Exploring Freshwater Streams

Exploring Freshwater Streams

Alex Gfeller

April 12th, 2013

General Biology II

Nathanial Rieger

Introduction

In this study of exploring freshwater streams, we are collecting samples of water from two separate stream locations. One of the streams that we visited was Cherry Creek, which was located in Denver right across from the University of Colorado Denver Campus. This stream was looked very manmade, and was located under a concrete bridge with sidewalk surrounding it. We visited this creek on March 18th, 2013. The weather was sunny, but there were gusty winds which made for a chilly temperature. Bear Creek was located in Lakewood. The setting for this stream seemed a lot more natural being that fields and trees surrounded it. We visited this stream on April 1st, 2013. The weather was very cloudy because it rained that day, windy, and cold. While we were there, we examined bioindicators that are present at the streams, physical characteristics of the streams, and the water chemistry in the streams themselves. By examining the living components, also known as biotic, and the non-living components, termed abiotic, in these two ecosystems we determined the water quality of these two freshwater streams. We identified that the abiotic elements, that contribute to the health of the streams are related to the type and abundance of the microinvertebrates that are found in those environments. An ecosystem refers to all of the interacting parts of the physical and biological worlds. The abundance and behavior of the organisms that live there are affected by the abiotic factors such as the temperature and the pH. These factors also affect the distribution of the organisms that reside there. Within the creek we explored the pool, the riffle, and the midstream to collect our data. The pool water is a place with relatively deep but slow-moving water. A riffle is a shallow area with a faster flow. Mid-stream is the water that is equidistant from both banks, but the water was not too deep. We are testing a hypothesis that depending on the health of the creek, it will determine the types of bioindicators that are present in the creeks, and Bear Creek is healthier than Cherry Creek because it’s environmental surroundings are more natural and rural rather than surrounded by city people and concrete. If we have a healthy creek with cleaner freshwater, then the bioindicators that live in that ecosystem will be able to model that, and if Bear Creek is healthier than Cherry Creek, then it will have more bioindicators that reside in healthy water. The type and the abundance of bioindicators that reside in the