Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen is the measure of the amount of oxygen carried in a medium. It is needed to survive, or in other words cellular respiration. Warm water holds less oxygen than cold water. Moving water has a large amount of dissolved oxygen. To test this, first you need a pipette and vial. Then, suck up 25mL of tank water to put in the vial. Next, use the ampoule and place it in the vial to press down and break the glass tip. The water should turn blue and gently swirl around, then wait about 2 minutes. Now compare your results with the key colors. Less than 3mg/L will not support fish, while above 5mg/L is perfect. Meg and I had a result of 8mg/L. I think a pond would have a level of 12 because they have a lot of aquatic life there. A large river might be 14 or higher because moving water contains more dissolved oxygen.

Aquachek

            The five components of an Aquachek test are free chlorine, total chlorine, total hardness, total alkalinity, and pH level. The free chlorine is free ions that are active and total chlorine is chloramine plus free chlorine. These parts of the test check the level of chlorine in the water to determine if your fish will survive. Total hardness is related to the quantities of dissolved minerals the water contains. This is important because calcium, one of the major components of hard water, is important in spawning and raising fish. It is critical in the development of the egg, bone, and tissue. Total alkalinity is the ability of water to resist changes in pH. It is important to check that the level is sufficient for the tank inhabitants. The final component, pH, is tested to make sure that the water is neither acidic nor basic. It needs to be neutral for the most part in order for the fish and aquatic life to produce and live.

            Meg and I had results of 0ppm in free chlorine, 0ppm in total chlorine, a 250 in total hardness, a 240 in total alkalinity, and a 7.8 in pH. These results insure that our fish will survive and live well in our tank. It will not die because of too much chlorine, not enough nutrients or minerals, nor too acidic water. The fish tank we have is in great condition for aquatic life. 

Molly Fish

            My fish that I have in my tank is a Molly fish that is black with some white specks. Meg, my partner’s, fish is a white/silver Molly fish with black spots. It looks like a Dalmatian. They swim around the tank and are friendly with each other, except sometimes they nip at each other. They also chase each other around sometimes; I think they do this out of territorial issues, since they’re both males. Male mollies are more slender than females and have a slightly longer tail fin.

1.    A Dalmatian Molly fish is a hybrid color variation that can live in freshwater or saltwater aquariums.  
2.  The Mollies can handle a pH level of 7.5-8.5.   
3. The Molly fish temperament is peaceful.  
4. They are omnivores that are a threatened species.  
5. Mollies favorite food is algae. 
6. They are a community fish that lives well with others.
7. Yet, sometimes these guys will nip at each other’s fins.  
8. The Mollies setup a division of hierarchy.  
9. The male fish is the Alpha fish. 
10. The Mollies can follow the rule of 1 inch per gallon; therefore two mollies can live in a 10-gallon tank. 

Mollies are overall a great pet fish to have since they are easy to take care of and are mainly a community fish. 

Acid Rain

             Acid rain contains water droplets that are unusually acidic because of atmospheric pollution. This can be caused by the excessive amounts of sulfur and nitrogen released by cars or industrial ways. Acid rain is mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Once pollution has reached the air, then it is spread among vast areas with the wind. From there the pollution comes back to the surface as acid rain. The damage is can cause is tremendous. Acid rain can corrode buildings and kill trees. The trees growth is stunted and leaves them vulnerable to disease and insects. Soil can also loose nutrients and the acid kills microorganisms. Damage to forests is seen all over the world, especially in Eastern Europe. The main damage is falling directly in the water though because the acid can lower the pH level and runnoff to the fertile land surrounding the body of waters. This could lead to the killing of aquatic life and plants where nothing is left.

