Introduction

A wetland is defined as a part of land with standing water, hydric soils, and hydrophytic
plants. Wetlands may have any, all, or a combination of these characteristics to be considered
as such. Many useful functions are provided by wetlands. They help to control food production,
flood control, and water quality. Wetlands are also home to different species of plant and
animal life, like; fish, birds, insects, and reptiles.
In our experiment, my group is testing the pH balance of our neighborhood wetland to
see if it is able to sustain life. A pH is a measurement of how acidic or basic a substance is.
Typically, a substance with a pH balance of 6.5-8.2 is suitable for living things. If a pH is too low
or too high it cant sustain life. Scientists use a pH meter to determine how basic or acidic a
substance is. Oil, lakes and even juices are tested by scientists to insure that they are safe to
inhabit, use, or consume.
I am studying the habitability of the wetlands in South Meadows. I want to know if
wetlands are a suitable environment for living things. So I choose to test the pH balance
because I know that the pH optimal range for living things is between 6.5 and 8.2. My
hypothesis was that the wetlands have a pH balance suitable for living things. I based my
hypothesis off of observations of plants and animals in the wetlands. I have seen many birds,
insects, fish, a lizard, and many different types of plants, which lead me to believe the wetlands
can and are sustaining life.




Method
When my group arrived at the wetlands by South Meadows Parkway, we first
recorded the weather temperature of that day and the recent weather trends using our
phones. Then we traveled to our first location using a GPS device (or phone). Next we put the
pH indicator in the water to test the pH of that specific location and recorded the number that
we read on the screen in our data table. We tested the pH balance of that location twice more,
before moving to a different location and repeating the process of recording the GPS location
and pH balances (three tests per location) in our data table. In all we tested four different
locations and had three trails for each. When we finished testing for the pH, we recorded
quantitative observations on the water quality, vegetation, and wild life. Then we returned to
school and gave the pH indicator back to our teacher.








Conclusion
The data that my group found showed that the South Meadows wetlands have an
optimal pH balance for living things, because our average pH balance was between the range
suitable for living things, 6.5 and 8.2. My first table has pH balances between 7 and around 9.5
which tell me the wetland can sustain life, because all of the averages in my first table were
close to the optimal pH life range. The second table gave me similar results as the first, all being
close to or between the ranges of 6.5-8.2. My second group of data tells me the same as my
first and third, the wetlands are suitable for life. All of these tables prove that the wetlands are
a sustainable habitat for living things.
My results support my hypothesis. My hypothesis was that wetlands have a pH balance
suitable for living things. My results were that the wetlands can sustain life they have a pH
balance similar to the optimal pH range (6.5-8.2) for living things.
One of the problems my group encountered on our final day at the wetlands was our
fourth location had dried up, so we had to test the pH balance in a different location. However,
the location we tested was still in the same GPS location and we got similar results as the
previous two days and previous location, so I dont think the data was changed by this error too
much, but it still could have affected the pH balance since the area we tested was a larger body
of water. If I were to do this experiment again I would make sure to only test locations that I
knew would most likely not dry up, so my data could be more accurate. Or, for a future
experiment I would enjoy testing the water temperature, to see if the temperate affects the
habitability of the wetlands.


Bibliography

"What is pH?." <i>EPA</i>. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 10 June 2014.
&lt;http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/measure/ph.html&gt;.
Donaldson, Susan , Melody Hefner, and Mae Gustin. "Explore Nevada's Amazing
Wetlands." : n. pag. Print.