Research/Project Results

Temperate Deciduous Biome:

South Central Ontario, Canada

 

View of the upstream study site.

 

School: Cobourg District Collegiate Institute West

e-mail: jcord@eagle.ca
Class: OAC Biology
 

 

     The purpose of this field study was to characterize the abiotic and biotic characteristics of a cold water stream in the temperate deciduous biome.  This study also follows the changes that occur to the stream, as it flows from its headwaters high in rural Hamilton township to where it flows through the town of Cobourg (population 17000), to where it enters Lake Ontario.

     The study was done by the OAC Biology class of Cobourg DCI West High School.

 

Abiotic Site Description

Type of Ecosystem: Cold fresh water stream

Latitude: 44 degrees 4 minutes north

Longitude: 78 degrees 15 minutes west

Cover: Deep to light shade

Wind: slight breeze

     Cobourg Creek starts from artesian springs in the hills of Hamilton Township near Kennedy road.  The creek flows between steep hills south towards Cobourg.  Most of the way the stream is covered by forests and trees.  As it gets closer to Cobourg, the trees give way to shrubs.  As the creek passes through town, there is very little shade over the water.

Map of the local area, about 7 km from north to south, showing all 3 study sites.  The stream finds its headwaters in rural agricultural land north of Lake Ontario.  Most of the streams have forest cover.  The stream enters Cobourg, goes past a golf course and a park, then through a residential/commercial area, finally passing through a park and draining into Lake Ontario.

 

Abiotic Stream Data
Tests Station #

#1

#2 #3
Oxygen (ug/g) 9 10.5 5.5
CO2 (ug/g) 7.5 1.25 2.5
Nitrogen(ug/g) Between

0&15

 Between

0&4

 20
Phosphate (ug/g) 6 4 3
Alkalinity (ug/g) 205.2 188.1 188.1
Hardness (ug/g) 171 171 205.2
Velocity(m/s) 0.35 m/s 0.95m/s 0.41m/s
Temperature('C) 11'C 18'C 13'C
pH level 8 8.5 8
% shade 100% 20% 30%

 

Water Quality:  Chemistry

The quality of the water at the three sites is pretty good. The oxygen level at site #1 & #2 is at a healthy level, site #3 is fairly low but this might be due to the location of the site being in town. The pH level at all of the sites are much the same, they are higher then 7 but still remain in the neutral zone. This may be the cause of salt run off from the roads in the winter, all of the sites were either close to a road or flowing under a bridge. By comparing the Abiotic tests, the water at all the sites was fairly clean.

 

Biotic Site Description: Plant Data

This Fleabane and the buttercup are flowers that like full summer sun.  They were found in an open area beside the stream.

 

Plant Data
vegetation type Station #

#1

 #2 #3
Trees - Cedar

-White Pine

- Sugar Maple

-White Birch

  • AB
 -Manitoba Maple

-Willow

  • F
 - Manitoba Maple
  • R
Herbacious - Ferns

-Buttercups

- Clover

- Pioson Ivy

- Colts Foot

- Bullrushes

  • AB
 - Grass

- Milk Weed

- Bullrushes

- Phlox

- Yellow Flag

  • AB
 - Horse Tail

-Clover

- Dandilion

- Daisy

  • AB

AB= abundant F= frequent R= rare

Plant Life

There are numerous varieties of plant life that lives along the creek. Some things grow abundantly like Cedar trees and white maple, Bullrushes and the most popular Poison Ivy. There are many different types of flowers that flourish on the streams bank such as, daisys, dandilions, buttercups, clover and yellow flag. Some plants are more abundant in different settings. Station one was a more wooded area, different types of pine and cedar trees seemed to populate this area of the stream giving it 100% shade. Site two and three were more in open park areas and seemed to house more Manitoba maples and willow trees giving the areas 20% to 30% shade.

 

Many different animals are found around the stream.  Quiet areas have frogs and water striders.  Faster flowing water has Stonefly and Mayfly nymphs.  They are normally found in fast moving, well oxygenated, clean water.

 

Animal Data
Species and

Their Numbers

 Station #
  • #1
  • #2
  • #3
Stonefly
  • 9
  • 10
  • 8
Mayfly
  • 94
  • 12
  • 8
Caddisfly
  • 256
  • 62
  • 56
Isopod
  • 3
  • 17
  • 6
Leech
  • 12
  • 38
  • 33
Bloodworm
  • 4
  • 7
  • 29
Water Penny
  • 1
  • 95
  • 56

 

Water Quality:  Biota

For the most part the over all water quality of stream is pretty clean. It houses an abundant amount of biotic life, a mix of different species is a good sign. Site # 3 has the poorest quality of water, as evidenced by the bloodworms, but is still healthy. This drop in water quality is probably due to the presence of the sewage plant about two hundred feet upstream. Other than the sewage plant the entire stream is pretty clean.

 

Summary:

Although the stream on a whole is healthy, the pressures of urbanization are starting to show. The effect of the sewage treatment plant on the stream in this study is small, but evident. The affects of agricultural run-off are also evident. The threat of industrial pollution is still impending but not full blown by any means.

In this area there have been many successful community programs introduced to help the environment in recent times. The new wet/dry garbage system has had a positive effect reducing the amount of recyclable waste entering the local landfill sites. Other programs such as Beyond the Blue Box (A non profit organization that accepts peoples "junk" and sells it again for re-use.) have also made a considerable difference in keeping many re-usable items out of the local landfill sites.

We have e-mailed students in Fort Resolution, NWT concerning their views about local environmental issues. In the north the problems of urbanization barely exist, however there are other issues in the area. While air pollution and agricultural run off are problems here, students at Fort Resolution see problems with heavy industry such as pulp and paper mills. Another problem that is difficult to control in such isolated areas is the problem of local dumping. Much of the water and streams are polluted from peoples garbage just being dumped into the streams instead of being taken to a landfill site. Eventually these problems should start to subside with increasing community awareness, and the increase in number of community involved programs to eliminate these concerns. 

Many thanks to the students from Deninoo Community School for their help with regards to our project.

KD and NM

 

 

 

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