Station: Water Quality
Water Quality Field Inquiry
Name__________________
Marine water designated uses and criteria for Washington State (WAC173-201A-210)
(ii) Excellent quality salmonid and other fish migration, rearing, and spawning;
clam, oyster, and mussel rearing and spawning; crustaceans and other shellfish (crabs, shrimp, crayfish,
scallops, etc.) rearing and spawning.
(crabs, shrimp, crayfish, scallops, etc.) rearing and spawning.
Passing for Excellent Water Quality for shellfish harvest and salmon:
Temperature
< or = to 16°C (60.8°F)
Dissolved oxygen
> or = to 6.0 mg/L (milligrams per liter)
pH units
7.0-8.5 (above 8.0 protects formation of shells in shellfish larvae).
Fecal coliform
Geometric mean of 14 colonies or less and not more than 10% of
bacteria
samples greater than 43 colonies.
Water Quality Station - Measure the water quality in the samples and record your data.
Sample/ Freshwater/
Date: Site ID: Marine
Time
Weather
Dissolve
Temp Specific
d
Fecal Coliform Pass
eratur Conductivit Salinity (parts Oxygen p Bacteria/100m (P)/Fai
e (◦C): y (mS/cm)C per thousand) (mg/L): H
L
l (F)
1. Water Temperature: - What is the temperature in Celsius? ________________
Based upon your measurement would this water body pass the temperature test for excellent water quality?
Yes or No (circle one)
2. Dissolved Oxygen - What is the dissolved oxygen content of this water body in milligrams per liter?
_____________
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Based upon your measurement would it pass the test for excellent marine water quality? Yes or
No (circle one)
3. pH - What is the pH of this water body?_____________________
Based upon your measurement, is the formation of shells in shellfish larvae protected? Yes or No (circle one)
pH- acidity or hydrogen ion content, scale:
4) Fecal bacteria - Based upon the number of colonies filtered from 100 mLs of water, would it be safe to
harvest shellfish? Yes or No (circle one).
Explain what happens to sea water and to shellfish when excess C02 is absorbed by oceans.
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pH Scale -
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Station: Amazing Algae
Algae Types and Scientific names
Red – Rhodophyta
Green – Chlorophyta
Brown – Phaeophyta
Draw a diagram of an algae sample that you found, label the structures.
Draw a diagram of plankton that you found, label the structures and type of plankton.
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Form and Function: Algae’s structure differs from that of terrestrial (land) plants. Name one major
difference in structure and explain how it works in the life cycle of the algae.
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Communities: Algae plays an important role in environmental communities. Evaluate this importance
and describe what role algae plays in the success of intertidal animal and plant communities.
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Food Connections: Many creatures in the intertidal eat algae as the primary part of their diet. List 2 and
describe what method they use to eat it.
1) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Recall: On Day 1 we discussed numerous ways algae can be utilized in everyday products. Name 2 of
these products and explain how they are used within them.
1) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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