John
Carroll University - Department of Chemistry John
Carroll University - Department of Chemistry
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John Carroll University Funded by JCU and the National Science Foundation (NSF) |
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Summer 2001 Project and Participant
Participant Background
Mr. William Brochak, a chemistry and biology teacher at Garfield Heights High School in Garfield Heights, OH took part in the Summer 2001 REU Program, working in Dr. Michael Nichols research group, studying the water quality of several urban stream systems in the greater Cleveland area using chemical and biological methods.
Mr. Brochak holds a BS degree in Biology from Cleveland State University and an M.Ed. degree from Ashland University. He is certified to teach both biology and chemistry. Garfield Heights High School is a outer ring public school in suburban Cleveland, OH.
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| Mr. Brochak presented his results at the REU Poster Session held at JCU in July 2001. | The Nichols research group at Lake Erie: (left to right: Mr. Brochak, Steve Halady (JCU), Jamie Cannon (JCU), Mary Lenczewski (Hiram College), and Chep Yego (Geneva College, PA). | Mr. Brochak determines the conductivity of Euclid Creek near Cedar Road in Beachwood, OH. |
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| Mr. Brochak demonstrates how to classify diatoms using the video microscope. | Mr. Brochak used diatoms to determine the water quality of several urban streams and correlated this method with chemical analyses. |
Project Background and Results
The overall aim of the projects were to determine the water quality in a number of urban stream systems, ultimately assessing the health of the stream. Mr. Brochak and the undergraduate students collected water and algae samples and analyzed these using a number of chemical methods. In addition to performing basic chemical and microbiological analyses, Mr. Brochak focused on using a biological method to assess water quality called the Generic Diatom Index (GDI). This method had been developed for use in the Cleveland area with Lake Erie tributaries by Dr. Jeff Johansen of the JCU Biology Department. The method involves collecting algae samples and digesting the algae with nitric acid to remove all organic material, leaving behind the skeletons of the diatom unicellular organisms. A random sample of the digested diatom skeletons are then placed on a microscope side and approximately 400 diatoms are classified according to their genus. Using indicator values developed by Dr. Johansen, the GDI can be determined for the water sample. This value ranges from 1 (good quality) to 5 (poor quality). For the beginner, it is often difficult to classify the diatoms according to genus. To make this process easier, and more applicable in a high school setting, Mr. Brochak, Dr. Nichols, and a JCU Biology graduate student, Mr. Ted Rosati, developed a classification scheme and also developed a website to aid students in classification.
Mr. Brochak determined the GDI values for a number of urban stream systems, including Euclid Creek, Big Creek, and Stickney Creek. In addition to determining the overall value, the percentages of the highest genera presented were also recorded to give an idea of the diversity of the stream. A sampling of Mr. Brochak's results are shown below:
| Euclid Creek | ||||
| Date | GDI | # Genera | Notes on Genera Found | |
| SB4 | 29-Jun | 1.61 | 9 | High Nitzschia |
| SB3 | 19-Jun | 2.15 | 7 | Cyclotella-26% |
| 29-Jun | 2.45 | 10 | High Cyclotella | |
| SB2 | 19-Jun | 2.59 | 8 | Achnanthes-23%, Amphora-18% |
| 29-Jun | 1.99 | 11 | Nitzschia-54% | |
| SB1 | 19-Jun | 2.29 | 15 | |
| MS2 | 19-Jun | 2.29 | 9 | Rhoicosphenia-19% |
| LKE | 19-Jun | 1.89 | 8 | High Nitzschia |
| EB1 | 19-Jun | 2.77 | 11 | Rhoicosphenia-15%, Cocconeis-13% |
| 12-Jul | 3.4 | 11 | Cocconeis-59% | |
| EB2 | 19-Jun | 2.78 | 10 | Cyclotella-38% |
| 12-Jul | 1.96 | 11 | Cyclotella-1.8%, High Nitzschia | |
| EB3 | 12-Jul | 2.87 | 12 | High- Achnanthes, Cocconeis and Rhoicosphenia |
| EB4 | 12-Jul | 2.11 | 10 | High- Navicula and Nitzschia |
Click Here for a Map of the Euclid Creek Watershed
| Stickney Creek Date | GDI | # Genera | Notes on Genera Found | |
