Proctor Pond Assessment
For our Proctor Pond Assessment our objective was to learn sampling and data collection methods that we were able to apply during our field work to assess the ecological "health" of the Proctor campus pond. The Proctor pond is a campus landmark, marking the center of campus. It is an important part of the overall health of the campus ecosystem and even the Merrimack River watershed. This hands on field work is the reason I came to Proctor and i was so excited to get my hands dirty.
photo by: A.j. Fox
To conduct our field work we were given some tools to collect our data. These tools were specifically for collecting biotic factors. While we collected abiotifc factors like what is living in the pond we patiently waited for Allen to stop by our spot to test abiotic factors like water temperature, dissolved oxygen, phospate, and ph. The tools we were given can be seen pictured below. We were given one net, a big white bucket , an eye dropper, a green sifter, two spoons with hole in it, and a seperation container for holding any organisms we catch, and last but not least a packet with identification cards so we can identify what we catch. . The basis for our field work is we use the net and swirl it near the bottom of the pond at our site five times and scoop up everything we collect. We then poured the contents into the bigwhite bucket which is filled with water. Using the small spoons, green sifter, and eye dropper, we looked for any living or moving things that we can seperate into our other container and take note of the type of organisms we catch and how many of them.
photo by: A.J. Fox
On the first day, Moday, October 16, at about 8:15 a.m. Me and Cooper bundled up for the frigid temperature outside to do our field work. we were assinged one of six spots on our Proctor Pond. Our site was site number 5, at the drainage in the corner of the pond near the math department entrance. We shivered through each step but made it out alive in the end.
photos by: A.J. Fox
Following the procedure I mentioned above Cooper scooped up the contents at our site and we searched for any signs of life. On our first day we came up with some interesting organisms. Pictured below are our findings :
photos by: A.J. Fox
Our site was not a particularly active site for organisms. I believe it might have to do with the drainage being right on top of where we are scooping but we only came up with three organisms after mutiple scoop tests. We were fotunate enough to catch one tad pole, and two mayfly nymphs. Alan made it to our site with a few minutes to spare. Our results for the water tests were:
Dissolved Oxygen: .2
Water Temperature: 60.8 degreesn fahrenheit
Turbidity: 0
Nitrate/Nitrite: 0
ph: 6
phosphate: not tested
The most suprising result we recieved was the dissolved oxygen which was extremely low. Alan explained the dissolved oxygen was so low because it was early in the morning and the sun was not completely out because it was cloudy. As a result their was not a lot of photosynthesis going on with the plants and this made the dissolved oxygen so low. It is also worth noting that as pictured above, the cold weather has brought on a lot of death among the pond plants. Lilly pads can be seen dying off and turning brown. Overall the first day was a success and we gathered tons of great data.
On the second day, We field tested at the same spot using the same methods. The day was October 17th at approximately 9:50a.m. The weather was much warmer than the first day and the sun was out and about. Right off the bat we had more luck with catching organisms. This time I got to scoop up in the pond. After I poured my scoop into the white bucket me and Coope got to work sifting through the plant matter and mud. Pictured below are our findings:
photos by: A.J. Fox
We were able to catch a midge larvae, another tad pole, a sowbug, and believe it or not, two fish. This proves the pond is probably a much more active ecosystem when it is warmer and the sun is out and about. When Allan stopped by he was very impressed with what we had caught and he helped us conduct the abiotic tests. Our result were:
Water Temperature: 54.6 degrees fahrenheit
Dissolved Oxygen: 1.2
Turbidity: 0
ph: 6
phosphate: 1/2
The dissolved oxygen is once again another important abiotic factor as it shows that because it ws more sunny and later in the day, the dissolved oxygen was much higer. This could be why we caught more organisms when doing our field work comapred to our first day when it was freezing outside and in the early morning.
