Running head: EFFECTS OF N AND P ENRINCHMENT ON WATER SAMPLES 1
The Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Enrichment on Water Samples from Encanto Lake and the Rio Salado River.
Phoenix College
EFFECTS OF N AND P ENRINCHMENT ON WATER SAMPLES 2
Abstract
The purpose of this is experiment is to more closely understand the effects of nutrient enrichment on samples of water from Encanto Park Lake and the Rio Salado River. More specifically the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, and nitrogen and phosphorus together were altered and the effects this had upon algal growth were then observed. The results indicated that an increase in nitrogen concentration showed minimal
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That is not to say we should give up. I believe the point Nixon is making is that our ecosystem is in a constant state of flux. If research is conducted based on attempting return to nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations to levels that were exhibited in the past, the research will only fail. The research into the causes and methods of correction must still occur, but realistic goal points should be set. Taking that into consideration, the best way to combat something like eutrophication is to first understand its causation. It is important to conduct research into the causes of eutrophication, is it higher concentrations of nitrogen that cause it, phosphorous, or a combination of both. In the following experiment I will look at the potential causes (nitrogen and phosphorous) of eutrophication in fresh water samples from two different sources. Does the degree of concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus added to fresh water samples from the Encanto Park Lake and Rio Salado River directly affect the rate of algal growth?
Materials and Methods The samples of unfiltered Rio Salado River water used in these experiments were collected from a site on the south bank of the river near S. 7th Ave. in Phoenix Arizona (see figure 1). The samples of water were collected by filling a three-gallon carboy by submerging it in the river. The carboy was then transported at ambient air temperature to the lab the same day it
Dissolved Oxygen, pH levels, Temperature Change, Fecal Coliform, BOD, Nitrate, Phosphates, Turbidity, and Total Solids were each tested in the stream at least one time. If more time and enough supplies were given, then certain tests should be done more than once. Temperature Changes should be tested every other month because it is quick and a change in temperature can affect the health of the organisms living in the stream and therefore the quality of the stream. Temperatures can also drastically change in a short amount of time and there is a large difference in water temperatures in summer and winter. Another test that should be done every other month is dissolved oxygen because it is related to the temperature of the water. Cooler waters have a greater capacity for dissolved oxygen than warmer waters. This test is important because due to human activity and industrial processes, can increase water temperature and therefore decrease the dissolved oxygen levels. Certain organisms living in the stream need a sufficient amount of dissolved oxygen to survive. Another test that should be done more often is the
Government agencies carefully monitor water quality and its effect on wetlands (Reference: Environment Protection Agency Wetland Report EPA 832-R-93-005). Of particular concern is the concentration of nitrogen in water draining from fertilized lands. Too much nitrogen can kill fish and wildlife. Twenty-eight samples of water were taken at random from a lake. The nitrogen concentration (milligrams of nitrogen per liter of water) was determined for each sample. The variable in this information is nitrogen concentration (mg nitrogen/l water).
Methodology: The water samples will be collected utilizing sterile plastic water bottles from Lake Tarpon. The location the samples will be collected from is Anderson Park, by the boat docks, located at 39669 U.S. 19, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. The water samples will be brought to Tarpon Springs High School to be tested, located at 1411 Gulf Rd, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. The phosphate, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen levels will be tested utilizing various LaMotte water testing kits,
We tested the dissolved oxygen, nitrates, phosphates, pH, and turbidity of the water from the Hudson River. To test the dissolved oxygen, we first dropped two Dissolved Oxygen TesTabs into the tub with water. Once the cap was on, we shook the tub for 4 minutes and then waited 5 additional minutes for a color to develop. We compared the color in the tub to the colors on the dissolved oxygen color chart to get the ppm of the dissolved oxygen.
What negative ecological effects might occur as a result of altering the phosphorus cycle? Include in your explanation how this effect could be measured. Potential impacts on things such as the algal community can be examined based on thermal preference as well as the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio. If there was additional phosphorous from the LSC, it would slightly decrease this ratio and may favor the growth of nitrogen-fixing blue-green algae.
Several species and organisms rely on water to survive. Some organisms use it as a source to drink and others uses water as their living environment. This experiment is to calculate many aspects of the water that surrounds Corpus Christi. Water is the key to life on Earth and thus why water is so important. According to the Lab Report water quality is the quality of water and if it is considered acceptable drinking water. Water quality consist of its chemical, physical and biological characteristics. These properties can be studied through pH testing, nitrogen testing, Phosphorous testing and many other useful ways. Water quality is important because it allows scientist to identify if the water is in a good condition to drink or sustain life overall and it dramatically effects how healthy it is. The objective of this lab was to experiment if the water quality around the Corpus Christi is a reliable source of water for organisms and to reach an understanding of the water quality of the water surrounding Corpus Christi.