My Aquarium

            Meg and I have been taking care of an aquarium for about five weeks now. It is coming along just great and has maintained a balance. The plants I added are still alive to provide vegetation for the fish and organisms, along with producing oxygen for cellular respiration. The decorations are doing their job too by creating hiding spots for the fish. The tank water is clean and has no turbidity to it just yet. There aren’t many algae yet, but it has only been a couple of weeks. I have had two fish die, so now I have a black Molly fish. It should do well with the other Molly fish, but that did not happen. When I put them in the tank together, they started nipping at each other and chasing the other. As a day passed, they are doing better and don’t have many conflicts. However, are fish aren’t very bright and eat they fake algae on the rocks.

            Since the tank is doing well, so is the water. Each time we have tested our water it has remained precise and accurate. It hasn’t dropped or added much in levels. The temperature is 82 degrees Farhenheit. The last time we did ammonia and nitrate test was on September 20^th. The ammonia test was a 0ppm and a pure yellow color, while the nitrate was a 0ppm and a true yellow too. This means our tank is the perfect environment for our aquatic life and they will survive. There isn’t too much bacteria or chlorine in the water to kill them. In addition to these test, we did a dissolved oxygen test. Ours came out to be a level 8mg/l. This was excellent and means that is too is also a healthy environment to support aquatic life. Overall our tank has been excellent and we haven’t had to change anything.

           

Pollution Index Chart

            A pollution index card is made to tell the organic pollution levels in the algae you are testing. The chart can also be useful to detect the quality of the water. The benefits are that it can show if certain types of algae would be able to deal in different areas of water and how they react to pollute water. Also, it isn’t very hard to perform and it’s cheap. Some shortcomings are the fact that it doesn’t contain all the different types of algae; therefore pollution levels might be slightly off. In addition, it is not the most correct values and often need a microscope. The pollution index chart is not a definitive test for water quality because it is not all that accurate of tests. The higher the organic pollution, the lower the diversity. Pollute water has high populations that cause low diversity, so the higher you go up the less diversity there will be. 

Algae

There are a lot of algae in the world, but we just learn about fourteen of them. Algae can be good or bad in how they affect the environment. Polluted water has high populations and low diversity. Clean water has low populations with high diversity. In addition, algae can also have an odor to it. There are grassy, pig pen, and fishy odors. Algae can also be tolerant of organic pollution. Some examples of algae are Volvox, Anabaena, and Closterium. Volvox is a large sphere made up of 500 and more cells. It also has a fishy odor and reproduces daughter cells. Anabaena is bad algae that produce toxins that cause death of fish and livestock, along with causing a skin rash for humans. It looks like Mardi Gras beads that produce a pig pen odor. Closterium is algae in the shape of a crescent moon. It also contains gypsum crystals at the ends where it is clear. Each different type of algae is different in shape, size, and what it does. To see the algae's true shape, you must look through the microscope because it is a microscopic organism. Algae is unique and has a pollution index. A number less than 14 is low organic pollution, 15-19 is moderate, and greater than 20 is a high level. 

Microscopes

Microscopes can be tricky to use if you do not know the parts and what they do. I always had trouble focusing the high power objective lens, also known as the 40 objective. To start focusing this lens, first turn on the microscope and put it to the scanning lens (the shortest one). After that put the slide on and make sure the image is centered. Now focus on the image using the coarse adjustment knob to get a general picture. Then using the fine adjustment knob, turn it until the image in clear. Now you’re ready to move to the high power lens (the longest one). Re-focus the lens by only using the fine adjustment knob until it is clear. Do not touch the coarse adjustment knob or the slide could crack!

            To wet a mount slide, place a sample on the slide. Using an eyedropper put a drop of water on the sample. Now place the cover slip at a 45-degree angle and slowly lower it on the slide to create no air bubbles. If there is excess water, take a paper towel to the end of the cover slip to absorb the extra.

            If you want to stain a slide, first you must complete the steps of mounting a wet slide. Then take a piece of a paper towel and put it at the edge of the cover slip. This will act as a magnet and pull the color to it. Then using an eyedropper, place it at the other end of the cover slip and add a single drop. Watch it spread on the slide and if it does not cover the sample add another drop. Once you’ve finished looking at the sample, clean it cause it will stain the slide.

