Environmental Stream Lab

Names of Group Members:

Time of day: 1st - _________ 2nd - __________

_____________________________________

Stream Location: (description)______________

_____________________________________

_______________________________________

_____________________________________

GPS Coordinates:

_____________________________________

Latitude: _______________________________

_____________________________________

Longitude: ______________________________

_____________________________________

Weather:

DAY 1:

DAY 2:

Air Temperature: ___________I_____________

Stream Direction: _____________________

Humidity: _________________I_____________
Wind Speed: _______________I_____________
Wind Direction: ____________ I____________

Step 1: Select a stream site

Step 2: Complete above information.
Step 3: Complete a stream profile on provided graph paper.
Step 4: Complete the following tests:

Stream
Temperature:
Temperature

Depth

Location One

Location Two

Location Three

Avg.
temperature

Depth

Trial One

Trial Two

Trial Three

Average of
trials

Shallow Area
Deep Area
Stream Velocity:

Turbidity: use
Chart
pH (number/best
guess): use Chart
Dissolved
Oxygen: test
Phosphates:
Nitrates:
Insects:

Color of
Indicator:

Digital Reading:

1.

Describe the riparian zone. ______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. The water that is flowing in this stream is from the __________________________________________ that forms this stream.
3. This stream is called a __________________________ environment. Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Name at least two limiting factors of this stream.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. This stream is a _________________________________ to the river that it flows into; where this stream flows into the river
is called its ________________________________________________________________________________ with the river.
6. The rich area of flora and fauna around the stream is called the __________________________________________________.
7. The relatively flat area around this stream is called the ____________________________, and streams such as this have more
curves, or ____________________________________.
8. The habitats found in streams depend upon the ________________________ of flowing water and the ___________________
of the channel.
9. If there were plants with roots in this type environment, what type might there be: submerged, emerging, or both? (circle one)
10. If a glassful of this water was examined, what type of microscopic organism may be found? __________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
11. What does this organism (answer #10) produce in an aquatic environment? ________________________________________
12. Why is water temperature a limiting factor for an aquatic ecosystem?
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
13. Why is stream velocity important? ________________________________________________________________________
14. What is the relationship of stream velocity and turbidity? _______________________________________________________
15. What are 2 pros and 2 cons of stream channelization?