Procedures and Equipment List for the Pond Ecosystem Study

Name: ______

Procedures and Equipment List for the Pond Ecosystem Study

1.Arrival at the site and placement of groups. There are three stations around the pond with 4-5 groups at each station.

2.Through the course of the morning/afternoon your group is responsible for sketching, labelling, and identifying features of the pond. Use a full sheet of paper (8 1/2” x 11”) for this drawing. Be sure to include in your sketch a drawing of all features such as rocks, logs, overhanging trees, and islands, as well as where each plant type is found. To identify location of plants, draw an area around where they are found on your pond sketch and label the area with the plant species name.

3.Water’s Edge (Area immediately in front of bridge entrance to pond)

Equipment needed:

A) bucket

B) Jar labeled “Water’s Edge” ½ filled with alcohol

C) White bottomed tray (for observing organisms; only fill with 1” water at a time)

D) Pond organism and pond plant references (given by and returned to teacher at site)

E) Hand lens (for observing microorganisms in white tray)

To collect sample, use bottom of bucket to push aside any duckweed covering surface.

Fill bucket half way with water by scooping through water near edge.

Return to top of bank with bucket and begin pouring 1” at a time into white tray.

Look closely for swimming organisms.

Collect one of each organism and place in jar labelled “Water’s Edge”.

Identify and record abundance of each organism on data table.

Pour out contents of white container IN POND.

Continue pouring from bucket 1” at a time until bucket is empty.

Repeat procedure 2 more times.

Clean out white container and leave at site. (Take ID sheets with you until end.)

4.Deep Water (Area to left of bridge about half way through to small bridge)

Equipment needed:

A) Bucket

B) Jar labelled “Deep Water” ½ filled with alcohol

C) White bottomed tray (for observing organismes; only fill with 1” water at a time)

D) Dip net

E) Pond organism and pond plant references (given by and returned to teacher at site)

F) Hand lens (for observing microorganisms in white tray)

To collect sample, use back of dip net to push aside any duckweed covering surface.

Sweep dip net through water as far out as you can reach (try not to get too much algae in net).

Bring net to top of bank and flip net inside out into white bottomed tray.

Pour 1” water into tray to see organisms swimming around.

Look closely for swimming organisms.

Collect one of each organism and place in jar labelled “Deep Water”.

Identify and record abundance of each organism on data table.

Pour out contents of white container IN POND.

Dip for more organisms as many times as possible before switching stations.

Clean out white container and dip net and leave at site. (Take ID sheets with you until end.)

5.Pond Bottom (Area directly across the pond from “Waters Edge” and birdge entrance)

Equipment needed:

A) Bucket

B) Jar labelled “Bottom of Pond” ½ filled with alcohol

C) Metal Rake (provided by teacher)

D) Pond organism and pond plant references (given by and returned to teacher at site)

E) Hand lens (for observing microorganisms in white tray)

To collect sample, take rake to edge and scoop one clump of plants from the bottom.(NO MUD)

Put plants and loose material into bucket.

Pour 3” of water into bucket.

Look closely for swimming organisms.

Collect one of each organism and place in jar labelled “Pond Bottom”.

Identify and record abundance of each organism on data table in Pond Bottom column.

Pour out contents of bucket IN POND.

Scoop for more organisms as many times as possible before switching stations.

Clean out bucket and rake and leave at site. (Take ID sheets with you until end.)