Conclusion:Cooper and I found this experience to be very interesting because we did not know very much about our pond. We found that the pond truly has good biodiversity because of all of the species that we caught and saw but that activity among the pond ecosystem varies throughout the day and weather patterns.. I really enjoyed doing this field work because I like doing work outside of the classroom and having hands on learning experiences.I feel like most students would never get the opportunity to do something like this and I am very fortunate to participate in this pond study that has been on going for about 10 years. It makes me happy to be a part of something that can not only benifeit the future health of our Proctor Pond, but give insite into our constantly changing environment.
photo by: A.j. FoxTo conduct our field work we were given some tools to collect our data. These tools were specifically for collecting biotic factors. While we collected abiotifc factors like what is living in the pond we patiently waited for Allen to stop by our spot to test abiotic factors like water temperature, dissolved oxygen, phospate, and ph. The tools we were given can be seen pictured below. We were given one net, a big white bucket , an eye dropper, a green sifter, two spoons with hole in it, and a seperation container for holding any organisms we catch, and last but not least a packet with identification cards so we can identify what we catch. . The basis for our field work is we use the net and swirl it near the bottom of the pond at our site five times and scoop up everything we collect. We then poured the contents into the bigwhite bucket which is filled with water. Using the small spoons, green sifter, and eye dropper, we looked for any living or moving things that we can seperate into our other container and take note of the type of organisms we catch and how many of them.
photo by: A.J. FoxOn the first day, Moday, October 16, at about 8:15 a.m. Me and Cooper bundled up for the frigid temperature outside to do our field work. we were assinged one of six spots on our Proctor Pond. Our site was site number 5, at the drainage in the corner of the pond near the math department entrance. We shivered through each step but made it out alive in the end.
photos by: A.J. Fox
Following the procedure I mentioned above Cooper scooped up the contents at our site and we searched for any signs of life. On our first day we came up with some interesting organisms. Pictured below are our findings :
photos by: A.J. FoxOur site was not a particularly active site for organisms. I believe it might have to do with the drainage being right on top of where we are scooping but we only came up with three organisms after mutiple scoop tests. We were fotunate enough to catch one tad pole, and two mayfly nymphs. Alan made it to our site with a few minutes to spare. Our results for the water tests were:
Dissolved Oxygen: .2
Water Temperature: 60.8 degreesn fahrenheit
Turbidity: 0
Nitrate/Nitrite: 0
ph: 6
phosphate: not tested
The most suprising result we recieved was the dissolved oxygen which was extremely low. Alan explained the dissolved oxygen was so low because it was early in the morning and the sun was not completely out because it was cloudy. As a result their was not a lot of photosynthesis going on with the plants and this made the dissolved oxygen so low. It is also worth noting that as pictured above, the cold weather has brought on a lot of death among the pond plants. Lilly pads can be seen dying off and turning brown. Overall the first day was a success and we gathered tons of great data.
On the second day, We field tested at the same spot using the same methods. The day was October 17th at approximately 9:50a.m. The weather was much warmer than the first day and the sun was out and about. Right off the bat we had more luck with catching organisms. This time I got to scoop up in the pond. After I poured my scoop into the white bucket me and Coope got to work sifting through the plant matter and mud. Pictured below are our findings:
photos by: A.J. FoxWe were able to catch a midge larvae, another tad pole, a sowbug, and believe it or not, two fish. This proves the pond is probably a much more active ecosystem when it is warmer and the sun is out and about. When Allan stopped by he was very impressed with what we had caught and he helped us conduct the abiotic tests. Our result were:
Water Temperature: 54.6 degrees fahrenheit
Dissolved Oxygen: 1.2
Turbidity: 0
ph: 6
phosphate: 1/2
The dissolved oxygen is once again another important abiotic factor as it shows that because it ws more sunny and later in the day, the dissolved oxygen was much higer. This could be why we caught more organisms when doing our field work comapred to our first day when it was freezing outside and in the early morning.
Conclusion:Cooper and I found this experience to be very interesting because we did not know very much about our pond. We found that the pond truly has good biodiversity because of all of the species that we caught and saw but that activity among the pond ecosystem varies throughout the day and weather patterns.. I really enjoyed doing this field work because I like doing work outside of the classroom and having hands on learning experiences.I feel like most students would never get the opportunity to do something like this and I am very fortunate to participate in this pond study that has been on going for about 10 years. It makes me happy to be a part of something that can not only benifeit the future health of our Proctor Pond, but give insite into our constantly changing environment.
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