their environment? Explain these adaptations.
Some of the special adaptations that I observed in some of the plants and animals that helped them to adapt to their environments are astounding. With animals, they are able to camouflage themselves into their surroundings, which is pretty neat. Also, I noticed that plants did this thing where some of them could expose themselves to light by having leaves to float to the top of the water. I never thought of that as an adaptation, but I guess it is.
3.) Did any organisms help to indicate the general health of the stream? If so, what were they and what did their presence tell you about the stream?
Some organisms in fact did help to indicate the general health of the stream. The Pollution Taxa One BMI, such as the twenty-nine mayflies I found will collecting BMI, indicated that the stream must lack pollution because of their intolerance to it.
Abiotic
1.) What does each test tell you about the overall health of the stream?
The dissolved oxygen tests told me about, of course, how dissolved oxygen is in the water of Fox Run, which made me certain that the water did not have hypoxia or anoxia. The pH tests told me how acidic or not acidic the water was, and determined the concentration of hydrogen in Fox Run. Since the water’s pH was 7, it allowed me to be relieved that the water was not acidic. The nitrate and phosphorus tests told me how many nutrients were in the stream. When too many nutrients are in a body of water, it can lead to eutrophication, which isn’t good. The turbidity tests told me how clear the water is, so if there were too many particles floating in the stream, that would be high turbidity, and if there were not a lot of particles floating in the stream, that would be low turbidity. The coliform bacteria tests told me the amount of fecal matter was located in the body of water. When the coliform bacteria level is high, that’s bad, but when it’s low, that’s good.
2.) What are some factors that influence each of these tests? (Chemical and Physical)
Some of the factors that influence each of these tests,dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrates, phosphates, turbidity, and coliform bacteria, are gonna be told below. The depth of the water could have influenced the D.O. test. The area where the pH was taken could have influenced that test. The fertilizer run-off could have influenced the nitrates and phosphates during the tests. The movement in the water caused by humans could have influenced the turbidity. And last, but not least, the motion of kicking the bed of the body of water could influence the coliform bacteria test. Surprise, surprise.
3.) Are your and the other groups’ results consistent with one another and what you might expect to find in a stream of this order? Explain.
My group’s and the other groups’ results are somewhat consistent with one another. The pH tests were pretty close to one another, although I’m not certain how others got 8 as their pH in the water. I mean, it’s water. Also, the other groups’ had the same D.O. and Coliform Bacteria as everyone else, so we were pretty consistent with that. Some how, our Turbidity and Nitrates were way off. Most had 20/20 for Turbidity, but one group got 0/0 and another got 100/100. And for Nitrates, most groups got 0/0 while one group got 5/0 and another 55/50. Phosphates just goes over my head because two groups got 1/1, one group 0/0, one group 2/1, and another 2/4. All in all, I guess we were pretty close.
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