            This lab we did today has reminded me on how to use a microscope, what the parts are, and correctly viewing an image. It has made my skills better because I now know the proper way to mount an stain a slide, plus the correct way to focus an image. If I had a little more practice, I could become a pro with using microscopes.

Amphibians

            In the world there are many different species that belong to a certain group. We would call it classification of the various types of vertebrates. These groups would be mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and amphibians. Amphibians are unique creatures that start life out in the water, and then migrate to land. Every 9/10 amphibians are frogs and toads. It is also proven that amphibian’s skin help fight illnesses. Amphibians are predators, but also predation. They prefer food that is still alive or has a pulse. Toads walk and frogs jump to move. In addition, toads hibernate in the winter like bears and frogs only see black or white.

            Amphibians are reliant on water because their skin leaks due to their respiration. They breathe through their skin so it must stay moist. Also, amphibians need water to lay their eggs because they are not hard shells. Water is also a temporary habitat for them. The final reason is to cool their bodies off because they are ectothermic, meaning their temperature varies with its environment. Water is an important factor in an amphibian’s life, which is why the water should not be contaminated. The environment needs water to function and that is a fact. Bad water can cause amphibians to be harmed with diseases, not having a habitat to come to, not being able to respire, and eventually becoming extinct can harm the amphibians.

My Aquarium

           It has now been a little while since I have had my aquarium. All is good and there are no drastic changes so far, which is good for the fish. The filter is still working and blowing bubbles in the tank. This helps keep the water clean, meaning the water is clear with no particles in it. The plants are still alive, but are acting likes a floating plant with the leaves barely reaching the top. There are more algae on the decorations, especially the white rock. We finally got another Molly fish, since the other one died. It swims around the tank and is more active than the last fish. The new fish is also a Dalmatian Molly fish that has spots on it.

            We did the water quality tests and I would assume that the levels are around the same as it was on September 12. My hypothesis was correct and our tank was for the most part similar. The aquarium was good with a temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The ammonia level was a 0.25ppm as a greenish-yellow color. The nitrate was a 0ppm as a yellow color. We haven’t had to change anything to the aquarium so far. That means that our tank environment is healthy and acceptable for the fish to thrive in. They won’t die or have trouble with our aquarium. 

Watersheds

            A watershed is an area of land where water flows into a stream, river, lake, or ocean. When rain falls, it runs down the shaped land into streams or different bodies of water becoming part of the watershed. The divide, an imaginary line, is a high area of land drains water down to the two basins. It starts at the headwaters and flows to a mouth or lower basin. We live in the Elm Fork of the Trinity River watershed. We depend on water, so the quality of the watershed should be clean. The activities we do and our water resources affect the quality of our drinking water, recreational activities, and the health of plants or animals. There are many benefits for a community to have a watershed. This would include water filtration, storage, soil formation, nutrient cycling, recreation, and food. Overall watersheds have many benefits if it is kept clean and good quality water. 

Dragonfly

There are many different aquatic organisms and they all have unique qualities. For example, the common name is Dragonfly, while the scientific name is Anisoptera. The dragonfly has large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body. They have six legs, like any other insect, and cannot walk well. Dragonflies are among one of the fastest insects in the world. They are predators that eat small bugs, like mosquitoes. Dragonflies are unique in that they catch their prey in flight, and then cut it with their sharp mouth. Even though they are predators, they can also be subject to predation by lizards and more. Dragonflies are solitary, rather than social creatures. The males are very territorial, however they can be migratory. Also, they are excellent fliers.

            This interesting aquatic life can be found in marshes, lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands because their larvae are aquatic. Although they are found in many freshwater habitats, its primary environment is a pond. Dragonflies are generally insectivores, but they will eat anything they capture. There are no major threats to dragonflies, but there are some to its environment. Some threats are water pollution from agriculture, deforestation, and habitat loss.

            I chose the dragonfly because it was the first thing I saw when I searched the topic. I am glad I chose it though because now I know more about dragonflies and why I see a lot of them on the lake. 

