Is the Nose Hill Park Pond Healthy? by Keerthanaa and Emily

          The pond we examined at Nose Hill Park, which is located in Calgary, Canada. Our goal was to test whether the pond is healthy or not. We tested for characteristics of the pond: water quality, soil quality, insects in the pond and plants that surround the pond. A healthy pond will have the right amount the required elements and also organisms that normally live in and around a healthy pond.

Figure 1.  A soil sample.

Pond Water

The first thing we tested was the water quality. We tested the concentration of free iron, chelated iron, ammonia, phosphate, nitrate and calcium in the pond water. We also tested the pH and the temperature.

           When we conducted the free iron test, the water sample remained colourless, which meant that there is 0mg/L of free iron present in the pond water. This is an ideal level of iron for the pond water. When we conducted the chelated iron test, the water sample turned into a yellow colour. The water sample was supposed to remain colourless or turn into different shades of purple. This means that water may be contaminated with other substances or there might be no chelated iron in the pond water. When we conducted the ammonia test, the water sample turned into a yellow colour. This means that there is 0ppm (or mg/L) of ammonia present in the pond water. In an established aquarium, the ammonia level should always remain at 0ppm. The presence of ammonia indicates possible over-feeding, too many fish, or inadequate biological filtration. When we conducted the phosphate test, the water sample remained colourless. This means there is 0mg/L of phosphate present in the pond water. For fresh and saltwater, the ideal concentration of phosphate should never be greater than 1mg/L of phosphate. When we conducted the nitrate test, the water sample remained colourless. This means that there is 0mg/L of nitrate present. This is an ideal level of nitrate for the pond water. When we conducted the calcium test, the water sample turned from a light pink to a purple colour in 30 minutes. This means that there are 5mg/L of calcium in the pond water. When we checked the pH level of the water sample, the pH paper turned into a light green colour. This means that the pond water has a pH of 7. The pH level for a healthy pond should be around 6-7. The temperature of the water was 10^oC which is normal for ponds in Calgary.

Pond Soil

          Soil quality is also another factor which can tell us if the pond is healthy or not. We tested the amount of free iron, chelated iron, ammonia, phosphate, nitrate and calcium in the pond water. We also tested the pH and the temperature. When we conducted the free iron test, the sample remained colourless. This means there is 0mg/L of free iron in the soil. This is an ideal level of free iron for the soil. When we conducted the chelated iron test, the sample turned into a light bluish-purple colour. This means that there is 0.25mg/L of chelated iron in the soil which is ideal. When we conducted the ammonia test, the sample turned into a light green colour. This means that there is 0.50ppm of ammonia in the soil, which is almost healthy. When we conducted the phosphate test, the sample turned into a light yellow colour. It was supposed to remain colourless or turn into different shades of blue. This means that the soil is contaminated with other substances and/or may not have any phosphate at all. When we conducted the nitrate test, the sample turned into an orange colour. This means that there is about 4.0mg/L of nitrate in the soil which is ideal. When we conducted the calcium test, the sample turned from light to pink to violet in 30 minutes. This means that the calcium measure is below 20mg/L as Ca²⁺ which is ideal. When we checked the pH level, the pH paper turned a dirty yellow colour. This tells us that the pH level of the soil is 5, which means the soil is acidic. This is not good as the pH level for pond soil should be around 6-7.

Figure 2.  Snowberry.

Plants

          A few of the plants that surrounded the pond are Snowberry plant and Canada Thistle.

         Snowberry is a multi-branched, evergreen, vine-like shrub that climbs in neighbouring vegetation to heights of up to 10'. The fruits are clusters of conspicuous, round, small, white drupes with crystal clear, fleshy pulp. The seeds resemble coffee beans. Snowberry grows best in rich, fertile soils and is often found in hardwood hammocks and coastal shell mounds. It prefers sunny locations and is often found in association with cabbage palm.

Figure 3.  Canada thistle.

          Canada thistle is an age,gressiv creeping perennial weed that infests crops, pastures, rangeland, roadsides and non-crop areas. Generally, infestations start on disturbed ground, including ditch banks, overgrazed pastures, tilled fields or abandoned sites. Canada thistle reduces forage consumption in pastures and rangeland because cattle typically will not graze near infestations. In 2002, the Colorado Department of Agriculture surveyed counties and while incomplete, the results showed more than 100,000 acres infested with Canada thistle. Canada thistle grows in a variety of soils and can tolerate up to 2 percent salt content. It is most competitive in deep, well-aerated, productive, cool soils. It usually occurs in 17- to 35-inch annual precipitation zones or where soil moisture is adequate. It is less common in light, dry soils.

Animals

Figure 4.  Our animal samples.

          Lastly, some of the insects we found in the pond water are Damselfly order, Giant Water Bug Backswimmer, leeches and Caddisfly.

Figure 5.  Damselfly larva.

          Damselflies can be found in the ponds, marshes, and in slow moving steams. It is one of the common insects found in the pond. It shares similar functions with the dragonfly but is more small and delicate.

          Diving Beetle is found in freshwater areas. These beetles may be found in nearly any body of water. They fly into small ponds and puddles and can even be found in saline ponds.

Figure 6.  A Diving Beetle.

Figure 7.  A Backswimmer.

          Backswimmer is a common insect that found in the ponds, running water in streams and intertidal marshes. Backswimmers have middle and hind legs covered with long swimming hairs like water boatman but swim on their back.

           Leeches are usually in freshwater, terrestrial and marine leeches. They are hermaphrodites and some are hematoplagous.

Figure 8.  A Leech.

           Caddisfly order can be found in streams and ponds. When they grow into adults, they become land dwelling flies. Many Caddis fly larvae can be recognized by soft which are covered by tube like cases that the larvae build from twigs, grasses, pebbles, and sand grains. Some larvae do not build cases where the current is not strong such as pond larvae.



Figure 9.  A Caddis Fly larva.

 Conclusion

          According to most of our test results, our pond seems to be pretty healthy. Although there were some impurities, most of the water and soil tests showed the results of a healthy pond. The insects and plants found usually exist in a healthy pond, which