AP Environmental Science students conduct survey

Posted on Oct 24, 2010

Advanced Placement Environmental Science teacher April Kelley recently accompanied 21 students to Milford’s Mondo Pond for an Environmental Assay Survey. The students spent two hours surveying the environmental conditions of the pond and its surrounding habitat. After a guided nature walk around the pond led by Mrs. Kelley, the students settled into their assigned roles in the Environmental Assay Survey. Some aspects studied were dissolved oxygen levels, fecal bacterial counts, water quality (pH, nitrate and phosphate levels), soil quality (texture, pH, nitrate and phosphate levels) and species diversity. 

After completing the field studies, the students analyzed their data in spent   the science lab at Lauralton. After comparing the results of all the individual tests, the students determined that the overall health of the pond system was fair/good in terms of species diversity and acceptable pollution levels. Their survey results will remain on file in the AP Environmental Science classroom so that future Advanced Placement Environmental Science classes can compare their results with survey results from previous years so the science department can monitor the long-term health of this local ecosystem and note any changes occurring over time. In comparing this year's assay results to previous years, students found that the health of the pond is stable with no significant changes from the past two years.