Eutrophication is when there is too much nutrients in the water, as stated above. Eutrophication can come from farmers fertilizing their fields and some detergents. We tested for phosphates, salts or ester of phosphatidic acid. We also tested for nitrates, salts or ester of nitric acid. The more the phosphates and nitrates, the more eutrophication is present in the stream. We tested for dissolved oxygen, the amount of oxygen in the water, as well. We found found a very low level of phosphates with an average of 0.1 parts per million (ppm). We also found a very low level of nitrates with an average of 0.9 ppm. The dissolved oxygen level was 9.8 ppm. The higher the velocity of the water, the more dissolved oxygen it will contain. All of these measurements are very good and show that there is little or no eutrophication in the
The health of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay was found based on Biological (macroinvertebrates and wildlife) and Chemicals characteristics (pH, dissolved oxygen, phosphates, nitrates, etc.) as well as physical observations (amount of forested buffers, wetlands, etc.) Overall it was concluded that the health of the water was good to excellent. What was found was that many of the macroinvertebrates found in the water were sensitive or facultative, meaning the water quality was good enough for them to live in. Also, the level of ph, temperature, dissolved oxygen, phosphates, nitrates, and turbidity showed that the water quality was good. Finally, while we were canoeing down the Susquehanna River, observations were made on the land
Nowadays, people stay away from analyzing how their actions impact the environment producing long lasting consequences. The opportunity to act is right where anyone stands and the closest one to this area is known as the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Therefore, the amount of nutrients going into the Chesapeake Bay should be reduced since the use of fertilizers has increased dramatically over time causing water pollution and the death of many species.
Phosphorus, “...the primary algae-feeding nutrient in Lake Erie, and contributed to the largest algae bloom in history last year” (McCarty, para. 3), is a key factor in how
In the novel The Shading Purple, Alice Walker makes a feel of hardship, self-disclosure, and love through the distinct diary sections of a young lady developing into a lady. This story is described by Celie, a character uncertain about who she really is and who to trust to help her discover her direction. Her activities, at initially, appear to be weak trying to comprehend her own particular conditions, however as the story advances she starts to say and do things that are dissimilar to her. You start to scrutinize the correct way of Celie, in which she is named as ethically vague. The life and individuals that she is compelled to persist are the fundamental wellsprings of her being like this by any stretch of the imagination. In any case,
The purpose of this experiment is to understand the effects of nutrient enrichment and eutrophication, using samples of water from Rio Salado and Encanto Park. The samples will contain different concentration levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and nitrogen and phosphorous combined and the impact it has on algae growth. The results recorded showed that the nitrogen concentration levels had a little change, phosphorous levels had a higher change and phosphorous and nitrogen combined had a significantly higher change, resulting in higher algae growth. The results showed that phosphorous indeed is a limiting nutrient in algae growth, but to achieve the highest growth rate, both nitrogen and phosphorous need to be combined.
Environmental scanning can be viewed as a way of acquiring information about outside events that can aid organizations in first identifying potential trends, then interpreting them
The graph indicates that between 1980 and 1985 there was a rapid increase in the mean proportions of chlorophyll in phytoplankton and other algae micro organisms. 1986 brought about nutrient
At the start of the work important physico- chemical and biological parameters were measured to know the present scenario of the lake. Among physico- chemical parameters the water temperature, transparency, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, pH, nitrate and phosphate were taken into consideration while in biotic factors, the qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytoplankton, zooplankton and fishes was made. The water temperature varied from 10.0 0C in January, 2007 to 23.4 0C in June, 2011. The Secchy transparency ranged between 35.0 cm during January 2007 and 410 cm during December, 2011. The total dissolved solids varied between 160 mg/ l in April, 2007 and 536 mg/ l in June, 2008. The dissolved oxygen concentration at water surface varied from 3.0 mg/ l during January, 2007 to 12.5 mg/ l during May, 2009 throughout the experiment period. The total alkalinity of lake water was found between 102 mg/ l during January, 2008 and 240 mg/ l during June, 2011. The pH of lake water varied from 6.9 in April, 2008 to 9.8 July, 2011. The nitrate was found between 0.12 mg/l