Year 9 Ecology Projects
Freshwater investigations throughout
Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire
Freshwater Ecology
- All Year 9 students spend six to seven weeks during the summer term studying an area of freshwater close to where they live.
- They generally work in pairs, preferably in the same Form, but produce individual projects about their freshwater site.
The main aims of the project are:
- To map out the area, take photographs, measure flow rates, and if possible, produce profiles of their site.
- To find out about the history of the site. Some boys are able to do research and find interesting old maps of their areas.
- To collect samples of invertebrates, like this water mite, which will be identified and counted.
- To find out about their lifestyles and life cycles.
The Trent Biotic Index
They are then able to assess the water quality and level of pollution of their site using the Trent Biotic Index. This will give us an estimate of pollution on a 1 to 15 scale, where 15 is lovely and clean, and 1 is unbelievably dirty!
The Biology Department collects all the information each year from its Year 9 students. We are able to map out the ponds, rivers, streams and lakes of our local area, and build up a picture of biodiversity and water pollution.
Sampling, Identifiction and Photography
Studying the ecology of a stream or pond can be absolutely fascinating! Boys become skilled in the use of microscopes and identification guides. They are able to produce slides like the one on the right of Daphnia, from just one drop of water. We encourage the students to take photographs of their sites and specimens, and to include them in their projects.
Many of the lads find that Sunday afternoon in a pair of wellies, armed with a pond net, can turn into a mini hunting expedition in the search of an elusive pond tiger or dragonfly nymph.
The Biology Pond outside lab B2 has gradually become overgrown with weeds and aquatic plants over the years. The pond is teaming with life, as many of the small specimens brought in by Year 9 are released into the water after identification lessons during the Ecology projects. Most specimens are returned back to their original sites after identification.
With the help of four members of the Eco-Schools team on Field Day, much of the overgrown material was removed.
They managed to clear the bushes away from the surrounding path,
and with the help of waders brought in by Mrs Torr, were able to get
right down to the roots of the reeds to remove them without damaging
the pond's liner.
Initial pond-dipping with large nets hauled in many invertebrates,
snails, a few frogs and a large fish. The pond has been re-filled with
water, and will soon be ready for a new set of Year 9 catches.
New Canadian pondweed plants should improve the oxygen levels.