My Aquarium

            My aquarium is doing well for the most part. The filter is running well with many bubbles blowing. There is no sign of cloudy water, just clear. Although that is still good, some things have changed. We have added a few things, but also taken away some. The tank now has some vegetation or plant life for three organisms we added. It is thriving and still alive, however my fish isn’t. I came to class the other day and my fish was dead. The Betta fish is alive, but found a different home. Yes, we don’t have any fish at the moment because we wanted to buy two fish that would live well together to survive. Other than that, the aquarium is still building up algae in small amounts each day.

            We also had a water quality test today. Ours went great because we had the expected and acceptable values. The temperature is right at the limit of about 82 degrees Fahrenheit, which is okay for the fish to live in. Next we performed the Nitrate test and got the result of 0ppm of a true yellow color. This means that our water is a perfect environment for the fish to be a part of. Then the Ammonia test, here we had a level of 0.25ppm showing as a greenish-yellow color. It is not a perfect result, but it is acceptable for the fish to be in a tank with this amount. With the quality of our water, the aquatic life will not be killed or harmed. Due to these results, we still did not have to change anything about our aquarium. 

Pond Water Organisms

            Organisms are abundant all over our environments no matter where you go! In class today we did a pond water search for organisms. We had to find three of our choice, so my group chose the ones we could pick up. This consists of the Backswimmer, Giant Water Bug, and the Mayfly Larva. Of course each one of these species has an interesting fact about them. The Backswimmer swims upside-down, due to this their body shape is similar to a boat with the upper surface of the body keel shaped. The Giant Water Bugs can be cannibalistic! The Mayfly Larva are excellent swimmers and are often seen darting through aquatic vegetation.

            The organisms were closely examined and identified. After that my partner and I took them back to our aquarium to put them in the tank. Once the three bugs were let into the aquarium, they immediately swam to the bottom of the tank. The Giant Water Bug went straight to the gravel, while the Mayfly Larva went quickly to the vegetation we have. As for the Backswimmer, it was with the Mayfly Larva, in the small amount of the vegetation we have. The organisms we chose are also extremely fast, so it’s hard to keep track of them.

Mayfly Larva

Backswimmer

Close up of Giant Water Bug

Careers

Science Teacher

Wildlife Biologist

Aquaculture

           
            There are many jobs to pursue when you are young, but what about the science occupations. Science can be broken into many subtopics, which leads to many jobs. So many different choices like, Wildlife Biologist, Wildlife Ecologist, Entomologist, Restoration Worker, Waste Water Manager, Aquaculture, or a Science Teacher. Today I will inform you of three; a Science Teacher, Wildlife Biologist, and Aquaculture.

            A Science teacher is someone who inspires kids to learn about science or nature. If no one informed us, we would not learn any of this information. They help us become knowledgeable about a certain topic. Honestly, without Science teachers we would be doomed. A person who is passionate about wildlife and animals could become a Wildlife Biologist. They study the behaviors of various water-loving animals. This includes the study of that organism’s structure, functioning, evolution, and interrelationships. If these biologists didn’t exist we wouldn’t know how animals behave in their natural state, how they react to things we do, or the evolution that occurs. Maybe the person is interested in Aquaculture though. Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms, or the growing of fish for humans to eat. It provides for many jobs and food to eat. Not only is it big for our economy, but it also helps better our environment by filtering the water. Thus making our water conditions better, which help the animal and plant life affected by it.

            All jobs have an impact on our environment and economy. Science in particular is a major part of the world that we just can’t ignore. We will always need to know about or environment and the nature. 

Ecological Succession

Ecological Succession is the gradual process of change in an ecosystem brought about by the progressive substitution of one community by another until stability is maintained. These three terms, oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic, are related to this change. Oligotrophic is relatively low in plant life nutrients and contains a plethora of oxygen in deeper parts of lakes. However, mesotrophic is a lake or pond with moderate amounts of dissolved nutrients. Eutrophic is different though, it has a dense plant population and rich in nutrients. These three terms are significant in freshwater ecology because as the lakes age, the ecology changes. The oligotrophic is the youngest stage or age, mesotrophic is middle aged, and eutrophic is the oldest stage of a body of water. They are important to learn and know because they can help ecologists determine the age of a body of water by determining if it is one of the three.

