bronx river investigation ppt presentation

Bronx River Investigation

Living Environment October 22, 2010

INVESTIGATING

THE BRONX RIVER

The Urban Assembly Academy of History

and Citizenship for Young Men (UAAHC)

IntroductionIn this unit, we are studying The World Around Us, focusing on the Bronx River. The Bronx River is approximately 24 miles long and flows from Westchester County, from north to south through the Bronx, and empties into the East River. In the Bronx, the River separates the East Bronx from the West Bronx.

Our investigation was an observational study of the biotic and abiotic factors of the Bronx River ecosystem. We made observations and collected data at the Gun Hill Road Canoe Launch of the Bronx River. Using our data, we will design controlled laboratory experiments to investigate questions and issues that we uncover from analyzing the data that was collected.

LEARNING TARGETS

I CAN EXPLAIN HOW BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS ARE CONNECTED IN THE EVNIRONMENT

I CAN DEVELOP TESTABLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

THE DATA WE COLLECTEDWATER TESTING pH Dissolved Oxygen Temperature

Materials Used: Vernier Probes

AQUATIC MACROINVERTEBRATES Identification of macroinvertebrates in the

River Materials Used: Kick nets, waders,

macroinvertebrate identification guide

THE DATA WE COLLECTEDSOIL TESTING Soil Texture pH

Materials Used: Soil pH Test Kit

TERRESTRIAL MACROINVERTEBRATES Identification of macroinvertebrates in the soil

Materials Used: Spade, sweep nets, macroinvertebrate identification guides

THE DATA WE COLLECTED

WORM COUNT Raised worms from the soil Identified and counted worms

Materials Used: PVC quadrat, mustard slurry, worm identification guide.

OUR RESULTSTest Measurement

Water Temperature 11.5 °C

Dissolved Oxygen 7mg/L

River pH 7.2

Soil Quality Silt and sand

Soil pH 8.0

Macro Invertebrate Quantity

Flat Worm (2.5 cm – 15 cm) 5

Circular Worms (3 cm – 7.5 cm)

4

Centipede N/A

Slug N/A

Sowbug N/A

Round Worm N/A

Beetle N/A

Leaf Hopper N/A

WHAT’S NEXT…………Design controlled experiments to investigate

issues andquestions uncovered by our data:

Why are there more worms on one side of the river than the other?

What is the effect of changes in temperature, soil pH and soil quality on terrestrial macroorganisms?

What causes changes in the pH level of the river?

What other nutrients are important to river health?

QUESTIONS FOR FUTURE INVESTIGATION

What is the biodiversity of macroinvertebrates in the Bronx River? Look for macroinvertebrates at different locations

in the Bronx River What are ideal soil conditions for

macroinvertebrates around the Bronx River? Additional soil testing Test multiple locations

What is the general health of the Bronx River? Comparison of nutrient levels and evidence of

pollution to species abundance and biodiversity around the Bronx River.

THANK YOUWe would like to acknowledge and thank everyone who helped

to make this investigation a success!

Kim Notin, Cary Institute for Ecosystems Studies

Damian Griffin, Bronx River Alliance

Matthew Piazza, Columbia University Medical Center

Teresa Willis, Middle Passage Middle School

UAACH Staff: Ms. Hudson, Mr. Acevedo, Ms. Riviere

Our Living Environment Teacher: Ms. Comer