Lab Report Sample

Introduction: The purpose of this research is to determine whether there has been a change in the overall water quality of the Lake Tarpon Basin, and if so, whether the quality has improved or worsened. The variables that will determine whether the quality has changed are: nutrients (phosphates and nitrates) and dissolved oxygen (DO). The expected changes are lower dissolved oxygen levels (from the already low levels), higher nitrogen levels (from the already high nitrogen levels), and the state qualifications still are not met for nutrients and dissolved oxygen (Levy, Flock, Burnes, Myers, Weed, River 2010). This topic relates to environmental management because the changes in water quality would be due to pollution, which relates to the question “How does human activity lead to the pollution of water stores?” The hypothesis that will be tested is that Lake Tarpon’s water quality will have worsened since the last measurements by Levy, Flock, Burnes, Myers, Weed, and Rivera in 2010.

Codi noticed an irregularity in the river when her biology students and herself tested the pH of the river and found that it was very acidic. The Environmental

Each person got to test either the phosphates, nitrates, dissolved oxygen, or the ph in the creek. Phosphates and nitrates are nutrients found in water due to fertilizers, decaying plants and bacteria. Dissolved oxygen is the amount of gaseous oxygen dissolved in the water. As we recorded our results, we discovered that the dissolved oxygen levels were very high, which is good because the higher amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, the healthier the creek is. The phosphates levels in the creek were all perfect zeros, which is great because having nutrients in the creek is not healthy. The nitrate levels were slightly higher, at 0.9. That is not bad at all, but it isn’t perfect, showing signs of pollution. The ph levels in the rocks were neutral, right at seven. If they were lower than 7, that would mean they have acids in them, and if they were higher than 7, they would have alkaline in them. Alkaline, or bases, neutralizes acids. The number of rocks that we found that neutralized acid was 65, and the number of rocks that did not neutralize acids were 29. This shows that about one-third of the rocks in the creek do not neutralize acids.

The first station we had was counting crustaceans and macroinvertebrates in the water. We found 113 critters that belonged in group 1 which means it is quality water. There were 2 organisms in group 2 which was somewhat quality water. Also, 16 critters in group 3 which means the water is very polluted. Overall, based on the critter

Either or both of those two things could have runoff from the land and drained into the creek. They are negative to the creek. Our results showed that the creek was containing little to no phosphate. The average number after 15 tests was just 0.3- zero being the best. Similarly, nitrate is a salt or ester, but it is made of nitric acid, containing the anion NO3. It is found in runoff from fertilized farms and treatment plants. The same process was used for testing nitrate levels. The average level out of eight tests was 0.8, which is a higher than phosphate but still relatively low. Both of those test results were very positive. It showed that the creek was low in eutrophication. Another chemical test is testing for dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen is microscopic bubbles of oxygen (O2) that are in the water and there for aquatic organisms to breathe in, which is necessary for almost all organisms. The testing process was similar to that of nitrate and phosphate tests. After testing the water, we got an average level of 11.4. More dissolved oxygen allows for more gaseous bubbles for organisms to breathe in. Therefore, a higher number is better. Twelve is the highest level of dissolved oxygen possible. Thus, since 11.4 is very close to 12, the dissolved oxygen level was very good. Dissolved oxygen can be changed in a number of ways. First, stagnant, or not moving, water has a much lower level of dissolved oxygen. Also, hotter water has less dissolved water. Lastly, chemicals like phosphate and nitrate can cause the growth of algae (which will be discussed in more detail in paragraph three), taking away oxygen. Additionally, the students tested for acid rain pollution. The tests falling under the acid rain category would test for acidity or alkalinity in water. We took a pH test, which is a level expressing the

The eutrophication test tested if the creek has too many nutrients. If we found high levels of phosphate and nitrate in the water, that would mean the creek has eutrophication, which is bad. Phosphate and nitrates are found in fertilizers, and some detergents. On average, we found out the creek had .1% phosphate in it which is good.We, also, found out that was .9% nitrate in the creek, which is also good. The dissolved oxygen test tested how much oxygen was in the water. We found a 9.8% average for dissolved oxygen, which determines the type and number of macroinvertebrates that may live there. In past years it was tested that the water was warmer. The velocity of the water could affect this. As a result, I conducted the river does not have eutrophication.

