Jody...UR--- A Final Report and Results

My name is Jody Benet and I am a student in my final semester of an AS degree in Environmental Science at Daytona State College. My final Individual Research Project for my Aquatic Environmental class this semester is titled, Golf Courses....Good or Bad for Surface water Chemistry and more specifically my Scientific Question (SQ) I am attempting to answer is How do concentrations of total Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P) in golf courses (GC) and residential ponds (RP) compare to each other and to EPA guidelines?

So this became the topic of my semester project. I now have tested the surface water in a pond inside  the golf course and a water body near a residential community in order to compare the impacts that the years of chemical applications have done or not done to the surface water at the golf course and compare those results with the EPA Guidelines for N & P. My results where unexpected and seemed to only raise more questions.
First let me start with the results of an assignment regarding chlorophyll concentrations earlier in the semester in which I used the same pond at the GC. We were asked to collect a water sample from a water body using gloves and a 250ml Amber Nalgene Bottle and brought it back to the lab on campus filtering it, extracting the chlorophyll from the filter with an acetone solution and then analyzed their concentration with the Turner Design Fluorimeter. Here is the graph displaying the classes results.  As you can see by my graph, the bar labeled Jody's golf pond had the highest chlorophyll readings with a concentration of over 35 micro-grams per liter. Which converts to 0.035mg/L which will make comparisons easier later on. This led me to assume that the N & P concentrations would be high in this pond considering that those nutrients are required for stimulating chlorophyll growth, and high amounts of chlorophyll you would think would be an indicator of high nutrients wouldn't you? Well we shall see.
Now lets look at the results of my N & P sample analysis. HERE
Here was my surprise... the GC pond had not enough phosphorous or nitrogen to register on the Hach Colorimeter while the residential water sample did. Here are my comparison results so you can see it all together. 

 EPA GUIDELINES       GC Site             Residential 

     N =   0.52 mg/L          0.00mg/L          0.027mg/L 

     P =   0.01  mg/L          0.00mg/L          0.030mg/L

The Science sometimes only poses more questions, so now instead of having answers I have allot

more questions. One of the reasons for these low concentrations could be that the nutrients N & P

have been used up or absorbed by the aquatic organisms and have not been replenished by runoff 

from the GC at the time of sampling. Some of the ways I could begin to answer these questions

would be to change the  sample techniques to a long term study called a composite study which

would require multiple samples taken over a long period of time to see if and when the nutrients

appear in the water because they have to right?, at some point be in solution in order for the aquatic

organisms to become so numerous as to have that high of an chlorophyll reading. 

But all of this is pure speculation and if this project has taught me anything it is not assume 

anything.

Charlotte Grant, UR, - A Reply to the Questions!

Hello everyone! My research with my barnacles is going awesome. I've identified most of the species that were living on the settling plate and have gotten some awesome results. I had a student, Anna S, comment on one of my old posts with the following questions. A quick definition of a barnacle might help shed some light on what exactly kind of organism we're dealing with here. "Barnacles are encrusters, attaching themselves permanently to a hard substrate."

In regards to question 1

1. Hi Charlotte, I was wondering do any organisms eat barnacles, if so, what kind of organisms? Humans are actually a big predator to the barnacles. For example, the Goose Barnacle is a huge delicacy in Spain and Portugal. Doesn't look very appetizing. As for other predators, there are many fish that will eat the larvae stage of a barnacle. Crabs might also nibble on some barnacles. 

     2. Have you found out any new information about what kind of species grow on the settling plates, if yes, what kind? On the settling plate there were a variety of different colored barnacles. Looking at a brochure for invasive species, I noticed there were similarities to a "Green Mussel". They were first found in Tampa Bay, Florida, in 1999. You can currently find them throughout southeastern U.S. and especially in Indian River Lagoon. 

 

    3. Hello Charlotte, I was wondering, what are barnacle's common habitats like? Thanks! So barnacles like to attach themselves to anything that moves. Basically some examples are whales, boats, crabs, rocks, buoys, and even my little settling plate. Some species are considered parasitic, but they actually don't harm any of the animals they attach themselves to. Some animals might not even notice them. 

Thank you for your questions!!! 

Courtney, UR- Horseshoe Crab Research Update!

First off, I apologize for the delay in answering a few questions, I can only do my HSC surveys every two weeks with either a new moon or a full moon so I wanted to be able to add some updated research progress in order to answer some questions!

As far as my research goes, I have recently been out to three different sites that I will be including in my IRP. The first site, Smyrna Dunes Park (SDP), I have been to three different times with no luck on finding any, not even a dead HSC. My second site, Riverside Dr. (RD) in New Smyrna Beach has given me some luck! This is where I was able to assist in the tagging of the first HSC to be tagged in Volusia County! Since then I have been back two other times where I found 6 pairs the second trip and 8 pairs and two unattached males (UM), meaning the males were found alone and without a female, the third trip. I was also privileged to be able to assist Dr. Jane Brockmann, Biologist and the renown HSC expert, in tagging all 14 female HSC (8 pairs and 6 pairs), pretty cool! My third site, Canaveral National Seashore, also proved to be successful! On my first trip with Annie Morgan we found 6 pairs, and a few UM as well as many dead ones that I will not be including in my IRP data. I defiantly plan to visit this site a few more times! So far I am not finding any relationship between environmental factors and the number of HSC present but that's not necessarily a bad thing, just more data that we are learning about these mysterious creatures!

