380599
This module on measuring nitrates and their effects on water quality is from a larger series on water quality investigations. It provides background information on nitrates and how it affects water quality. It also contains both a pre-test and post-test, a laboratory investigation, and a self-study game. The purpose of the site is to help students understand the sources of nitrates and the role that nitrates play in an ecosystem, describe the effects of excess nitrates on water quality and human health, and teach students how to measure, graph, and interpret the direct and indirect effects of nitrates on fish.
Summary
| Subject keyword(s) | Astronomy, Earth science, Ecology, Ecology, Forestry and Agriculture, Environmental science, Geoscience, Hydrology, Physical sciences, Science, Space Science, Space sciences |
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| Grade level | Elementary School, Middle School, High School |
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| Resource type | Assessment Materials, Instructional Material |
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| Resource format | text, text/html |
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| Rights | 2000 Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health |
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Using this resource
Found in collection(s)
Click on the logo to get more information about the collection.
| Title | Digital Water Education Library (DWEL) |
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| Link | http://www.csmate.colostate.edu/dwel/ |
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| Description | The DWEL collection offers K-12 and informal-education digital resources of high quality that are related to the science, policy, and economics of water. The collection is designed to facilitate learning about all aspects of water in the Earth system. The DWEL collection supports science-education standards and inquiry-based learning and has been created by a select and diverse group of practicing educators to ensure excellence and relevance to a wide range of learning environments. The collection favors resources that are well documented, easy to use, bug-free, motivational for learners, pedagogically effective, scientifically accurate, and that foster mastery of important scientific and mathematical understandings and technology skills. |
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| Full description and distribution of resources |
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Content contained within the resource
Does the presence of nitrates affect water quality? Unlike temperature and dissolved oxygen, the presence of nitrates usually does not have a direct effect on aquatic insects or fish. However, excess levels of nitrates in water can create conditions that make it difficult for aquatic insects or fish to survive. Algae and other plants use nitrates as a source of food. If algae have an unlimited source of nitrates, their growth is unchecked. So, why is that a problem? Which river is most likely affected by high levels of nitrates? The river on the right is as green as pea soup, a result of high concentrations of algae. Click here to see other examples of how nitrate levels affect algae growth in lakes. Large amounts of algae can cause extreme fluctuations in dissolved oxygen. Photosynthesis by algae and other plants can generate oxygen during the day. However, at night, dissolved oxygen may decrease to very low levels as a result of large numbers of oxygen consuming bacteria feeding on dead or decaying algae and other plants. Can the presence of nitrates affect human health? People who use wells as a source of drinking water need to monitor the level of nitrates in their well water. If you drink water that is high in nitrates, it can interfere with the ability of your red blood cells to transport oxygen. Infants who drink water high in nitrates may turn "bluish" and appear to have difficulty in breathing since their bodies are not receiving enough oxygen. Just like dissolved oxygen, temperature, and pH, the amount of nitrates in water is determined by both natural processes and human intervention. A body of water may be naturally high in nitrates or have elevated nitrate levels as a result of careless human activities. In this unit, you will be introduced to the concept of nitrates and how nitrates can influence the aquatic environment. The relationship between nitrate and dissolved oxygen levels will be introduced. This unit will also discuss how nitrate levels are influenced by nature as well as man-made processes. Introduction | Objectives | Pre-Test | Presentation | Activity | Post-Test PEER Curriculum | Water Quality Modules | Teacher's Pages | Standards
