Macroinvertebrates.watershed-QLP.

 


== __If And How Macro Invertebrates effect pollution in water. __ == __**

Watershed project 2008 : Quinette, Lauren, Pauline. **__

**First visit to Flat Rock Brook: **
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**Second visit to Flat Rock Brook: **
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = __Abstract: __ = <span style="color: rgb(35, 231, 63)"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">For our watershed project, we were told to test water quality. One effective way to test water quality is by counting the number of macro invertebrates in the water. We did this by standing at the edges of the brooks and ponds and collecting as many macro invertebrates as we could find. If there was a large number of sensitive macro invertebrates found, then the water would be considered healthy. This is because sensitive macro invertebrates cannot survive in polluted water. Water would have to be healthy in order for the creature to live there. Moderately tolerant macro invertebrates can survive in water that is somewhat, but not completely polluted. Tolerant macro invertebrates can live in bodies of water that are extrememly polluted. Because of this, it was essential that we observed the type of macro invertebrates that we collected, and found out whether or not the species we captured can live in polluted water.
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(224, 77, 79)">Third Visit to Flat Rock Brook: **

After conducting our experiment and research, we only found moderately tolerant and tolerant macro invertebrates at Flat Rock. Between this information, and the fact that we saw garbage surrounding some of the areas of water, we were able to arrive at our conclusion. Our conclusion states that the water at Flat Rock Brook is somewhat polluted.

__Background Information:__<span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif"> Macro invertebrates found in fresh water are also referred to as "benthos". Because they are invertebrates, they do not have a backbone. They are also always longer than 1/2 millimeter long. They can be found on and surrounding aquatic plant life, rocks, stones, sediment and any type of healthy water streams that were created naturally or by mankind. The bodies of water that usually contain these creatures are lakes, ponds, streams, and hot springs. Examples of these animals are some types of clams, worms, snails, insects, crayfish and nymphs.

Macro invertebrates eat algae, bacteria, leaves, and small aquatic plants. They are considered “middlemen” in the food chain because they are consumed by bigger aquatic creatures, but are also consumers themselves. Macro invertebrates help energy to flow in bodies of water. When they die, their bodies break down, and become nutritional benefits for plants and animals found in the macro invertebrates’ habitats. Flat Rock Brook Nature Center was opened in 1973 and since then, it has served as a preserve of forest and aquatic life in Englewood, NJ. The preserve consists of 150 acres, two ponds, and a brook. This is why Flat Rock Brook was a good place for us to conduct our experiment on water quality. They have plenty of water resources which are used for drinking and bathing by the surrounding towns. It is important that we check the quality of the water because if it is polluted, it could have a bad effect on our health and environment.

=__<span style="font-size: 40%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif"> **<span style="color: rgb(55, 242, 44)">Hypothesis: ** __= <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">The amount of pollution will be greater in stagnant ponds than in flowing brooks, and the lack of macro invertebrates in the brook will prove this point. Macro invertebrates have been known to show the level of pollution in a body of water because if there is an abundance of macro invertebrates in a body of water it is proof that the water has the ability to sustain life. If the body of water can keep living beings in it, then it is most likely not polluted. And the type of macro invertebrate will tell us about the conditions of the water.

__**<span style="color: rgb(52, 239, 93)">Materials: **__
<span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">1. Small Net 2. Bottles/jars 3. Macro invertebrate identification guide [|Macro Invertebrate Identification Guide] <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">4. Map of flat rock brook 5. Dissolved oxygen meter 6.Vernier lab pro + various probes. 7.computer 8.Magellan explorer 400 GPS 9.10x magnifier 10.Tweezers 11. Camera 12. pipette 13. rubber gloves 14. ice cube container

= __**<span style="color: rgb(62, 218, 94)">Procedure: **__ =
 * 1) <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">Background information was researched on Flat Rock Brook about the environment and macro invertebrates.
 * 2) <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">Tools were borrowed for conducting the experiment efficiently.
 * 3) <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">Bottles, Tweezers and nets were the first materials used.
 * 4) <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">Arranged an appointment with Flat Rock Brook Ranger.
 * 5) <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">Field research was conducted at Flat Rock Brook, which included collecting macro invertebrates using the nets.
 * 6) <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">Went to several ponds, one near the entrance (Quary pond) and attempted to locate macro invertebrates.
 * 7) <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">After the visit to Quary pond, the decision was made to collect macro invertebrates from the brook.
 * 8) <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">Macro invertebrates were collected using a net, and stored in a jar full of pond water.
 * 9) <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">After the collection of macro invertebrates oxygen readings were taken to determine exactly what kind of condition the water is in.
 * 10) <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">Results were compiled and analyzed.