I infer that the water quality was affected more by other factors. The two sites with about the same amount of human activity were McKinney Falls State Park and Bulls Creek. On the other hand, Wild Basin swimming is not allowed. Our results showed that the order from greatest to least amount of nitrate and phosphorous concentration was Bulls Creek, McKinney Falls, and Wild Basin at the lowest. Hence, because Bulls Creek was had the high amounts of human activity and nitrate and phosphorous levels, this relates

The habitat survey; a visual assessment of the creek was conducted on the 3rd of May at 11:40 AM producing an overall habitat rating score of 29/40. However, the test was subjective and so results

Our Biological analysis is the very proof we have that the organisms living in Traver Creek live in

Water was collected using a Wan Dorn Bottle (Lab Manual). There were approximately 20 students that collected samples from the deepest part of the lake, and 20 students that collected samples from the shallowest part of the lake. The shallower portion of the lake was closest to a golf course and floating vegetation (Lab Manual). Five water collections were made at each location. From the deep part of the lake, each of the five samples was taken at 1m; from the shallower part of the lake, each of the five samples was taken at a 0.5m depth (Lab Manual). These water samples were collected into 5 separate bottles, each labeled one through five. Bottle one had water nearest the surface, whereas bottle five had water collected deeper in the lake. Bottles two through four were intermediate levels of one and five. We used the water in the bottles labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, to detect the temperature and test the pH of the water samples from the various depths of both locations. Water from the labeled bottles 1, 3, and 5 were put into bottles labeled N1, N3, and N5, and were brought back to the lab to analyze their nutrient content (Lab

My science fair topic is how does the location of water affect the pH and turbidity. I chose this topic because water pollution is a big problem because the water may no longer be drinkable. Thee hypothesis is, the water sample from my pool will have the least amount of turbidity and highest pH because we put chlorine in the water and it is cleaned often. The manipulated variable is the water samples. The responding variable is the water pH and turbidity. The manipulated variable would be the amount of water, turbidity tube, technique the pH kit and turbidity tube is used, pH kit, and environment. There isn’t very much fresh water and we need to conserve it, polluting the water just wastes it which doesn’t help. I want to learn how to measure how safe the water may be by testing pH and turbidity. I also wanted to learn about how pH affects water and what turbidity is. Water is very important for many organisms so everyone should help conserve.

In the Case of the University High School Creek, the water quality is excellent. However, the quality of water is not excellent in all cases. In some areas, the water is polluted, even by humans. One way that Humans can pollute water is by using certain farming chemicals (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) and putting too large amounts of these chemicals on crops. Excess chemicals can run off into the creeks, causing a buildup of nitrates in the water. (River Water Quality and Pollution, 1998) This will cause too much algae to grow, which will take up all of the dissolved oxygen in the water. This means that there will be less dissolved oxygen for organisms to breathe, causing them to die. As well as runoff, Humans can dump chemical waste into

The question that was investigated for this lab was, “What is the water quality of the U-High creek based on microinvertebrates found in the creek?” The purpose of this lab was to determine the water quality of the U-High creek. To determine water quality 3 samples were taken from the creek, a water, soil, and algae sample. These samples were taken by digging up soil, collecting the water, and gathering pieces of algae from the sides of rocks. Then the samples were analysed to find the number and types of microinvertebrates in the U-High creek. The initial prediction for this lab was that the U-High creek has a fair water quality.

The study took place on Adams Lake and Chapman Pond on the Ferrum College campus in Ferrum, Virginia from October to November, 2016. Adams Lake served as the study site without a riparian buffer zone, and Chapman Pond was the site with an established riparian buffer zone. The measurements on Adams Lake were taken in the section of the bank with the least amount of vegetation present. On Chapman Pond, the measurements were taken in the most heavily wooded section, in order to get an accurate estimate of the effects of an established riparian buffer zone. Total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, bacteria levels, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature were the parameters examined. The parameters were measured on two different occasions, and data was

The pH of the river is probably in a range from 6 to 8 because it is very clean and can be used a drinking water. The pond water is in a range from 7 to 10 because it does not look drinkable. The tank water is 4 to 6 because of the fish poop and pee in that water.