In my aquarium, it would be thought of as oligotrophic while Lake Lewisville would be considered mesotrophic. All bodies of water are different and change due to succession. It’s really beneficial if you could use these terms to classify your lake, pond, aquarium, etc.

Freshwater Ecology

Freshwater Ecology is a term used for the study of interrelationships between freshwater organisms and their natural environment. Not only is it the study of their environment, it also goes in depth about how the organism reacts and is affected by their habitat. By learning about plants and animals in the body of water as well as the system of the water itself, a scientist majoring in freshwater ecology can discover valuable information about the health and needs of a freshwater structure. The information that freshwater ecologists can collect is beneficial to conservation efforts and data that affect humans too.

This ecology study includes bodies of water, such as lakes, ponds, and rivers. Rivers and ponds might have similarities like freshwater, but there are differences too. A pond is a little circle of water that doesn’t lead to a bigger body of water, whereas a river does lead to the sea or ocean. A pond is part of the lentic system that has defined boundary lines and divided into three major zones. A river is part of the lotic system characterized by flowing water and currents. A pond is also defined by light penetrating to the bottom, whereas a river is based on the quickness of water. No matter what body of water it is, it’s still part of freshwater ecology.

Water Issue Presentations

            The water issue presentations were quite interesting. Some of them I learned facts that I did not know before this class. I learned that only one percent of water is available for human use. That is mind blowing because out of all the water on this Earth, only that tiny amount is for our usage. What amazed me though is that a toilet uses 6.5 gallons of water for one flush. Imagine 6.5 milk jugs being flushed down the toilet because that’s how much it uses. Those two facts were over the conservation of water and they said to be useful of the water we have, not waste it. I also learned that steak consists of more water than salad because 98 percent of water use is consumption. Besides those facts, I discovered that Marcus used 51,750 gallons of water a day last year. Not only does Marcus use that much water, but also they have 16 meters on campus for irrigation and domestic use.

            All the presentations had informational filled slides that were fascinating. Even though they were all great, I personally thought the zebra mussels was the best. I learned what a zebra mussel was, along with how they made it to lake Lewisville. It’s because of the Trinity River incase you were wondering. They also had photos of them having fun which made it worth paying attention. Besides, the presenters were funny as well.

            Looking back at my presentation with my partner, we could’ve done things differently. I think we did a good job of explaining how prescription drugs affect water and lake organisms. Not only did we do this, but we also gave background information on how the pharmaceuticals made their way to contaminate water. We met all the requirements I feel like, even with our pictures where we weren’t afraid to be dorks. I do feel like we could have done a better job in the final step of presenting the information though. We just read off a screen for the power point and I feel like we could’ve improved. That’s in the past though and I believe we still did well. 

Aquarium Progress

            My aquarium is doing well so far. It has only been a couple of days, less than a week, since we have set it up. The water is crystal clear with no particles or dirty water in it. Clean water also means a fantastic filter that is working well. I know it is working because the water runs out like it should and there are bubbles. There are no decorations floating in the water, they are in the gravel like they should. Along with all of that doing well, the gravel still looks clean from when we washed it.

Although it seems to look good, we did some tests just to make sure.  The temperature is not too hot or cold, 82 degrees Fahrenheit, is a nice environment for the aquatic life to live. Now it is time for the ammonia and nitrate tests to conclude the information needed in order to put the fish in the tank. My aquarium’s results were relatively close to the perfect results. The ammonia sample turned a yellow-green color, an acceptable result, to reach a 0.25ppm. Since this was an acceptable level, I did not have to make changes to the tank. Then came the nitrate test that I followed to the tee and my results reflected it. The final color was a yellow-orange at a level of 5ppm. The acceptable level was below 40ppm, so my group was well under. Next thing we did was a chlorine, hardness, alkalinity, and pH test. The results compared to the color key was; chlorine of 0ppm, hardness of 250ppm, alkalinity of 240ppm, and a pH of 7.8.