Measuring the Inter Ocular space

Now to answer some questions!
Is spawning the horseshoe crabs process of laying eggs?
Yes, spawning is the term used for the process in which the female HSC lays her eggs and the male externally fertilizes them.
What is an optic refractometer? How does it work?
An optic refractometer is a device in which you test the salinity content of a water sample, I collect a water sample in the field and bring it back to lab to test the salinity, you do this by putting a drop of water on the plate and looking through the lense in the direction of natural light you can then read the scale in parts per thousand (ppt) to get your salinity reading.
How do the tags work? Are they like some that can be tracked live by gps systems?
The tags place on the HSC have a tag number so when you see this horseshoe crab again you can collect the tag number and record when and where the HSC was sited. This is used by FWC to keep track of population numbers and as well as what genetic population it belongs too. When I assisted in the tagging of the HSC a genetic sample was taken for data records so they can know more about certain populations. There is no way of live tracking HSC with this, it is basically just a numbered tag.

Tagged Female

I'd like to know more about what you used to tag it and how:
To tag the HSC a small hole is put in the shell of the prosoma (head) of the HSC using a sharp pick and a plastic tag is put in place. From what I can see the tag is pretty sturdy and holds well. As mentioned above the tag has numbers on it and is used as a form of identification.
Is it hard for the crabs who do survive the bleeding process to get back into their natural habitat? Do they depend heavily on other shoe crabs, and therefore struggle when removed from that sort of community?
Not much is know as to exactly how much of the population is lost when released after bleeding but we do know that their behavior is much more lethargic after the bleeding process. So to answer the question, yes, it is hard for them to get back into their natural state and it takes them a few day which makes them vulnerable to predators as well as other environmental conditions. Also, No, HSC do not depend on other HSC and survive just fine when taken away, the only time HSC do get together is during spawning but other than that they do not rely on other HSC.




Charlotte Grant, UR, - Let's turn this puppy back around!

    So, for the past couple weeks I've been pondering on what to do my project on. I learned that a drive over to the Marine Discovery Center would take 3 hours round trip. Not something I can do with my spare time, which I have little of! With the help of Dr. Woodall, she helped suggest a project that has to do with my interests: organisms!!! Dr. Woodall owns two buoys that she's deployed in the Halifax Marina waters. These waters are a brackish type of environment which is perfect for all sorts of creatures like barnacles and crabs. Look at that growth for only 9 months!
   

This is one of the buoys!

Settling plate. 10x10cm

    My scientific question will be:
What are the types of species that grows on a settling plate in a brackish water marina over the time of 9 months?

A settling plate is a little 10x10 cm plate that is connected to the bottom of the buoy. It can be seen above left.

Here's a little sneak peak... 

Amanda Adams, IMES UR, Overdue answers to good questions...

1. Hello all. Thank you ladies for your questions. I now have answers: 
2. Angela Boney:  Unless you've already covered this in another post, I'd like to know what these alternative companies use. Also, is there a reason to use pesticides/chemicals/fertilizers on lawns other than it looking nice? There is no reason I can see that is beneficial to using pesticides/chemicals/or fertilizers. I'm a fan of leaving my clippings behind to nourish my grass with the decomposing material instead of bagging them, however, have never seen a neighbor do this. I'm fanatical about letting my clippings work to my advantage by leaving them behind after we mow too; half my neighbors do leave the leaves and clippings but unfortunately there are some baggers here too!
3. Bethany Cobb, Sec. 1: What kind of alternative/natural methods do Go Organic and other similar companies use? What are the results of these methods in comparison to the harsh chemicals?  I finally got to speak to the co-owner of Organic by Design; according to Terry they do a soil test from the client's yard and send it their lab out west. The results come back telling them what the yard is deficient in or has too much of; her husband then makes a custom organic blend of fertilizer specific to their yard. One of our neighbors uses them and their lawn is immaculate with lush green grass and is safe for their dogs to play.  After talking to Terry I felt very confident in their ability to nurture any yard. They are so organic that they are almost off grid at their farm. They use only natural and organic substances, oils and products. She said it does take effort and time on their clients part to understand that some organic methods take time since it is a natural approach. Again, education is key!
4. Bethany, I like that you are curious like I am about organic methods. To add to what I already said, Terry told me that most who come to them either have health issues or have a pet that they don't want in a chemical lawn. She said her husband is the lawn guru whereas she runs the farm, but she did mention that they use cedar oil, other essential oils, and no chemicals.
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   The results are a spectacular and safe yard
   
   
   

   Anna S. Sec. 01: what is a Hach Colorimeter? How does it work?

8. 

   Anna, This is the Hach Colorimeter. Basically, whatever you are testing (e.g.: N, P, Cu) you can set the colorimeter to read. When you place your sample in the colorimeter, it reads the levels and let's you know what your concentrations are in mg/L. It's an awesome machine and has been very helpful to me and other classmates when analyzing water samples.
9. Thanks for all the questions and I look forward to sharing more very soon.
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Todd Singleton U.R. Consequences and Repercussions

Bethany Cobb asks:

Are the main sources of this pollution experiencing any legal backlash for the contamination happening?

-Bethany when I went to The Tomoka Landfill a month ago I spoke to the environmental director of the property and she did not even know that the little creek that runs through their property was the creek that eventually becomes The Tomoka River.  She also denied my access to take any samples on their property.  I have not come across any research as to this landfill ever experiencing any “legal backlash.”  I have only come across appraisal by the West Volusia Beacon as to their tight ship operation.     

BUT CAN THEY?  I am sure that’s what you and I really want to know?  So I contacted Cornell University to get a hold of Dr. Jean Hogarth director of The Cornell Waste Management.    The reason I chose this organization is because they have done copious amounts of research on landfills not to mention they were the major source of my information.  This was my email:

I never got a response to this email only an error message.  So I called Cornell University back to follow up on this matter.  Turns out The Cornell Waste Management, no longer exists!  Bethany I will be in contact with other organizations so that I can answer this question in depth.