MariusIBDP Posted May 27, 2012 Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 (edited) Hey, I'm a Biology SL student and I need to do my Groupg 4 project. I have absolutely no idea on how to do it, as our biology teacher is not very helpful. Our main topic is environment and our group's subtopic is water pollution. We have to investigate a stream that flows through the city. It is definitely polluted. It's area is <100m2 and it is a very weak stream. Could you help me to come up with a topic, as I'm not bio-savvy and have no idea how to come-up with the topic? I would EXTREMELY appreciate your help Edited May 27, 2012 by MariusIBDP Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiggsHunter Posted May 27, 2012 Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 From a biological (rather than chemical) perspective a sensitive indication of water pollution is the dissolved oxygen (DO). Sewage treatment facilities have an instrument for measuring this directly, and you might be able to borrow it to check some samples from the stream. Otherwise you can make the measurements in your school lab by the Winkler test. 1 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ageha Posted May 27, 2012 Report Share Posted May 27, 2012 From a biological (rather than chemical) perspective a sensitive indication of water pollution is the dissolved oxygen (DO). Sewage treatment facilities have an instrument for measuring this directly, and you might be able to borrow it to check some samples from the stream. Otherwise you can make the measurements in your school lab by the Winkler test.In addition to what HiggsHunter mentioned, taking water pollution from a biological perspective, you can determine the level of the pollution in the river using indicator species...Indicator species are species that require a certain environment to live, for example, some require highly oxygenated water and cannot be found in highly polluted water as other species now are present....I recommend that you check out the student sheet on this website for a list of these indicator species...http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-biology/monitoring-water-pollution-invertebrate-indicator-species... (Invertebrate indicators of pollution (596 KB))Also, if you choose to look at it from a Chemistry point of view, there is a whole topic (Option E) on Environemntal Chemistry and a subject dedicated to water pollution...It can also be useful for some background information.Hope this helps and good luck.... Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariusIBDP Posted May 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 Really thanks, HiggsHunter. I think I'll choose that topic. Ageha, thats a gppd topic, unfortunately, a person from my group has already chosen it :/ I was thinking about finding plant species, but unfortunately I didn't find any. Also, there is lack of time, as the presentation is due today Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiggsHunter Posted May 28, 2012 Report Share Posted May 28, 2012 Really thanks, HiggsHunter. I think I'll choose that topic.If your school lab doesn't have the reagents, the teacher can buy a kit of enough for 50 Winkler tests for less than $40:http://www.coleparme...kit/EW-53003-05Here's a description of the procedure:http://www.ecy.wa.go...al/4oxygen.htmlGood luck with your project! Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.