Field Trip Planner: How's the Water

4. How’s The Water?

OBJECTIVE:

(1) Show the requirements for accurate collection of data.

(2) Demonstrate temperature and pH as important abiotic factors.

TIME REQUIRED:

30 minutes to discuss, collect and record temperature and pH at selected location.

CONTENT MATTER:

The water temperature and water pH collected by students at various sites like Green Pond, Mouth of Bee Suck Hollow and the Old River Channel can be used to discuss the water habitat needs and life cycles of different aquatic organisms commonly found in the local bodies of water. Have each group of students that passes through the station collect temperature and pH data. Insure that the time the data is collected is recorded and that all teams collect the information in the same way. Students can then graph this information back in the classroom. The following information is condensed from the Project Globe Teachers Guide (http://globe.fsl.noaa.gov ). Water temperature is determined by the amount of solar energy absorbed by the water and the surrounding soil and air. Most aquatic plant life requires a water temperature greater than 20 C. Local fish species like bass, crappie, carp and catfish also require water of that temperature to flourish. pH is a measure of the acid content of water. Distilled water with no impurities has a pH of 7. The most alkaline (basic) solution is 14 (household bleach is about 13). The most acidic solution is 0. My coffee has a pH of about 4. Knowing the pH of a body of water is beneficial because it can help us understand its effect on plants and animals. Aquatic plants have a pH range of about 6.5 to 13. Bass and crappie require 6.5 to 9. Carp and catfish require 6 to 9. Snails, clams, and mussels have a range from 7 to 9. Based on the temperatures and pH ranges your students find, activities designed to predict the presence of different plants and aquatic animals may be used.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:

pH pen or pH paper and a Celsius thermometers (calibrated for accuracy). A small bucket with a rope on the handle to gather the water sample.