Today's Lab

In today's lab it was interesting to see all the different organisms in the pond water. It was weird that Mrs. Wood and Ross put the leech on their arms! It was creepy to look up close at the leech and fish fly larva.

 

Free Day-Water Turbines

In Australia new forms of hydroelectric power are coming about. One of these is water turbines. These water turbines are placed in the ocean about 100 yards off the shore. They create energy by being pushed by the natural currents of the ocean. These water turbines show amazing prospects due to the fact that there is no way for them to stop producing energy since currents are always moving through the ocean. The turbines show better promise than wind turbines since the wind is not always guaranteed. Another great thing about these water turbines is that they do little to no harm to environment. They do not disrupt the animal life in Australia, nor to they produce any pollutants or emissions. Water turbines should be incorporated into the worlds energy program since they show nothing but good clean energy.

Volvox

Volvox is a colony of 500 to up to 50,000 cells and had two flagella. The volvox reproduces through daughter colonies. Some volvox colonies cause algae blooms in the summer, these blooms cause damage to fish gills. Most volvox colonies live in freshwater.

Aquarium

I learned that all sharks and rays can coexist in a tank. I learned that manatees and sea turtles can live in the same tank. I learned the different origins of several new fish. I learned that flashlight fish are nocturnal. I also learned that sea otters are the largest in the otter family. I loved seeing all the fish and seeing new species. I did not like not being able to see the octopus or cheetah.

Amphibians

Toads have dry and bumpy skin. They have poison glands behind their eyes. Toads do not hop, but walk. Frogs have slimy silky skin and leap great distances. Both have strong back legs and pulsate their mouths. They also both have acute hearing and can only see in black and white. Amphibians can tell change in the weather. When their is going to be rain, more amphibians are present, but when the habitat is unusually dry the amphibians go into hiding or find shelter. The decline in amphibian populations can be linked to the entering of a new predator, pollution, or the destruction of their habitats. Prevention of the extinction of these amphibians is to stop the destruction of their environments.

How to Assess a Pond

First you observe. You see if there are any dead plant or animals. Then for algae blooms or a film or foamy surface of the water. Then you examine the algae and insects under a microscope. You then identify it is good algae, or bad. Then you test the water quality. You can test temperature, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, or pH. After that you do chemical testing. You can test for mercury, foam, chlorine, soap, oil, or gas.

Watersheds

A watershed is an area of land in which water runs down rivers and streams to a large collection of water. Rivers make up my watershed, the Trinity River Watershed. It is important to monitor the water quality of our watershed so that we do not contaminate our water and can catch some pollutants before they hit open waters. Our benefits of our watershed is plenty if drinking water and a great irrigation system