The unseen life in Indian Creek: a survey of aquatic biodiversity in a freshwater suburban stream
Location
CoLab
Start Date
3-5-2019 1:30 PM
End Date
3-5-2019 2:45 PM
Document Type
Poster
Description
A water sample was collected from a local creek to survey the local aquatic microorganismal biodiversity and to categorize these organisms as producers or consumers. Freshwater producers use sunlight and carbon dioxide to perform photosynthesis and serve as a food source for consumers in the ecosystem. Consumers are organisms that feed upon other organisms. The water sample was collected in January; the water was frozen at that time. It was collected from Indian Creek near 103rd and State Line in Kansas City, Missouri. The sampling site was adjacent to a bike/walking path and next to a picnic area. The water sample was observed under a microscope every two weeks, and the organisms found were observed and recorded to determine their classification. Producers such as Pediastrium, diatoms, Closterium, and Cosmarium were observed, and consumers such as amoebae, ciliophorans, and Paramecium were seen. Diversity indices provide qualitative measures of the representation of species within a population. Two such indices, the Shannon Equitability Index and the Shannon Diversity Index were used to calculate the species diversity, abundance and evenness of the species present. The most commonly observed producers and consumers were identified and observed patterns of biodiversity for producers and consumers were related back to the collection site characteristics and seasonal conditions leading up to time of collection.
Image
The unseen life in Indian Creek: a survey of aquatic biodiversity in a freshwater suburban stream
CoLab
A water sample was collected from a local creek to survey the local aquatic microorganismal biodiversity and to categorize these organisms as producers or consumers. Freshwater producers use sunlight and carbon dioxide to perform photosynthesis and serve as a food source for consumers in the ecosystem. Consumers are organisms that feed upon other organisms. The water sample was collected in January; the water was frozen at that time. It was collected from Indian Creek near 103rd and State Line in Kansas City, Missouri. The sampling site was adjacent to a bike/walking path and next to a picnic area. The water sample was observed under a microscope every two weeks, and the organisms found were observed and recorded to determine their classification. Producers such as Pediastrium, diatoms, Closterium, and Cosmarium were observed, and consumers such as amoebae, ciliophorans, and Paramecium were seen. Diversity indices provide qualitative measures of the representation of species within a population. Two such indices, the Shannon Equitability Index and the Shannon Diversity Index were used to calculate the species diversity, abundance and evenness of the species present. The most commonly observed producers and consumers were identified and observed patterns of biodiversity for producers and consumers were related back to the collection site characteristics and seasonal conditions leading up to time of collection.
Comments
The faculty supervisor for this project was Nancy Holcroft, Biology.