Lesson 6: Golf Course 1
Students will follow the steps of the scientific method for this activity. Students will work in groups of 3 or 4 to use dichotomous keys to identify macroinvertebrates from sampling sites upstream and downstream of the golf course. The Stream Index Value will be calculated for each site to determine the impact of the golf course on stream health.
1.01, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 1.08, 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 3.07, 3.08, 4.09
If the organisms from each sampling site have already been separated from the sample leaf litter and sorted visually by general appearance, two to three – 50 minute periods of time will be required to identify macroinvertebrates from several sites, calculate the Stream Index Value and complete a lab report with graph and data table.
- Dichotomous keys
- hand lenses with occasional use of a stereomicroscope
- glass vials for preserved specimens
- source of specimens
- kick net (easy and inexpensive to make) and boots (if collecting own samples)
- alcohol for preserving specimens (ethanol is best
- but isopropyl alcohol is more readily available and is adequate)
- forcepsa
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