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![]() >Home Page >About this Guide >Table of Contents Contents 1. What you can do 2. Water 3. Ecology 4. Amphibians 5. Environmental Issues 6. Keystone species 7. Get Wet!- Field Study Ideas 8. The Zoo Experience 9. Frogs & Friends 10. Case Studies 11. Resources 12. Glossary |
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![]() Wetland Curriculum Resource
Unit 7. Get Wet! - Field Study Ideas 7.3. STREAM STUDY - PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND WATER QUALITY What You Do:
Why are we testing temperature? Temperature will affect the type of plants and animals that live in this wetland. It will influence the rate at which plants, particularly algae, grow and this may affect water quality. Temperature will affect the amount of oxygen and other chemicals in the water. What does turbidity tell us? Turbidity measures the amount of suspended matter in the water and therefore how far light can penetrate. A reading of less than a metre would indicate a lot of suspended matter and means there would be little oxygen and not a lot of life. A reading of 10+ metres (measured from a boat, of course!) would show a clear body of water with a high level of oxygen and therefore a high level of productivity. (Note: There is an exception to this - lakes affected by acid rain are very clear and have virtually no life.) Stream Flow (velocity) The rate of flow of a stream will affect the plants that can live there and will determine whether there are suitable nest areas for fish or amphibians that lay there eggs there. A fast-flowing stream generally has a higher level of oxygen than a slow moving stream. Click here to go back to the list of other activities in this unit.
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