Fresh air, sunshine and plenty of creepy little life-forms ? what more could a kid ask for?
Last week, approximately 340 sixth-graders spent some time investigating the retention pond located on the Oxford Middle School property.
Students rolled up their sleeves and tested water samples for phosphates, nitrates and dissolved oxygen. They also tested pH levels and turbidity, which refers to how clear the water is.
‘The students are applying classroom practices in a real-life situation where the outcome is unknown,? said science teacher Jennifer Bennett.
Oxford’s future scientists found the pond has low levels of phosphates and nitrates along with a neutral pH, all of which is good news.
However, the pond still has low levels of dissolved oxygen, which continues to inhibit the possibility of developing larger vertebrates in and around the small body of water.
Bennett is still looking for some organization or private individual to donate an aerator for the pond.
‘If we were able to increase the amount of oxygen in the water, larger vertebrate organisms, particularly fish, could be introduced to the pond,? she explained. ‘This would also support additional amphibious and reptilian life (like) frogs, salamanders, turtles. These could produce an increase in mammals that eat those creatures such as raccoons.?
Bennett believes the ‘increased biodiversity would improve the overall quality of the pond ecosystem.?
Besides testing water samples, the students also identified and examined a variety of microinvertebrates who call the pond home. These include caddisflies, snails, mayflies, leeches, aquatic worms and midges.
Data collected by the students is shared with the Clinton River Watershed Council.
Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Oxford were on hand to help manage the monitoring stations where students conducted their tests.