Most of our data supported the hypothesis. The average DO concentration is 8.3 ppm, which is between the optimal range of 8 – 12 ppm, suggesting that the aquatic organisms have a rather healthy life with abundant amount of oxygen provided to them. The average temperature is 20, which is rather cool considering that the river was exposed to sunlight and the actual temperature we felt on that day. But it is also reasonable, since the river was flowing swiftly due to the windy weather, which reduces the amount of sunlight it absorbed. Also there were trees near the river that provided shade for the river, and we got the sample from the shaded area. The average alkalinity level is 120.8 ppm, which exceeds 80 ppm, indicating a well-buffered stream. …show more content…
The abundant alkalinity contributes to the high average level of pH level of 8.3, which indicates the water was weakly basic.
Although this pH exceeds the optimal level (6.5-8), the difference of 0.3 is quite small and won’t exert serious negative impact on the health of the stream. The nitrate concentration of 1 is just at the edge of a healthy level, since a healthy stream will have a concentration less than 1. It also suggests that there might be fertilizers running into the stream or runoffs from nearby terrestrial areas. Such slightly high level of nitrates might overly enrich the aquatic plants at the bottom of the stream and thus exerts threats to the aquatic ecosystem. This is just an assumption for we didn’t do any lab about the environmental impact of high nitrate concentration. The phosphate concentration of 0.02 is almost undetectable, which meets our
expectation. Based on the data, we find the water quality of Housatonic River at Kent to be rather healthy. However, there are a few data turn out to be different than what we had expected. Since we did the lab near the river, the measurements could be difficult sometimes. For example, it’s impossible to measure the water temperature in the bucket, so we had to pull the thermometer out of the water and then read the data. Since there weren’t any flat tables available, we basically measured all the data with some degree of tilt. Also, we did the lab in a morning when the sunlight is less intensive and at a location where shade was available. All of these would alter the temperature and thus the level of DO concentration. Also, pollutants due to urbanization from other areas might influence the health of the river, which we didn’t really have a change to examine about. The pollutants might decrease along the way as it reaches Kent due to dilution. To increase accuracy of data, we will repeat the lab at different locations and times in the future. Moreover, as we know from the Wikipedia about Housatonic River that Birds and fish who live in and around the river contain significant levels of PCBs and present health risks. However, we didn’t test about PCBs, a type of organic chemical used in plastics, electrical equipment and etc. (Rest of River of the GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site", Retrieved 25 September 2015) In lack of such measurement, we can’t make conclusion that this river is as healthy as we measured.
The heavy metals found in the water being lead, tin, copper, and ammonia would then be highly probable. To fix this problem the answer is simple, “The answer, according to the agency and an outside expert, is twofold: treatment and dilution” (Pappas, 1). Treating the water is simple: the water needs the acidity to be reduced. After that is done, you must dilute the water (add water to the creek). However, the problems will never fully go away, but they will be greatly reduced.
The data we found supported our original water hypothesis. My group and I believed that adding ammonium nitrate into our eco-column would ultimately damage the ecosystems. The increase in levels of minerals from the aquatic ecosystem also indicates that the entire column was being destroyed. Through this experiment, I have learned that too much nutrients and minerals within an ecosystem can be extremely harmful to the wildlife. Throughout this experiment the water in our eco column began to turn yellow because of a surplus of nitrogen and phosphorous in the eco-column. In some of the eco-columns of the other groups in the classroom, they had eutrophication in the early stages of their eco-column which resulted in the death of many of their
The problem is that too much phosphates in water cause eutrophication. Eutrophication can cause harmful living conditions for the animals and plants that live in the water. It can also affect the organisms who lives in areas surrounding the water. Humans are affect when they consume this water. There is a United States maximum standard for phosphate in drinking water which is 3.0 mg/L.
16. Describe two evolutionary consequences if the process of crossing over in meiosis ceased to occur. If crossing over in meiosis ceased to occur there would be less genetic variations and no diversity among a species. This would essentially mean that a species would not be able to adapt to an issue that could arise in the future, meaning that its species could potentially become extinct due to climate change or other arising events.
Thyroid and metabolism hormones play a large role in the daily lives of all living species. Thyroid hormones regulate the metabolism and the metabolism is responsible for maintaining a specific range for the biochemical reactions that occur in the body (Martini 2014). The most important hormone for metabolic maintenance is thyroxine (T4). This hormone also plays a large role in body heat regulation. It is produced by the pituitary gland and secreted by the thyroid gland. The thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) must trigger the thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH) to release thyroid hormones to the thyroid gland. These hormones are under control of the hypothalamus, or main neural control center. Propylthiouracil (PTU) is a medication used to treat
This field report is for anyone that is interested in the effects of running water in the North Fork Cosumnes River California.
