Seneca Lake Lab Report

Research Question: How does the location, temperature, water depth, and time of day effect the pH, chloride content and dissolved oxygen?

Independent: sample sites

Dependent: temperature and depth of the water, and location.

 

Introduction: Seneca Lake is approximately 3.7 miles at its widest point and 630 feet at the deepest point. As the packet says, the lake can get as warm as 72 degrees F and as cold as 38 degrees F. The lake contains several types of macroinvertebrate that live all over the lake such as stonefly larva, crayfish, and mayfly larva. Seneca Lake is the largest lake when it comes to total area and is also the deepest of all the Finger Lakes.

Hypothesis: I hypothesis that as the temperature and water depth increases, location changes, and time of day changes so does the pH, chloride content, and dissolved oxygen.

Method: Take a sample of water from each location. Test the pH, then make the water fixed so it is able to touch the air. After test

Procedures:
1. Go to a very shallow depth location on Seneca Lake.
2. Measure for temperature at this location.
3. First you need to make sure you have a firm grip on the nets rope to collect macroinvertebrate information correctly.
4. Next you MUST make sure the clasp at the bottom of the net is closed.
5. Lower the net over the side of the boat and walk along the side, back and forth, slowly.
6. Bring the net up and wash the plankton into a cup at the end of the net.

Now repeat 1 through 6 for the next two locations

Results:

 

Discussion/Evaluation: The tables show a slight constancy with all categories. The data collected between each sample aren't on a wide range, they are fairly close to each other. The chloride content in sample 2, between, a.m. and p.m. is 157 compared to the other samples that's a very large gap. there may be some error involved. The sampler might have put to many drops of chemicals, anything could have occurred.  

conclusion: My hypothesis was not proven due to the data we have collected. In fact what occurred was the opposite of what I predicted. As the temperature and water depth increases, location changes, and time of day changes; the pH, chloride content, and dissolved oxygen did not.


Citations:

 "Lake County Water Atlas." Seneca, Lake: Ecology. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.

"Does Water Level Affect Benthic Macro-invertebrates of a Marginal Lake in a Tropical River-reservoir Transition Zone?" Does Water Level Affect Benthic Macro-invertebrates of a Marginal Lake in a Tropical River-reservoir Transition Zone? N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015.

 "Seneca Lake." - A Guide to Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts in the Finger Lakes. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015