= __**<span style="color: rgb(32, 233, 33)">Observations: **__ = <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif">When we first went to flat rock brook in the winter we were not able to find any macro invertebrates because the invertebrates shield themselves in the winter and are not easily found. When we returned to flat rock brook in the spring to continue our field work, we first looked in the Quarry pond at the entrance of the nature center. When we did not find any macro invertebrates ranger Mark informed us that we would probably not find as many, if not any in the Quarry because it is a stagnant, man made pond. We then continued our field work by taking samples from the highest part of the brook near the bridge and there is where we found our first macro inertebrates. We realized that they were more abundant near, and under rocks and branches in the brook than in open water. We also realized that because there is physical pollution near McFaddon’s pond and the bridge which may cause the water quality to be less inhabitable for the invertebrates. At the brook we found 4 <span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif"> Cranefly Larva (F. Tipulidae).We then went to the south end of the brook with Ranger Mark to collect more samples. We found many macro invertebrates that were living under rocks. We found three snails and 2 Cranefly Larva (F. Tipulidae). We then took samples form the north end of the brook and we found two snails, one Aquatic Worm (Oligochaeta) and one Cranefly Larva (F. Tipulidae). Below is a link to our graph, comparing the number of macro invertebrates we found during the winter and spring. The numbers by the season stands for the number of tries. E.G.. spring 1 stands for our visit in the spring and our first try collecting macro invertebrates.





[1] [[#_ftnref2|[2][|http://www.roaringfork.org/images/other/aquaticinvertebratesheet.pdf]</span]]> [[#_ftnref3|[3][|http://www.roaringfork.org/images/other/aquaticinvertebratesheet.pdf]</span]]>

[|http:// www.dnr. state.md .us/stre ams/pubs /freshwa ter.html]
= __<span style="color: rgb(87, 234, 105)">Analysis: __ =

==== For our watershed experiment we collected macro invertebrates. The abundance of macro invertebrates, or lack thereof will prove that the body of water being tested is either healthy and can sustain life or is not a good habitat for life. Our observations proved that there are more invertebrates in running streams than in stagnant ponds. Our data shows that the south end of the brook had the most macro invertebrates. There were seven found in the south end of the brook. This proves that the south end of the brook is the healthiest, and the one that is most capable of sustaining life. The Quarry pond had no macro invertebrates, therefore is not a healthy habitat for macro invertebrates, although it does harbor other wildlife. Further researcher might indicate if macro invertebrates do not live in Quarry because it is manmade or because it is polluted. With the information we were able to collect, we were only able to determine that there were probably not any macro invertebrates in Quarry. Further research would need to be conducted to find out the reason behind this. There was experimental error in our field work when we came across McFaddon’s pond and weren’t able to collect samples in the ideal habitat for macro invertebrates. This was because the net was not long enough to reach down under the bridge. Another example of experimental error is the fact that we could not collect samples in the winter because macro invertebrates are not active in the winter. Ranger Mark informed us that collecting samples at McFaddons was not necessary because just as the Quarry Pond, it was stagnant and man made. We also realized that because McFaddon’s contained an abundance of physical pollution, such as plastic bottles and cans, that it probably would not harbor many invertebrates. We realized that the Cranefly Larva (F. Tipulidae) were moderately tolerant which means that they can live in moderately polluted areas. The aquatic snails are also moderately tolerant. The aquatic worm can live in polluted water. This, and the physical pollution around the brook, and McFaddon’s pond shows that the water in Flat Rock Brook is somewhat polluted. We know that the water is somewhat polluted because of the physical pollution in the water that we were able to see. This included trash and plastic water bottles. There may be other factors of pollution inside the water because all of the macro invertebrates that we found are at least somewhat tolerant to pollution. This means that they can survive in the polluted water. This proves that there may be a significant amount of pollution at Flat Rock. We did not find any sensitive macro invertebrates, so there is no indication that the water at Flat Rock is definitely healthy. ====

