1. Water Measurements In EcoMUVE you can measure seven abiotic factors of the pond: temperature, dissolved oxygen, phosphates, nitrates, turbidity, pH, and chlorophyll a. It is important to collect these measurements because these factors might affect and be affected by the organisms in the pond.

2. Temperature Temperature is a measure of how warm or cold the water is. Scientists measure temperature in degrees Celcius (°C). On the Celcius scale, water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C. For lakes and ponds in the Northeast US during the summer, average water temperature ranges from 15 to 27 °C (60 to 80 °F).

3. Dissolved Oxygen Oxygen is an important element that is needed by most organisms to survive. Oxygen molecules are part of the air. Oxygen molecules mixed into the water are called dissolved oxygen, or DO. D.O. is measured as the number of milligrams of oxygen per liter of water (mg/L). Measurements below 4mg/L indicate low D.O. Measurements from 4-8mg/L indicate medium D.O. Measurements above 8mg/L indicate high D.O.

4. Phosphates and Nitrates Phosphates (PO 4 ) and Nitrates (NO 4 ) are nutrients that plants absorb from water and soil. These nutrients help the plants grow. Phosphates and nitrates come from decaying material, from the waste-product of digestion in animals, and from some man-made chemicals. They are measured in milligrams per liter (mg/L). Nitrate levels are normally low. Less than 0.5mg/L is considered normal. Phosphate levels are normally very low. Less than 0.03 mg/L is considered normal.

5. Turbidity Turbidity measures how hard it is to see through the water. Turbidity might be caused by dirt mixed in the water or by microscopic plants floating in the water. If the turbidity is 0 - 30 NTU, the turbidity is low, and the water looks clear. If the turbidity is around 30 - 50 NTU, the turbidity is medium, and the water looks a little cloudy. If the turbidity is around 50 -100 NTU, the turbidity is high, and the water looks more cloudy.

6. pH Scientists use pH to measure how acidic or basic a liquid is. The pH scale has a range from 0 to 14. If the pH is between 0 and 7 then the liquid is an acid, with 0 being the most acidic. If the pH is between 7 and 14 then the liquid is a base, with 14 being the most basic. If the pH is in the middle, at 7, it's neutral.

7. Chlorophyll a Chlorophyll a is found in plants. It is a molecule that helps plants absorb sunlight. Some plants in the pond, like algae, are very small, so it would be hard to count them all. So another way to see how many plants are in the pond is to measure the amount of chlorophyll a there is. Readings between 10 - 40 micrograms/liter (μg/L) are typical.