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OLC Pond Water
Year
DO
pH
2010
6.0
7.9
2011
6.5
8.6
A pond is an ecosystem composed of
biotic and abiotic factors.
Examples of abiotic factors in this
ecosystem are water, sunlight,
minerals, gases, dirt, and rock.
Biotic factors include procarotes
(bacteria), unicellular eucaryotes such
as euglena, diatoms, and paramecia,
and multicellular eucaryotes such as
algae, plants, fish, frogs, etc.
Biodiversity refers to different types of life
forms found in an ecosystem.
All living organisms found in a specifice
area are dependent on each other for ‘food’
or energy except for plants which use the
Sun’s energy to produce their own food.
This energy ‘flows’ through a food chain.
The ‘health’ of the water directly
affects the health of the organisms
that live in the water.
Testing the amount of dissolve
oxygen in the pond water and the pH
of the water can help determine the
ability of the water to sustain life.
Dissolved oxygen is the amount of
oxygen in the water. All living things
need oxygen for respiration.
If the amount of dissolved oxygen is out
of the normal range, it can negatively
effect the organisms that live in the
water.
pH refers to concentration of hydrogen
ions in the water.
pH is measured with a scale. 7 on the
scale is neutral. A number higher than 7
is indicates a ‘base’ and a number lower
than 7 indicates an ‘acid’.
Once again if the pH is out of the normal
range, the biotic factors that live in the
pond water can be adversely affected
and even die.
Human have an impact on ecosystems.
The impact can be positive or negative
depending on their actions.
Monitoring pH and dissolved oxygen
can help insure that water is able to
sustain life. (positive impact)
Pollution, fertilizer run-off, and not
cleaning up are ways that humans have
a negative impact on an ecosystem.