INTRODUCTION

• What is a watershed?

• Video Powerpoint
  

• In what ways do humans use rely on watersheds?



• How do we impact watersheds?

• What is a healthy watershed?

• Maybe better to think of what is typical for one particular watershed and what is atypical.

• Can you determine what is atypical given one sample/test?....over time? …under different physical/mental conditions?

• Our project is to take “vital signs” of two aquatic environments to compare and investigate environmental health issues.

Diagram sites: Rhoads Ponds VS Mill Creek

• What are the “vital signs” of an environment?  ...of humans?
  

• Number of types – diversity richness
• Number of each type – abundance
• Change over time – typical/seasonal fluctuations vs atypical.

• What other information would you want to know about the two sites?

• Shapshot vs Camcorder b/c life spans of animals
• If animals are not there, say in winter, is it due to the health of the environment or just the requirements of the animal? How could you distinguish between the two scenarios?

ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE

First Visit (Oct. 6^th):

• Use Google Maps to show students the study sites
  

• Teams of 6 students will be divided up along the different responsibilities required
• 2 students will be Data Collectors and deploy Leaf Packs.
• 2 students will map the sites and collect GIS data.
• 2 students will be Macro-invertebrate Samplers.

• Teams will visit either Phoads Pond or Mill Creek, complete the initial sampling, map the site, deploy Leaf Packs and gather site data.

LUNCH.

• Return to the lab, where teams will report to each other on the different sites.

• Identify Macro-invertebrates from the water samples.