1. The Relationship Between Fish, Plants and Water Turbidity
Hunter Moore, Shelby Chizek and Zachary Bradley

2. Research Project

3. Introduction Initial hypothesis Species rely on each other to keep
Water quality driving fish abundance
Species rely on each other to keep
a balance
What’s the issue?
Constructed wetlands
Why do we care?
Reserve water source

4. Study Site Ada Hayden Heritage Park Ames, IA 2 Wetland Complexes
6 individual constructed
wetlands

5. Methods Fyke Nets 1 Sample per wetland Set for approximately 24 hrs
Sampling period of 2 days

6. Turbidity Testing 2 separate Days 3 Samples in each wetland
1200 mm Turbidity Tube

7. Results We Thought… We Learned…
The turbidity was driving the number of fish in the wetland
We Learned…
The amount and type of fish were driving the turbidity

8. Over half were Bluegill A little under 9% were bottom feeding fish

9. R2= 0.04
P Value= 0.70
R2= 0.10
P Value= 0.55

10. Bottom Feeding Fish Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas)

11. Discussion
Could not find significant proof that water turbidity influenced fish diversity and abundance.
A correlation was present but was not strong enough to prove with confidence
Use other scholarly literature where our results did not give definite output

12. Through our minimal findings and sourced literature we concluded that fish were the actual drivers of turbidity.
Certain fish and their behaviour were the main contributor to this.

13. Furthermore, as we collected our data it became clear that the effects of fish stirring up sediments in the wetland had a variety of secondary effects.
These secondary effects went on to affect other ecosystem components

14. Conclusion Our initial predictions were incorrect
Fish were influencing the clarity of the water through feeding behaviour
This had an effect on other components of the wetland ecosystem.

15. Future Recommendations
More Fyke net Samples
Sampling in calmer weather periods
More turbidity sampling
Year round sampling
Time management

16. Teaching Activity

17. THE BIG IDEAS
Each different animal species including fish need certain habitats to survive in
In every ecosystem there is a different diversity of flora and fauna present

18. Preparation
Preparation of water samples was taken just before presentation and nets were set up the night before.

19. The Activity
We took students to a key wetland in our study (wetland 3) for ease of access and abundance of fish.
We introduced ourselves and told students the extent of the lessons activities

20. Teaching Activity Discussion
We utilised questions, diagrams, pictures, touch and data to engage students in our research
We all tied this learning experience back to our next generation teaching science standards.

21. Future recommendations
More theory before physical activity
Fewer fish teaching, more fish for playing
More time for the kids to play with the fish

22. Thank you!