Light years away in a distant galaxy, there is a planet. Not a planet anything like our own, but much larger, approximately eleven times larger than our own making, it is closer in size to that of Jupiter. The name of this planet is Kronos. Since Kronos is so much larger than our Earth it has an atmosphere that is very close to the surface of the planet, this is true because the law of universal gravitation tells us that as the masses of two objects increase the distance between the two objects decreases. This atmosphere unlike Earth’s has mostly methane and nitrogen at around 46% methane and 52% nitrogen abundance. Since the atmosphere is so close to the surface the surface of Kronos is under a lot of pressure because
In Ap biology, we were handed a Campbell Textbook before the class began in order to complete the pre-modules. I consider the textbook to be the most beneficial resource that we had during this course, due to the amount of detail, examples, and images that it contained explaining each concepts in a reliable way. The power points that were made to summarize the main points from the textbook were helpful, however they were really long and made me miss what was actually important and take additional notes on filler information. Due to the long powerpoints, I felt implied to take long and details notes, which people struggled in this class, either taking too much or too less. After two units passed, we were taught how our notes should be, which will later help us in college. This strategy allowed me to understand the important information and identify the filler information, resulting in
Methodology: The experimenter used two ten gallon tanks. One tank will be used for the controlled group and the other tank will be used for the experimental group. Each tank will have two pounds of sand spread among the bottom of the tank along with rocks and artificial habitats to add nitrogen to the tanks. To add optimal living conditions for the oceanic life water filtration systems, temperature regulator, circulation systems, and a light to mimic the sun’s rays were added to each tank. At all times both tanks had a temperature of 75 degrees F. This experiment was done over a three month period. The first month was to allow the nitrogen cycle to occur. This allows the fish to be exposed to the water without having stress reactions due to unhealthy living conditions due to the nitrogen. Once the first month was complete six fish was added to both tanks. Two tangs, two damsels, and two clownfish. At first both tanks had a pH level of 8.2, ideal living conditions. After one week the experimental group was exposed to a pH level of 8.6. After two weeks it was raised to 9. Two weeks later it was raised to 9.3. The final raise was done two weeks after making the pH level 9.5. The final week of the experiment the pH lev...
About 80% of the State’s surveyed freshwater rivers and streams have good water quality that fully supports aquatic life uses, 17% have fair water quality that partially supports aquatic life uses, and 3% have poor water quality that does not support aquatic life uses. Ten percent of the surveyed rivers do not fully support swimming. The major sources of impairment are agriculture (responsible for 53% of the impaired river miles), urban runoff (responsible for 16%), and construction (responsible for 13%). These sources generate siltation, bacteria, and organic wastes that deplete disssolved opxygen.
Using our sample of the Danieley River, sample I, we tested for eight potential pollutants. Each cation, or pollutant was tested by adding a sample of the river water to other chemicals that would form a precipitate or solid when they reacted together. If a solid formed it would tell us that this pollutant was present in the Danieley River. In our sample we found that the ions of Ba2+, Ca2+, and K+ were present in the River Water. This narrowed down our search for who was polluting the River to three potential companies.
The world around us is composed of all acids and bases including the ones in air and water. As humans, we come into contacts with acids and bases each day. For example, vinegar, lemon juice and vitamin C are acids that are used everyday. Testing the pH is important at it determines whether the substance is a strong or weak acid/base. Indicators such as methyl orange, bromothymol blue and litmus are examples of indicators that are used to test the pH of swimming pools as acids from the human body and acid rain could change the pH in the pool. Also, they are used to test the pH of aquarium water and ensure that the pH doesn't exceed or fall below the pH ranges that fish can survive in. A typical fish can have better quality life in pH ranges between 7.0 and 8.0.
I am particularly surprised how the agricultural industry inflicts these problems on themselves, by excessive use of sewage systems and pollutants which find their way to local rivers [Fig 1.]. The trophic state (i.e. the natural nutrition factors) and biodiversity of lakes and rivers are greatly effected by the main nutrients involved, nitrates and phosphates. The transition occurs mainly between a mesotropic state, with an average biological productivity to a eutrophic state where there is a larger production of organisms due to high nutrient concentrations. Tropical reservoirs in particular often become eutrophic.
Classes I am doing well in is Biology. I think I am doing well in Biology class because I complete all my work and turn it in on time. I meet the biology teacher's expectations such as completing the warm-up and taking notes. I will continue doing well in this class by continuing to complete my work and participate more to verify things in her class that I may not understand. The Habit of Heart and Mind that I use in this class Care because I really like biology class
If there is not enough oxygen in the water, it may lead to the death of many organisms, reduction in their growth or even failure to survive. The pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline the water. It is defined as the negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration. According to Fondriest Environmental Inc, a well-known Fundamental Environmental organization, the pH scale goes from 0 to 14. As the scale of pH decreases, water becomes more acidic. Many chemical reactions inside aquatic organisms are necessary for survival and growth of organisms. At the extreme ends of the pH scale, (2 or 13) physical damage to gills, exoskeleton, fins, occurs. Changes in pH may alter the concentrations of other substances in water to a more toxic form. Examples: a decrease in pH (below 6) may increase the amount of mercury soluble in water. An increase in pH (above 8.5) enhances the conversion of nontoxic ammonia (ammonium ion) to a toxic form of ammonia (un-ionized ammonia). (Fondriest,