ENVS2009 Practical 1(weeks 2 and 3) 2016 PDF

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Summary

second part of practical on microbiology in drinking water supplies....

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ENVS2009: Practical 1 (Weeks 2 and 3) Campus Catchment and Water Quality Assessment

The objective of this practical is to conduct an investigation of the creeks that run through either the Callaghan or Ourimbah campuses with a view to evaluating how catchment land use, channel and riparian zone characteristics, or wetlands, can influence water quality. Each practical group will develop at least one hypothesis related to water quality and then test that hypothesis by collecting basic water chemistry and physical habitat data. This exercise will also provide practice in physical habitat assessment and water quality measurement, in preparation for the Week 4 field excursion.

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Information to review prior to conducting the practical exercise: o Risk assessment overview (included at end of this document (pp 16-17) o Map of creek systems on Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses (pp 14-15) o Physical habitat assessment sheets/Water quality assessment sheets (pp 4-11; one form to be completed for each site sampled and submitted with the Practical exercise for assessment) o Practical exercise sheets - to be submitted for assessment (pp 12-13) o Documents and links available on ENVS2009 Blackboard page: Course MaterialsPracticalsPracticals 1 and 2Wetlands and Water Quality

1. Site selection, assessment and hypothesis development (Week 2) In order to complete this exercise, your practical group will need to scope out two potential sampling sites along the creek(s) on your campus. Your group will require four plastic sampling containers for collection of two water samples from each location. These samples should be clearly labelled (class, date, group name, site ID) such that they can be easily and accurately identified when retrieved from storage in Week 3. You will also need to conduct a physical habitat site assessment sheet at each sampling location. You will use the site information along with the documents and links available on the ENVS2009 Blackboard site to help you develop a hypothesis that you can test using water quality data you obtain from the sites via field measurements in Week 2 and the laboratory analysis of your collected samples from each site during the practical session in Week 3. Your hypothesis may involve comparing water quality parameters at sites above and below the wetland areas or it could relate to differences in the riparian zone or land use adjacent to the locations that you select to sample. It is important that your group complete the site assessments, in-situ water quality measurements and hypothesis development in Week 2, in readiness for final sample analysis in the Week 3 practical session.

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Group Hypothesis: A hypothesis is a statement about the potential relationship between two or more variables. In this exercise those variables are the characteristics of the riparian zone or landscape around the sampling sites you selected, or the wetland that exists between your two sampling sites (the independent variable), and the water quality parameters you choose to measure (the dependent variables). Use the scoping part of the exercise to assist you in formulating the hypothesis. For example, if your two sites differ in the amount of shading the water receives as a result of riparian vegetation, what differences might you expect in terms of temperature, dissolved oxygen or pH? How might the variables you measured differ between the inflow and outflow of the wetland? You do not necessarily need to measure all of the water chemistry variables that are available, but you should choose as many as you need to effectively assess your hypothesis. For the purposes of this exercise, the hypothesis should be written as a predictive statement and then some explanation for the basis of your prediction should be provided. The explanation should include the reasons why you chose to analyse the water quality variables that you selected. Your scoping study and physical habitat assessment should help you explain why you selected these variables. Example hypotheses: 

It is expected that levels of dissolved oxygen will be lower and temperature higher at site A than at site B due to………….

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It is expected that levels of turbidity and nutrients at site B will be greater than at site A as a result of……………

IMPORTANT: You must have your answers to the pre-lab questions and group hypothesis(es) (pp 12 and 13) checked by a demonstrator prior to leaving the lab in Week 2!! 2. Water sample analysis and data interpretation (Week 3) Using the pre-calibrated spectrophotometers available in the laboratory, analyse the water samples your group collected from each of the two sampling sites the week before, in order to determine the nitrate and/or orthophosphate concentrations. Written instructions on how to use the spectrophotometers will be provided in the laboratory. (The Week 3 session will also include an overview of the schedule and requirements for the field trip in the following week.) You should use any spare time available in the practical session to begin analysing and interpreting your data as this represents your only opportunity to consult with your demonstrators prior to submitting the exercise for assessment. Note: If you were conducting a formal site assessment, it would be necessary to collect at least three replicate samples from each site, or from multiple sample points (≥3) at each site, so that the water quality measurements obtained from the two sites could be statistically compared. As such, this exercise represents a descriptive study, rather than a quantitative study of differences between sites. 2

Items to be submitted upon completion of the practical (as there is no practical session during Week 4, your demonstrator will provide details on where to submit your completed exercise):    

Completed assessment cover sheet (Blank copies available on ENVS2009 Blackboard site) Completed Physical Habitat Site Assessment sheet and Water Quality Assessment sheets (each group member should turn in copies for each location visited) Completed practical exercise sheets Copy of site map with approximate locations of the group’s sampling site indicated (each group member should turn in a copy of the map with their assignment).

Note: While each group will work together to develop the physical site assessments and hypotheses, the pre-lab questions, site map and data interpretations must be your own individual work.

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ENVS2009 Practical 1 Campus Catchment and Water Quality Assessment Physical Habitat Assessment Sheet- Complete 1 form for each site visited All figures and tables from: Parsons, M., M. Thoms, and R. Norris. 2002. Australian River Assessment System: AusRivAS Physical Assessment Protocol, Monitoring River Health Initiative Technical Report No. 22, Commonwealth of Australia and University of Canberra, Canberra. Date:________________

Group Members:___________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________ Descriptive Site Location (Location of sampling site relative to campus landmarks, roads, etc- Include a general indication of the site location on the campus map provided): ________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

Latitude ………………...…......…. S

Longitude ……….….......……..… E

NB: Latitude & longitude are measured in degrees (), minutes (“) and seconds (‘).

**GPS Readings can be collected when you visit the site during the prac on Week 3

1. Channel and Bank Characteristics Channel shape Choose- One category only

Bank shapeChoose one category for each bank

Bank slopeChoose one category for each bank

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2. Riparian zone characteristics Riparian zone composition Approximate % Cover Trees (>10m in height) Trees (...