©MathScience Innovation Center Our Backyard Waterways : Water Quality and Bioindicators Presented by: Rachel Martin Day 2

Testing for Water Pollution pH Temperature Nitrates Phosphates Dissolved Oxygen Ammonia Conductivity or Total Dissolved Solids Fecal matter

pH Optimal range 6.5 to 8.5 for a diverse aquatic life Sudden changes in pH levels can indicate pollution Long-term studies are most effective

Dissolved Oxygen What factors contribute to changes in oxygen levels? Temperature: COLD vs. HOT Aeration: How does water speed impact oxygen levels? Photosynthesis: How do plants add and deplete oxygen levels? Organic Matter: As organisms decompose how does it affect oxygen levels?

Nitrates Used to build proteins in plants and animals Households and farms add nitrates to our waterways Optimal range: ppm

Phosphates Excess causes algae blooms Decrease dissolved oxygen Water temperatures rise Results in death of many organisms

Salinity Organisms living in estuaries must adapt to changing salinity levels Measured in ppt = 0 / oo What can cause changes in salinity?

Hydrometer Which has a higher density: fresh or salt water? Which hydrometer contains salt water? Make your own!!!

Temperature Fluctuations can cause harm to aquatic life Temperature affects the amount of dissolved oxygen Changes the rate of chemical and biological reactions

Temperature Air Temperature Amount of shade

Turbidity Turbidity- An optical property of water based on the amount of light reflected by suspended particles. Conductivity can be used to measure the cloudiness of the water.

Secchi Disk Photo: M.B. Elder

How do abiotic factors affect freshwater organisms?

Optimal Temperature Range OrganismTemp(°C) Trout5-20 Smallmouth Bass5-28 Caddisfly larvae10-25 Mosquito larvae10-25 Carp10-25 Catfish20-25 Temperature

How do abiotic factors affect freshwater organisms? Dissolved Oxygen Minimum DO Requirements OrganismDO (mg/l) Trout6.5 Smallmouth Bass6.5 Caddisfly larvae4.0 Carp2.0 Catfish2.5 Mosquito larvae1.0

How do abiotic factors affect freshwater organisms? pH Effects of pH on aquatic life pH___________Effect__________________ All fish, most frogs, insects absent Bacteria die. Detritus accumulates, locking up essential nutrients Optimal for most organisms Rapidly lethal to all species of fish

How do abiotic factors affect freshwater organisms? Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Naturally comes from rocks and soil If salts are high, dehydration occurs. Solids cause a laxative effect. Dissolved minerals can affect the pH, raising or lowering depending on the ions present.

How do abiotic factors affect freshwater organisms? Turbidity High turbidity decreases sunlight which decreases the rate of photosynthesis. Water that is highly turbid will warm faster, decreasing the dissolved oxygen available for respiration of all organisms.

Photo: M.B. Elder

Electro- fishing

©MathScience Innovation Center Aquatic Insects Crustaceans Mollusks Macroinvertebrates as Bioindicators What are they?

©MathScience Innovation Center Sensitive to Changes Cannot easily escape changes Collected very easily Macroinvertebrates as Bioindicators Why do we study them?

©MathScience Innovation Center JobExample Predatorsdragonfly, damselfly, beetles Filter feedersmussels, fly larvae, midge larvae Scraperssnails, mayfly larvae Collectorsworms, planarians Shreddersamphipods, caddisfly larvae Macroinvertebrates as Bioindicators What is their role?

©MathScience Innovation Center River Continuum Model

©MathScience Innovation Center Group A: Very sensitive to Environmental Stresses StonefliesMayfliesCaddisfliesDobsonfliesWater penny Group B: Somewhat sensitive to Environmental Stresses DragonfliesCranefliesDamselfliesCrayfishScuds Group C: Tolerant to Environmental Stresses Midges LeechesSnailsPouch SnailsBlackfly larva Macroinvertebrates as Bioindicators How do they indicate water quality?

©MathScience Innovation Center Acorn Naturalists

©MathScience Innovation Center Damselfly: Somewhat Sensitive

©MathScience Innovation Center Dragonfly: Somewhat sensitive

©MathScience Innovation Center Dobsonfly Wide range of tolerance

©MathScience Innovation Center Mayfly Very Sensitive

©MathScience Innovation Center Stonefly Very Sensitive

©MathScience Innovation Center Indicating Insects Use your resources (dichotomous keys, illustrations, books) to identify the macroinvertebrates from our sample stream. Goal: To determine the water quality of the stream.

©MathScience Innovation Center Preserving Specimens Having a classroom specimen collection serves as a good reference for students and allows for closer investigation under magnification. Specimens can be preserved in rubbing alcohol (60 – 70 %). Place in small glass vials, preferably with screw-top lids.

©MathScience Innovation Center Preserving Specimens To identify specimens: Use acid-free paper printed in 8 font with this information: –Name of organism –Name of body of water –Type of zone or microhabitat –Name or number of nearest road and distance from road (GPS point) –County or city, and state –Date specimens were collected –Name of the collector