 2 = Boxes checked x 1 = ______index value ______index value ______index value

Water Quality Rating: Total Index Value = ______

____ Excellent (>22) __

EPT Count – Streams Only (Advanced) ______Good (17-22) ______Fair (11-16)

Number of Ephemeroptera species (Mayflies) r e ___ t ___

____ Poor (<11) ___

e p

m ______a ____ _ EPT Water Quality Rating 1 _ ___ M Number of Plecoptera species (Stoneflies) _

(Streams Only) ___

d ___ l

Total number of EPT species = ______feet or _ e i ____ Excellent (>10) _ body ___

_ F = 3 r _ ____ Good (6-10) e __ _ h Number of Trichoptra species (Caddisflies) t e _ c ____ Fair (2-5) t i n s i wa

f f ____ Poor (<2) ___ ½ o

: e __ e e l m me o t

Total # of species ______a a a a c

Total # of tolerant species ______N N D S 9 4 Aquatic Landscapes Additional Aquatic Organisms Observed: GPS Coordinates of Study Site Fish: Water Site Description: Moving Water: Stream River Other Width:______ft

Standing Water: Pond Lake Reservoir Bay Ditch Other Amphibians:

Approximate Area______sq.ft Approximate Depth_____ft Average Depth______ft Birds: Cross Sectional Area ______sq.ft = Width_____ x Average Depth______

Is Water Bottom Visible: Yes No Describe The Bottom:______Other: Describe the Makeup of the Bank:

Boulders or stones around and in the water Manmade structures

Fallen logs or branches in the water Riffle areas (streams only) Sand bars or gravel bars Pools (streams only) Other Describe Vegetation Around the Pond Erosion Evidence: Bare soil unprotected by plants Trees: Exposed plant roots

Cuts, ditches or steep banks where soil is being washed into pond Shrubs: Evidence of grazing, mowing, or foot traffic

Trees, shrubs, grasses preserved

Estimated width of the riparian zone: ______Herbaceous (not woody) Plants along the Shore:

Human Influences: Drainage pipes Dams Litter

Trails/Bridges Swimming Boating Emergent Vegetation:

Describe the Habitat in Shallow Areas Near the Water’s Edge: ______

Vegetation Boulders Gravel Floating Plants:

Rocks Logs Other______

8 5 Plankton Food How Picture Name Source Many Plankton and Biodiversity

Student/Group Name ______Date ______Time ______

Name of Water Body Sampled:______

Plankton Food How Picture Name Source Many

How many different types of plankton are in the water?______

Draw And Label An Aquatic Food Web of Stream Organisms Include phytoplankton, zooplankton, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and detritivores.

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