User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
I intend to study the relationship between abiotic factors and algal growth in freshwater streams within the Miracle Valley. The study will be focused on the impact water depth and flow regime have on algal growth.
Five creek locations within the Miracle Valley were sampled on May 31, 2018 and June 1, 2018 for flow discharge rates and water depth. The results of the measurements are shown below in the table below.
Additional observations from the site visit include are as shown in pages from field book.
July 5 Field Notes Page 1 July 5 Field Notes Page 2 June 1 Field Notes June 19 Field Notes Page 1 June 19 Field Notes Page 2 May 15 Field Notes Page 1 May 15 Field Notes Page 2 May 15 Field Notes page 3 May 31 Field Notes
I hypothesize that a relationship exists between algal growth and flow regime and water depths. I predict that as water depths decrease, provided creeks are not intermittent (i.e. run dry depending on seasonality) algal growth will increase and turbulent waters will reduce algal growth.
The hypothesis will be tested using a SonoTek Flow Tracker 2 to measure flow discharge rates at same location each site visit. Rebar will be used as a staff gauge to measure difference in water level before and after discharge measurements and to compare with measurements taken on other days. A scale of none-to-moderate-to significant will be used to estimate algal growth.
The experiment will be conducted using logistic regression and the hypothesis is that slower flow regimes and shallow water depths increase algal growth.
In this experiment the response variable is algal growth that is categorical (using a scale of none, minimal, moderate, significant, very significant). The explanatory variables are continuous and include the flow rate and water depth.