            All of the test results were acceptable; therefore we changed nothing about our tank. The perfect results meant that we could purchase our fish for the aquarium. The fish would be able to live in the tank water due to the levels being what they are supposed to be. There was no chlorine in the water so the fish would not die. Aquatic life would thrive in the aquarium because our water was the environment needed for it. Our results mean it will be easy for the fish to be acclimated to the tank. 

Ammonia and Nitrate Tests

In order to conduct an Ammonia test, first hook the thermometer onto the tank and record the temperature. Draw 5mm of water from the aquarium into a test tube. With the two Ammonia bottles, take the first bottle and add 8 drops to the test tube sample. Then take the second bottle and add 8 drops into the test tube sample as well. Put cap on the test tube, and gently swirl the mixture. Next let the solution sit for 5 minutes, then compare the water’s color to the color-coded sheet. The desired color is a yellow and .25ppm is acceptable. If the water is not up to standards, add more bacteria supplement to the aquarium.

            To complete a Nitrate test, first check the water temperature of the aquarium with a thermometer, and record. Then draw 5mm of water into a test tube from the aquarium. Using the two Nitrate bottles, take the first bottle and add 10 drops to the sample and swirl in the chemicals. Next, take the second bottle and shake it for 30 seconds, and then add 10 drops into the water sample. Swirl the mixture for a minute, and then compare the water’s color to the card. The color should be a yellow-orange color and have a level of 40 or below. If the water is not acceptable, add plants to the aquarium or clean the rocks.

            Ammonia can enter the aquarium through three different ways. The first way for ammonia to enter the water is through tap water that has been treated with chloramine. The second way is though the decomposition of organisms inside the aquarium causing a build up of proteins and ammonia. The third and final way that ammonia enters the aquarium is through the digestion of protein in fish, which is later released into the water through the gills. Ammonia is a toxin and therefore harmful to the fish if the levels are not kept at zero. The ammonia irritates the gills of the fish, causing the gills to thicken and clump together, resulting in less oxygen intake.

            One main cause of high nitrate levels in an aquarium is due to the overfeeding of fish. This is due to the fact that if the fish does not digest the food within ten minutes, the uneaten food will begin to decay at the bottom of the tank and release nitrate. Another cause of high nitrate is the nitrate already in the tap water while changing the water. The third increase in nitrate levels is the use of plant fertilizer, and finally the decay of organisms. With increase in nitrate levels, the fish will become sick and start to die. The fish will become sick because of stress and the immune system will become weaker overtime if the water is not changed.

Observation, Inferences, and Options

An observation is paying attention to your surroundings and recording what is seen. An inference is a conclusion reached by evidence and reasoning. An opinion is a personal view or judgment, not necessarily based on facts and knowledge.

In the fish tank, there is a school of five fish swimming throughout the tank. Three of the fish are a white and deep green color, while the other two fish are an orange and white color. An inference of the aquarium is that the plants in the tank release oxygen into the water for the fish to breathe. The fish seem content with their living situation due to the fact that they have enough plants to provide a significant amount of oxygen, the environment has enough decoration to swim around in, and they have each other for company.

A good observation starts with an initial hypothesis. After coming up with a hypothesis, concisely write down everything you see from changes in appearances, masses or percent yield, and things that go wrong. A good observation is important because it explains what happens, allowing the hypothesis to be answered. Without an observation, a scientific conclusion cannot be found.

Inferences and options have a place in science due to the fact that they are the bases to questions and hypothesis in science. Without having opinions on the outside world, questions like Sir Isaac Newton’s on gravity would never had been answered. Inferences give backing to opinions, like the apple falling from the tree in Newton’s experiment.