<p>BIOL 4233 Field Biology BIOL 5533 Ecological Methods Experiment 1: Water Quality and Aquatic Productivity</p><p>I. Reference: Brower et al. (1998): Units 2a, 2d, 2e and 6b</p><p>II. Experiment objectives</p><p>A. ______</p><p>B. ______</p><p>C. ______</p><p>III. Field sampling: Monday, September 14, 2009 (refer to handout)</p><p>IV. Supplies and equipment</p><p>V. Random assignment of stations</p><p>VI. Protocol for each group A. Complete a macrohabitat analysis</p><p>B. Analyze water quality 1. collect three water samples per station (Samples A, B, C) distributed along shoreline a. use bucket to collect surface water sample (1) avoid stirring up mud on bottom (2) if mud gets into water sample, discard and start over where the bottom has not been disturbed b. pour water into 1-gallon plastic jug to overflowing, cap without trapping air at top of jug 2. record time collected and other information on data sheet</p><p>C. Once all samples for site have been collected, transport immediately to the lab (UHCL Bayou Building 3211)</p><p>D. Complete and record the following water quality parameters for each sample immediately upon arrival at lab 1. water temperature 2. dissolved oxygen (meter or Winkler method using Hach kit) 3. pH</p><p>1 E. Other water quality parameters to complete in lab 1. Secchi Disk depth (tube) 2. conductivity, TDS and salinity (meter) 2. turbidity 3. color</p><p>F. Hach water chemistry analyses (record on data sheet) 1. ammonia nitrogen 2. nitrate nitrogen 3. nitrite nitrogen 4. phosphate</p><p>VI. Results: analysis of data on Monday, September 21, 2009 A. All groups turn in completed raw data sheets</p><p>B. Habitat analysis: compare sites</p><p>C. Water quality study 1. calculate the mean, standard deviation and standard error for each parameter at each station 2. enter the entire class data into a spreadsheet program, such as Excel 3. use entire class data set to construct profiles (histograms or bar graphs) of each of the parameters by station (bar graphs are used for discrete data; line graphs would be used for continuous data) 4. example for spreadsheet set-up in Excel (Table 1) 5. compare the data to information in the lab book (and the introduction for this report) to make conclusions as to why these differences may exist 6. BIOL 5533 students a. apply ANOVA to results to determine effect of water quality and habitat parameters on aquatic productivity; compare sites b. compare 2008 data with results from previous summer classes c. compare 2008 data with published information</p><p>V. Report preparation A. Title</p><p>B. Abstract: 200-250 word summary of background, objectives, methods, results, conclusions 2 C. Introduction 1. background information on water quality indicators, with citations 2. experiment objectives</p><p>D. Methods 1. study sites a. locations and descriptions of all UHCL sites, include map b. table indicating locations of sites and stations</p><p>2. water quality experiments a. date and time experiments conducted b. methods used (1) environmental parameters (2) water quality parameters (all meters and Hach kits, with model numbers and kit numbers; these can be presented in tables) c. data analysis methods </p><p>E. Results 1. environmental data a. table(s) of summary values (means and SE) b. text description of results</p><p>2. water quality experiment data a. table of summarized values (means and SE) by station and parameter (example: Table 1) b. parameter profile histograms (means and SE) c. text description of significant results</p><p>F. Discussion 1. compare class results with information on what the parameters indicate in terms of water quality 2. compare and contrast differences among stations - and why they exist</p><p>G. Literature cited: proper referencing (see notes from Lecture 1) on all sources actually cited in paper</p><p>H. Field notes: attach field notes and raw data sheets</p><p>3 Table 1. Example set-up for presentation of summary values (means  SE) in experiment report.</p><p>4 Site Param 1 Param 2 Param 3 Param 4 And so (units) (units) (units) (units) on…</p><p>UHCL Duck Pond Value Value Value Value Value ± SE ± SE ± SE ± SE ± SE</p><p>UHCL Alligator Pond Value Value Value Value Value ± SE ± SE ± SE ± SE ± SE</p><p>Horsepen Bayou Value Value Value Value Value ± SE ± SE ± SE ± SE ± SE</p><p>5</p>