Pond Study
Background Information:
After viewing the DVD “The Pond” it can be said that all ponds share the following
characteristics: a high level of biodiversity, many living organisms, shallow
murky water, muddy bottoms, high amount of algae and other plants.
My Prediction
Based upon knowledge from “The Pond” DVD I expect to see many
microorganisms, aquatic insects, fish, and leeches since in the video it states that
ponds tend to have a high level of biodiversity and many living organisms.
Observations (Before Experiment)
Abiotic:
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) _____
Dissolved Carbon Dioxide (mg/L)
(<5 poor, 5-10 good, >10 excellent)
(Healthy range: <25)
Air Temperature (Co)
_____
(changes daily)
Water Temperature (Co)
______
______
(changes seasonally)
Conductivity (uS/cm3)
_____
(Healthy range: 150-500)
Turbidity (cm)
______
(Healthy range >80)
Acidity (pH)
_____
(Healthy range: 7-9pH)
Biotic:
Species
1
2
3
4
5
6
Population
of Species
How is this species adapted to this
environment?
Unknown 1
Unknown 2
Unknown 3
Biodiversity =
Species
Total Population =
Experiment
Dependent Variables: Biodiversity, Total population of species
Independent Variables: Acidity, Salt concentration
Control (Variables I will not change): Air temperature, Water
temperature, Dissolved oxygen, dissolved carbon dioxide
Variables
Control
Remains Constant
Dependent
Cannot change unless you change
Independent
I can change
Independent variables
e.g.
Quantity of HCl
Quantity of salt
Quantity of fertilizer
e.g.
Same sample
Quantity of HCl
e.g.
Volume of water
Number of organisms being killed
Experiment 1:
If I change the Acidity what will happen to the biodiversity and total
population of species
Experiment 2:
If I change the Salt Concentration what will happen to the
biodiversity and total population of species
Experiment 3:
If I change the Fertilizer Concentration what will happen to the
biodiversity and total population of species
Experiment 1:
If the Acidity is increased then the biodiversity and total population
of species will decrease
* I think this will happen because every species has a tolerance range
of conditions. When abiotic factors such as acidity are approaching
the tolerance range the species begin to experience stress and the
population begins to decrease.
Increase in volume of Hydrochloric acid
Decrease in population of species
Prediction
Experiment 2:
If the Salt concentration is increased then the biodiversity and total
population of species will decrease
* I think this will happen because every species has a tolerance range
of conditions. When abiotic factors such as acidity are approaching
the tolerance range the species begin to experience stress and the
population begins to decrease.
Increase in Salt Concentration
Decrease in population of species
Prediction
Experiment 3:
If the Fertilizer concentration is increased then the biodiversity and
total population of species will decrease
* I think this will happen because every species has a tolerance range
of conditions. When abiotic factors such as acidity are approaching
the tolerance range the species begin to experience stress and the
population begins to decrease.
Increase in Fertilizer Concentration
Decrease in population of species
Parts of Microscope:
Fill in the boxes with the correct name:
Draw pH scale representing acidity of HCl, Fertilizers & Salt.
My Experiment Set-Up
Experiment 1: I will change the: acidity by adding acid to the pond
water sample taken from the local pond
My Test Steps:
1. Get pond water sample
2. Make observations of biodiversity and total population of
species. Record results onto observation chart
3. Add 10 drops of Acid solution prepared by teacher (CAUTION:
Acid is CORROSIVE)
4. Make observations of biodiversity and total population of
species after the experiment.
Experiment 2: I will change the: salt concentration by adding salt to the
pond water sample taken from the local pond
My Test Steps:
1. Repeat same steps as experiment 1 except where it states acid,
a table spoon of salt will be added.
Control: I won’t change the variable by: keeping a pond water sample
that will not be changed in any way
Experiment 3: I will change the: fertilizer concentration by adding
fertilizer to the pond water sample taken from the local pond
My Test Steps:
1. Repeat same steps as experiment 1 except where it states acid, 50
milligrams of fertilizer will be added.
