Student activities
Activity 2 Wetlands – Abiotic and biotic testing
This group activity is conducted at a wetland and allows students to experience field
testing. The resulting report will disscuss results and make conclusions about the health
of the wetland.
It is important to frequently test wetlands to ensure
they are healthy. All of these tests are going to be
conducted in the water. Abiotic testing is of non-living
things and biotic testing is of living organisms.
Before taking each sample make detailed
Biotic sampling
Macro-invertebrates are important in wetland
environments because they provide food for bigger
organisms but also work to cycle nutrients and can be
indicators of water quality.
observations of the area that your sample has
In groups of four, identify and count the number of
come from (e.g. plants, water colour, animals, etc).
macro-invertebrates in a sample of water from a wetland.
Experiment and graphing results
Students will be observing and then listing abiotic and
biotic factors in a wetland .
Equipment
•Waders
•Microscopes
•Nets
•Forceps
•Jars
•Eyedroppers
Abiotic testing
In the field
In groups of four, students will test the water in a
1. Using the net scoop through the water. Let the
wetland for its quality using four indicators of pH,
water run out of the net and place anything that
turbidity, electrical conductivity and temperature.
Using the student activity sheet students will
take samples of water from the wetland, measure
indicators and record results.
was scooped up into a jar, use water to wash it out
if necessary.
2. Do this in three other locations.
In the lab
1. Take your jars to your lab and using microscopes
start to identify what macro-invertebrates you have.
2. Use the forceps or eyedropper to remove plants
and to group similar organisms together
How to make a turbidity tube
3. Identify and count your groups
For the pH test, if an electronic
4. Record your results.
turbidity meter is unavailable you
will need to make one.
1. You will need a plastic tube that is
70 cm long.
bottom). Draw a secchi disk
on the bottom (see opposite).
centrimetre increments.
Secchi disk
measurement where the secchi disk
not become visible and convert this
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Compile class results (find an average for the
•
Discuss any errors/accuracy of results/limitations.
•
Determine a water quality index using the
following link: Monitoring the Quality of
4. Students will record the
using the NTU chart.
•
abiotic indicators).
2. One end is closed (this is the
3. Mark a scale along the tube in
When all your testing is completed:
Surfacewaters .
•
How would these results change if taken under
different climatic conditions?
•
How could you reduce sampling error?
As a group write a report on the condition of this
wetland based on your fieldwork.
Activity Sheet
Abiotic testing
Location
Name: _______________________________________________________________________________ Group No: ____________________
Date: __________________________________________________________ Site ID: __________________________________________
Site Observations
List all other abiotic factors you can observe that might be in this wetlands ecosystem:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Water quality results
Record your results in the table below from your experiments.
ABIOTIC
FACTOR
YOUR RESULTS
LOCATION 1
pH
LOCATION 2
pH
LOCATION 3
pH
pH
Turbidity
CM
NTUs
CM
NTUs
CM
NTUs
µS
QUALITY
µS
QUALITY
µS
QUALITY
Electrical
conductivity
(EC)
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Temperature
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°C
°C
°C
Sampling instructions
pH sampling instructions
Electrical conductivity (EC)
sampling instructions
pH is a measure of acidity or basicness
of water. We are testing pH because
Electrical conductivity (EC) is a measure
a wetland ecosystem needs a neutral
of the salt content of water.
water source to thrive.
Conduct the following:
Step 1: Take a sample of water from the wetland.
Conduct the following:
Step 1: Take a sample of water from the wetland.
Step 2: Use a pH meter to measure the pH.
Step 3: Record your result.
Step 4: Repeat in three different locations.
Turbidity sampling instructions
Step 2: Using an EC meter measure the conductivity
of the water.
Step 3: Use the table below to make a judgment
about the waters quality.
Step 4: Repeat in three different locations.
µS (micro Siemens)
Quality
0–100
Excellent (50 = rainfall)
500
Fair
solids in the water. These solids can
> 750
Poor (840 = sewage effluent)
stop light getting to plants and animals
1600
Upper limit for drinking
5000
Upper limit for crops
Turbidity is a measure of suspended
in the water affecting their growth.
Conduct the following:
Step 1: Take a sample of water from your wetland.
Temperature sampling instructions
Step 2: Using an electronic turbidity meter (or a made
Temperature can affect salinity;
one) slowly pour it into the tube.
oxygenation and can result in flora and
Step 3: Record the depth at which the secchi disk
fauna being unable to reproduce.
becomes invisible.
Step 4: Use the table below to convert the distance
of the Turbidity level.
Step 5: Repeat in three different locations.
Turbidity (NTU)
2.5
500
3.7
300
5.1
200
8.3
100
13.5
50
19
30
25
20
41.5
10
63
5
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Distance (cm)
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Conduct the following:
Step 1: Take a sample of water from the wetland.
Step 2: Using a thermometer or temperature meter
measure the temperature of the water.
Step 3: Record your results, use the following table
as a guide to your waters quality.
Step 4: Repeat in three different locations.
Degrees Celsius (oC)
Quality
0–9
Poor
10–14
Fair
15–25
Good
26–36
Fair
> 37
Poor