Research Plan for Seneca Lake

Research Question: How will the levels of dissolved oxygen and PH affect the amount of macro-invertebrate in the water.

Independent Variable: The depth of the water and sample locations.

Dependent Variable: The levels of dissolved oxygen and PH.

      As mentioned in the packet, Seneca Lake is a water source for over 100,000 people (page 18). It is vital to monitor this water to avoid letting the water quality to succumb to unhealthy levels and possibly having adverse effects on the drinking population. Scientists study macroinvertebrates to detect a body of water's dissolved oxygen and PH levels to determine whether it is fit for human consumption and is able to support life in the water. So we will measure the population of macroinvertebrates to insure the water is fit for human consumption . If there are very little to no macroinvertebrates that means the water is not safe for human consumption and people will have to go elsewhere for water.

Methods: Keep everything exactly the same throughout and follow exact procedures in each sample location.

Hypothesis: I believe that medium levels of PH and dissolved oxygen will result in a healthy amount of macroinvertebrates.

Procedure: 1.) Go to sample location. Measure depth.
                  2.) Measure PH levels using the instructions on the guide to Seneca Lake. (page 20)
                  3.) Measure dissolved oxygen levels using instructions on guide to Seneca Lake.
                       (page 20)
                  4.) Measure macroinvertebrate population using instructions on guide to Seneca Lake
                       (page 27 and 28)
                  5.) Repeat at other sample locations.

Question: What weather is predicted for the trip on Thursday?


"How Biologists Study Streams." N.p., n.d. Web. <http://chamisa.freeshell.org/science.htm>.

"Biological Monitoring." U.S Government, n.d. Web. <http://www.dep.wv.gov/wwe/watershed/bio_fish/pages/bio_fish.aspx>.

Science on Seneca. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

Biomagnification Case Study

  Biomagnification of micro beads in fish is an increasing problem in the Great Lakes and Wisconsin. The beads are found in soaps and toothpaste. They find their way down the drain and aren't filtered out by the water treatment facilities because of its small size. It then finds its way into lakes, rivers, streams where it is mistaken for food by small fish and eaten. Then many of these little fish with these beads are eaten by larger fish. So the amount of plastic that larger fish has increases with every contaminated little fish it eats. Then an even larger fish eats that and the process is repeated until the food chain reaches the top predator who has a very a high level of micro bead contaminants. There are no clean up efforts being considered but Governor Scott Walker is eliminating them from Wisconsin completely. He signed legislature that phases out their manufacturing by 2018 and their sale by 2019.

"Wisconsin to Phase out Microplastics to Protect Great Lakes." Wisconsin to Phase out Microplastics to Protect Great Lakes. Wisconsin Gazette, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015. <http://www.wisconsingazette.com/wisconsin/wisconsin-to-phase-out-microplastics-to-protect-great-lakes.html>.                         

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