| BC-UPS | 21-Jun | 2.35 | 11 | Nitzschia-47%, Rhoicosphenia-22% |
| 1-Jul | 1.71 | 10 | Nitzschia-71% | |
| BC-DNS | 21-Jun | 2.12 | 12 | Nitzschia-48% |
| SCDS1 | 21-Jun | 2.16 | 9 | Achnanthes-26%, Nitzschia-38% |
| SCDS2 | 21-Jun | 2.46 | 9 | Achnanthes-49% |
| SCPIPE | 21-Jun | 3 | 3 | Navicula-74% |
| SCCPARK | 1-Jul | 2.01 | 11 | Nitzschia-64% |
Click Here for a Map of the Stickney Creek Sampling Sites
Efforts to further correlate the GDI values and the water chemistry parameters is continuing, however, more data will be required. At the end of the summer, Mr. Brochak and the other REU participants gave poster presentations at the Ohio-Michigan REU Poster Session held at JCU.
Incorporation of Research Activities into the High School Curriculum
Overview of Activities: This past academic year, Mr. Brochak incorporated water chemistry and diatom classification into his Advanced Biology class. The students studied an urban stream, Mill Creek, that is near Garfield Heights High School and is near a landfill and several industrial facilities. The Honors Biology class performed on-site water collection and tests on Mill Creek on Oct. 23, 2001 between 9 and 11:30 am. The weather was overcast, winds 10 mph and air temp of 22°C. There was a significant rain event within the last 24 hrs. Two sites were sampled: Garfield Metropark (GPS Reading: N 41° 25.908’ and W 081° 36.311’) and at Bacci Park, Cuyahoga Heights (N 41° 25.069’ and W 81° 38.305’). At each site students made 3 readings for temperature, total dissolved solids, pH, dissolved oxygen and total suspended solids (using an Imhoff Cone). Algae and macroinvertebrate samples were collected. Water samples were then collected, placed on ice and transported back to school for testing.
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Oct 16, 2001 |
Discuss with students the following concepts: watershed, urbanization and resulting stress on fresh water supply, sewer systems (storm and drain) and the flow of Mill Creek through Garfield Heights. Also shared information/data from past test results of the Bacci Park site. Assign students to visit website of Hach Company to obtain background information on water quality tests. |
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Oct. 17, 2001 |
Students watched a video on the Cuyahoga River (Mill Creek is an important tributary.). This video was produced at Kent State University. |
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Oct. 18, 2001 |
Student watched a National Geographic video, Great Lakes, Fragile Seas |
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Oct. 19, 2001 |
Mr. Brochak showed students how to identify diatom genera and calculate the GDI using the website developed during the summer. |
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Oct. 22, 2001 |
Test Procedures were reviewed, the tests to be performed were assigned to students, and the use of the portable probes and equipment demonstrated and reviewed. |
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Oct. 23, 2001 |
On-site testing was performed. Macroinvertebrates were analyzed and classified on-site. |
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Oct. 24, 2001 |
Microbiological tests (filtering bacteria onto membranes) were performed for E. coli, fecal and total coliform bacteria. Membranes placed on broth pad and incubated overnight. Water was analyzed for ammonium, nitrate and nitrite. |
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Oct. 25, 2001 |
Bacteria colonies counted. Reactive and total phosphorous analyses performed on water samples. |
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Oct. 26, 2001 |
Water samples were analyzed for iron, copper, and chlorine. |
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Oct. 29, 2001 |
Water samples were analyzed for sulfate and silica. The results of all tests were discussed and their implications on the health of the stream. Students discussed their views of water quality. |
The class is continuing to monitor Mill Creek and their full report will be available after the academic year. Assessment of the effectiveness of incorporating water analyses into the curriculum has started and will also be available after the academic year.
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