BIOGRAPHY OF A RIVER

9-12 BIODIVERSITY= WATER QUALITYOBJECTIVESThe student will do the following:1. Learn to collect surface water samples.2. Determine the degree of pollution in a stream byusing indicator organisms and a pollution toleranceindex.BACKGROUND INFORMATIONDiverse natural ecosystems provide important ecological servicesincluding maintaining hydrological cycles, regulating climate,contributing to the processes of soil formation and maturation,storing, and recycling essential nutrients, absorbing, and breakingdown pollutants. They also provide sites for inspiration, tourism,recreation, and research.3-30SUBJECTS:Science (Biology, EnvironmentalScience)TIME:2 hoursfield trip + travel timeMATERIALS:each team will need:measuring tapea white enamel pancalculator (optional)notebook and pencilkick seine, screen, or netstudent sheetsIf samples are to be preserved,containers with 70% alcohol(ethyl or isopropyl) solution areneeded.For those concerned with the effects of chemicals on wildlife,species have been used as indicators of ambient environmentalconditions for many years; the canary in the coal mine is one of the most famous examples. In some cases,species can be used to indicate the biological effects of pollutants more accurately than predictions fromchemical analyses. For example, the larvae of mayflies, caddisflies, stone flies, and true flies have beenused to identify point sources of environmental hazards in streams and other wetlands. Earthworms, whichpass large amounts of soil through their digestive tracts, are excellent indicators of ground pollution. Bees,whose body hairs electrostatically attract dust particles and collect pollutants linked with their food, water,and even air, have become an early warning system at nuclear power plants, weapons factories, testinglaboratories, and solid waste dumps. Mussels, oysters, and fish are collected regularly as part of a NationalStatus and Trends Program established by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) along the USA coastline.Rivers are among the oldest and most used and abused natural features on Earth. The bedrock over whicha stream flows will add different chemicals to the water as the water wears it down. Storm water runoffbrings a variety of chemicals with it as it enters a river. Land use within the drainage area also impacts uponrivers. As people alter the landscape, they degrade river water. Further demands, such as water use for