In-depth Notes on GPP Research Project

Introduction

  • The project involves examining the gross primary productivity (GPP) of two distinct bodies of water: Spatford Pond and North Star Pond.
  • Overview of findings without diving into specific details, emphasizing the purpose of the research.

Background

  • Locations: Discussion on where the water samples were collected, focusing on Spatford Pond and its recent history of draining and refilling.

  • Importance of Dissolved Oxygen:

    • Essential for aquatic life; influences ecosystem health.
    • Supported by primary production during photosynthesis, which produces oxygen for aquatic organisms.

  • Ecosystem Metabolism:

    • Refers to the balance between production (photosynthesis) and respiration in an ecosystem.
    • GPP relevance: Indicates the amount of organic material produced, which sustains the entire food web.

Goals

  • Objectives include analyzing GPP differences between North Star Pond and Spatford Pond.

  • Initial observations indicate that GPP is significantly higher in North Star Pond, attributed to abundant algae and microorganisms.

  • Photosynthetic processes are more vigorous in North Star Pond, resulting in higher dissolved oxygen levels.

Deliverables

  • Write one to two paragraphs summarizing observations:
    • Emphasize the high productivity and its implications for the ecosystem in North Star Pond.

Technical Methods

  • Water Collection:

    • Collected five gallons of water from each body of water.
    • Separation of samples into 24 jars for experimentation.

  • Shade Treatments:

    • Jars treated with varying levels of shade:
    • No Shade: Full light penetration, encouraging photosynthesis.
    • Single Shade Cloth: Moderately reduced light, still allows photosynthesis.
    • Two Shade Cloths: Decreased light penetration further.
    • Dark Conditions (Cooler jars): No light penetration, only respiration occurs.

Conclusion

  • Synthesize results about productivity and the significance of findings.
  • Draw connections between ecosystem health, GPP, and water treatment methods utilized in the study.