Results.The conclusions that can be made from this observational study can be drawn from the evidence of the indicator species present in each individual water sample.
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Indicator species are separated into three main categories. There are sensitive, moderately sensitive, and tolerant.
The sensitive indicators that would most likely be found are stone fly, caddisfly, crane fly, syrphus, and mayfly. These flies could be found in all stages of life including eggs, larvae, and fully developed. However in the experiment we found only larvae was discovered but due to the time of collection being the early spring this is an expected result.
The moderately sensitive microorganisms found consists of microscopic crustaceans and rotifers. There are also many types of protozoans, desmids, diatoms, and other bacteria. The most prominent indicator of this experiment were the microscopic crustaceans. The species of Bosmina, Eubranchipus, Alonella, Chydorus. The second most prominent indicator were the types of diatoms and the species found were Melosira and Synedra.
The tolerant organisms consisted of all plant materials, forms of red, blue-green, and green algae. The non-plant microorganisms that are most tolerant are smaller bacteria such as Frulustria and many species of roundworm and nematodes.
Ranking of Sample Water Quality:
Samples are ranked in accordance to indicator species and levels of sensitivity, such sample containing most sensitive organisms will rank higher and sample containing only tolerant organisms will be ranked lower.
Crabtree Pond was at the highest ranking because it contain all types of organisms examined in the study. The water had the features of murky green resulting from the high amount of biotic material. The water may not be the stereotypical “healthy drinking” but the proof of the high amount of life it can support the water is of good quality. The most prominent feature of this sample was the fly larvae found no other sample contain the crane fly and syrphus fly larvae. The other factors on this water sample could have been the location from it being on farm which could mean agricultural runoff. It also it located far away from forms of standard industrial pollution. Ten Mile Creek was the second highest ranking because it contain all organisms examined however it did not have the quantity that the pond contained. The prominment organisms found were microscopic crustaceans and smaller exoskeletons of fly larvae. This indicates that species of flies exist in the water but no could be found in the sample. The features of this water were clear with minuet smaller particles of plant material. Other factors are that this body of water runs along the road of a smaller town and could experience leaking from groundwater that could potential contain pollution from older countryside septic tanks.
Smith Run was ranked third because it just feel behind Ten Mile Creek in that it contain all organisms examined but no fly larvae. The most species of this creek were the microscopic crustaceans, desmids/ diatoms, and nematodes and roundworms. This sample consisted of a large amount of moderately sensitive and tolerant organisms. The location factor was that it also ran along the road which could cause runoff pollution. There was also a large of amount of abiotic pollution surrounding the shores of the stream which included many forms of plastics, glass, and paper.
The High School stream was ranked fourth because it contained a lesser amount of microorganisms. It types of organisms found in the stream consisted of primarily of plant material, algae, diatoms, desmids, protozoa, and nematodes. However, even though amount of non-plant life found the sample was not significant. The water features were very clear with minimal to no particulate matter in the sample. The stream was also comparatively smaller to all other bodies of water examined. It was a small, narrow stream that ran directly under a road. The shore was littered with small amounts of debris including plastics and glass.
The Monongahela River was ranked with the lowest water quality because it contain the least amount microorganisms. It contain the same amount of types of organisms has the High School stream however, the abundance of these organisms was far less. The sample extremely low amount of algae, diatoms, desmids, and protozoans. The only significant amount of life found were plant material and nematodes and roundworms. All of these types in this sample consisted of tolerant types. There were also small particles found in sample under microscope that were found. They were not plant or animal matter and did not look similar sediments or other particulate matter. The substance found could be microplastics that are polluted into water from industry and surrounding city. The location could have a large role on the amount of pollution as it is the third large river runs through Pittsburgh and many cities in southwestern Pennsylvania.
The sensitive indicators that would most likely be found are stone fly, caddisfly, crane fly, syrphus, and mayfly. These flies could be found in all stages of life including eggs, larvae, and fully developed. However in the experiment we found only larvae was discovered but due to the time of collection being the early spring this is an expected result.
The moderately sensitive microorganisms found consists of microscopic crustaceans and rotifers. There are also many types of protozoans, desmids, diatoms, and other bacteria. The most prominent indicator of this experiment were the microscopic crustaceans. The species of Bosmina, Eubranchipus, Alonella, Chydorus. The second most prominent indicator were the types of diatoms and the species found were Melosira and Synedra.
The tolerant organisms consisted of all plant materials, forms of red, blue-green, and green algae. The non-plant microorganisms that are most tolerant are smaller bacteria such as Frulustria and many species of roundworm and nematodes.
Ranking of Sample Water Quality:
- Crabtree Pond
- Ten Mile
- Smith Run
- High School Stream
- Monongahela River
Samples are ranked in accordance to indicator species and levels of sensitivity, such sample containing most sensitive organisms will rank higher and sample containing only tolerant organisms will be ranked lower.
Crabtree Pond was at the highest ranking because it contain all types of organisms examined in the study. The water had the features of murky green resulting from the high amount of biotic material. The water may not be the stereotypical “healthy drinking” but the proof of the high amount of life it can support the water is of good quality. The most prominent feature of this sample was the fly larvae found no other sample contain the crane fly and syrphus fly larvae. The other factors on this water sample could have been the location from it being on farm which could mean agricultural runoff. It also it located far away from forms of standard industrial pollution. Ten Mile Creek was the second highest ranking because it contain all organisms examined however it did not have the quantity that the pond contained. The prominment organisms found were microscopic crustaceans and smaller exoskeletons of fly larvae. This indicates that species of flies exist in the water but no could be found in the sample. The features of this water were clear with minuet smaller particles of plant material. Other factors are that this body of water runs along the road of a smaller town and could experience leaking from groundwater that could potential contain pollution from older countryside septic tanks.
Smith Run was ranked third because it just feel behind Ten Mile Creek in that it contain all organisms examined but no fly larvae. The most species of this creek were the microscopic crustaceans, desmids/ diatoms, and nematodes and roundworms. This sample consisted of a large amount of moderately sensitive and tolerant organisms. The location factor was that it also ran along the road which could cause runoff pollution. There was also a large of amount of abiotic pollution surrounding the shores of the stream which included many forms of plastics, glass, and paper.
The High School stream was ranked fourth because it contained a lesser amount of microorganisms. It types of organisms found in the stream consisted of primarily of plant material, algae, diatoms, desmids, protozoa, and nematodes. However, even though amount of non-plant life found the sample was not significant. The water features were very clear with minimal to no particulate matter in the sample. The stream was also comparatively smaller to all other bodies of water examined. It was a small, narrow stream that ran directly under a road. The shore was littered with small amounts of debris including plastics and glass.
The Monongahela River was ranked with the lowest water quality because it contain the least amount microorganisms. It contain the same amount of types of organisms has the High School stream however, the abundance of these organisms was far less. The sample extremely low amount of algae, diatoms, desmids, and protozoans. The only significant amount of life found were plant material and nematodes and roundworms. All of these types in this sample consisted of tolerant types. There were also small particles found in sample under microscope that were found. They were not plant or animal matter and did not look similar sediments or other particulate matter. The substance found could be microplastics that are polluted into water from industry and surrounding city. The location could have a large role on the amount of pollution as it is the third large river runs through Pittsburgh and many cities in southwestern Pennsylvania.