Control: I won’t change the variable by: keeping a pond water sample
that will not be changed in any way
Observations (After Experiment 1)HCl
Abiotic:
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
mg/L
Dissolved Carbon Dioxide (mg/L) 25 mg/L
(<5 poor, 5-10 good, >10 excellent)
Air Temperature (Co)
(Healthy range: <25)
16 0C
Water Temperature (Co)
(changes daily)
(changes seasonally)
Conductivity (uS/cm3)
uS/cm3
(Healthy range: 150-500)
Acidity (pH)
Turbidity (cm)
(Healthy range >80)
pH
(Healthy range: 7-9pH)
Biotic:
Species
1
2
3
Unknown 1
Unknown 2
Unknown 3
Biodiversity = Species
Population
of Species
Total Population =
o
C
Observations (After Experiment 2)salt
Abiotic:
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) mg/L
Dissolved Carbon Dioxide (mg/L)
(<5 poor, 5-10 good, >10 excellent)
(Healthy range: <25)
Air Temperature (Co)
16 0C
Water Temperature (Co)
(changes daily)
25 mg/L
o
C
(changes seasonally)
Conductivity (uS/cm3)
uS/cm3
(Healthy range: 150-500)
Turbidity (cm)
(Healthy range >80)
Acidity (pH)
(Healthy range: 7-9pH)
Biotic:
Species
1
2
3
Population
of Species
Unknown1
Unknown 2
Unknown 3
Biodiversity = Species
Total Population =
Observations (Experiment 3) fertilizer
Abiotic:
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
mg/L
Dissolved Carbon Dioxide (mg/L)
(<5 poor, 5-10 good, >10 excellent)
Air Temperature (Co)
16OC
Water Temperature (Co)
(changes daily)
(changes seasonally)
Conductivity (uS/cm3)
(Healthy range: 150-500)
uS/cm3
Turbidity (cm)
(Healthy range >80)
Acidity (pH)
(Healthy range: 7-9pH)
Biotic:
Species
1
2
3
25 mg/L
(Healthy range: <25)
Unknown 1
Unknown 2
Unknown 3
Biodiversity = Species
Population
of Species
Total Population =
o
C
Observations (Control) pond water.
Abiotic
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
Dissolved Carbon Dioxide (mg/L)
mg/L
(<5 poor, 5-10 good, >10 excellent)
Air Temperature (Co)
Water Temperature (Co)
16OC
(changes seasonally)
(changes daily)
Conductivity (uS/cm3)
uS/cm3
(Healthy range: 150-500)
Turbidity (cm)
(Healthy range >80)
Acidity (pH)
(Healthy range: 7-9pH)
Biotic:
Species
1 Unknown 1
2 Unknown 2
3 Unknown 3
Biodiversity= species
Population
Of species
Total population=
Microscope Observations (40 X Mag)
Draw 2 organisms that you found in the pond
Unknown 1:
Unknown 3:
Unknown 2:
25 mg/L
(Healthy range: <25)
C
0
Notes for Pond Study Lab Project
Key Terms: Quantitative, Qualitative, Acid Rain, Pollutants, Dependent,
Independent Variable, Biodiversity, pH
Qualitative vs. Quantitative:
Qualitative Observations: Observations that cannot be measured or are described better using
words rather than numbers
Quantitative Observations: Observations that can be measured or are more effectively
described using numbers
How Do Humans Affect Pond Life
Humans affect pond life by polluting local waterways through a variety of methods. The
following are some examples we will focus on:
1. Fertilizer
2. Acid Rain
3. Salt
Acid Rain
Acid rain occurs by both natural and human made processes. Natural processes include
erupting volcanoes, and rotting vegetation. When humans burn fossil fuels; carbon dioxide,
along with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released to the atmosphere.
These gases react with water and create acids. Acids change the pH of local ponds and soil.
pH scale
pH is a scale that rates how acidic or how basic a substance is. The more acidic
the more sour a substance is and the more basic the more bitter it is.
What is the pH of regular water?
Dependent vs. Independent Variables
The independent variable is the sample in an experiment that YOU will change.
The dependent variable is what changes during the experiment.
The control is what is kept the same to compare to.