Save Our Streams Surveys

This topic submitted by Elissa Erb, Lauren Allen, Natasha Sadoff, Gayatri Guhanarayan ( erbeb@muohio.edu ) on 12/14/03 .

Natural Systems 1 Syllabus---Western Program---Miami University

Figure 1. Dissolved Oxygen vs Location

Abstract

Our research question is: Do anthropogenic disturbances have an effect on stream life including abiotic and biotic factors? In our abiotic testing we included pH, dissolved oxygen, dissolved solids (electrical conductivity), temperature, and turbidity tests as well as the biotic factors such as the abundance of macro- invertebrates, and which are bioindicators in terms of stream health, according to the Save Our Stream surveying guides. We also gathered ten samples of algae from each site, dried them out, and measured them to find the biomass. We tested three different stream sites, a commercial, residential, and rural site. We hypothesized that the rural site would be the healthiest in terms of our abiotic amd biotic tests. Overall, we found that our hypothesis was correct in that the rural stream was the healthiest, according to our research and what we found. On a larger scale, is crucial that humans begin to understand and appreciate water not only as a resource but as an environment and habitat. Our project helps identify possible threats to the environment so that we may become aware of them and eventually help control them.

To see the rest of the project.... Click HERE to see our Project: SAVE OUR STREAMS SURVEYS COLLINS RUN and TRIBUTARIES, OXFORD OHIO

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