= __**<span style="color: rgb(91, 241, 127)">Conclusion: **__ = = = = Our conclusion followed our hypothesis for the most part. Our group was right about the number of macro invertebrates being higher in running water than in stagnant water. The idea that the number of macro invertebrates found in a body of water can show whether it is healthy or not is not completely right; not only does the number demonstrate the health of a body of water, but the type of macro invertebrate is also very important because if an animal is very sensitive to pollution and was able to survive in a body of water that would mean that the water is very healthy, however if an animal is very tolerant it would mean that the water may be polluted. The samples we collected were all moderately tolerant. This, and the physical pollution around the brook, and McFaddon’s pond shows that the water in Flat Rock Brook is somewhat polluted. = = = = __**<span style="color: rgb(31, 244, 44)">Discussion: **__ = By examining the first graph our group uploaded, the first piece of information that one might notice is that we never found any macro invertebrates in Quary pond. This is because the pond was manmade and stagnant. Macro invertebrates tend to be found in ponds naturally that are constructed by nature. It is also apparent that in the winter we did not find any macro invertebrates in the areas of water that we tested. After researching online, we discovered that this makes sense because during the cold months of the year, macro invertebrates tend to, in a way, hibernate. This means that they would bury themselves deeper in the water which makes it more difficult to find them. By looking at the first graph, one can also determine that in the first two times we visited Flat Rock during the spring time, there were quite a few more macro invertebrates in the north end of the brook then in the south end. However, during our last journey to Flat Rock, we found an equal amount of macro invertebrates in the north and south ends of the brook. Overall, this graph helps its viewers predict the possible future quantities of macro invertebrates, if the students follow the methods as our group. The graph also helped us arrive at our conclusion about the water quality at Flat Rock. As seen the second graph we uploaded, if you count the total number of macro invertebrates we found in each area of water through out our different visits, the numbers in the north and south end of the brook are quite similar. We found 28 total macro invertebrates in the south end and 24 in the north. Because these numbers are so close to each other, it is possible that perhaps the macro invertebrates are distributed equally between the two sides of the brook. We did not time ourselves while searching for the macro invertebrates, so we might have spent more time overall looking in the south end of the brook then in the north. This would explain why, overall, we found a slightly higher number of macro invertebrates in the south end than in the north. On the other hand, zero macro invertebrates were found at the Quary pond in total. This was discussed in the previous paragraph. The reason we didn’t find any there is because manmade ponds are not healthy habitats for these creatures.

=__ **<span style="color: rgb(54, 236, 75)">References/Bibliography: ** __=

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/streams/pubs/freshwater.html We used this site for background information about macro invertebrates. It explained what classifies a creature as a macro invertebrate and in what kind of habitats macro invertebrates can usually be found in.This site also gave us information about tolerant and sensitive macro invertebrates. [|http://www.epa.gov/bioiweb 1/html/benthosclean.html] This site also helped us with the identification of the macro invertebrates we found. It provided us with pictures of the creatures along with their names so that we could match the macro inverterbrates we found to the identification guide. http://www.roaringfork.org/images/other/aquaticinvertebratesheet.pdf This site was very helpful with the identification of macro invertebrates. We used this site to determine what kind of macro invertebrates we found. All of the macro invertebrates found were identified due to the help of the first guide and this one. http://www.ncsu.edu/sciencejunction/depot/experiments/water/lessons/macro/ This website gave us very good background information about macro invertebrates and where they are found. It also explains why macro invertebrates are good indicators of polluted and nonpolluted areas of water. This website was helpful when the group was trying to decide how to test water quality. It really helped us to narrow down our topic to macro invertebrates. http://www.waterwatch.org.au/publications/module3/macroinvertebrates.html This site was gave us a protocol for collecting macro invertebrates. It provided the group with instructions on how to conduct the experiment. It basically has a procedure that one can follow when looking for macro invertebrates in water. http://www.flatrockbrook.org/ This site really helped with the project because it provided information about the area in which the experiments were being conducted. It has a lot of information about the trails and wildlife found at Flat Rock Brook.

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