Biodiversity of Ponds Project Report:
1. Introduction :
Include what you are studying and how you are studying it. Written in paragraph form,
overview of the lab:
Example: Do all ponds in our area contain the same organisms? This study compares
the biodiversity of two local ponds: Brier Creek Marsh and Sterling Montessori Pond.
Samples of water from each pond were observed and the type and numbers of protists
and other microorganisms were recorded. The ponds were then compared for both the
number of each organism and the diversity of organisms observed in the samples.
2. Data: Include your observations (data table)
illustrations of organisms and/or descriptions
-- identify of organisms (don’t worry if you can’t ID everything, but get as many as you
can and group the rest as “unknowns”)
-- record numbers of each type of organism found
--any other information, such as what the organism appears to eat, or how it moves
-- evidence of responses to stimuli, does it avoid light or obstacles?
-- make sure your indicate which pond sample your observations came from
--please rewrite if they are messy from the lab, most data tables start off messy as you
take down notes as you go, but a completed lab report should have a final “clean”
version
-- This part does not actually have to be a table, you can simply draw organisms and list
observations for each underneath it
-- Choose at least 4 organisms that you have good counts for and create a graph that
compares the populations of the organisms in each of the ponds. (A bar graph for each
pond will probably work best)
Example of one observation:
This protist (paramecium) was swimming around some small pieces of trash in the Brier
Creek pond sample #3. It appears to be “eating” some of the plant pieces in the water.
Example of a graph:
3. Report conclusions.
-- Compare data with other classmates and make a list of generalizations about what
type of organisms are found in pond water
-- List organisms that are assumed to be producers and consumers and construct a
food web of the pond ecosystem
-- Answer the question: Which pond has the greatest biodiversity?
-- Use your data to defend the answer to this question
Example: Results from these observations indicate that Brier Creek Marsh has a
greater amount of Stentor type protists, while Sterling Montessori Pond has more
Paramecia. In comparison with other student observations, similar results were
obtained. However, a greater variety of protists and microorganisms were found in the
Sterling Montessori Pond (See the list of pond organisms in the data table), so based on
the samples used, it appears that the Sterling Montessori Pond has a greater
biodiversity. However, more samples may be needed to be sure of these results. The
Euglena and other protists with chlorophyll (green) such as algae are producers, since
they can make their own food. The amoeba, paramecium, and several others appear to
be consumers since they do not have any chlorophyll and “eat” parts of the material in
the pond water. An example of a pond water protist food web is below.