Montana Streams Essay

Through our research we aimed to determine if there were any differences in water quality of both the north and south forks of Strawberry Creek. As time progresses and the environment changes it is important to keep track of how certain species are being impacted by these features, and how they cope with change. We hypothesized that due to the lack of pollution, the south fork will promote a greater diversity of macroinvertebrates. This was due to the fact that there was less runoff and trash that could be introduced to the water in the south fork, than there was in the north fork. We gathered data by analyzing the different organisms living in both forks. We collected a total of fifty vials composed of five organisms from each fork, and inspected them under microscopic view. After gathering data and identifying the different kinds of organisms living in the different forks we assessed whether the organisms from the samples could live in high or low resolution water. We also took a t-test to assess the probability of these differences being due to relevant factors or by chance. Our major findings suggest that organisms in the south fork showed a higher demand to living in cleaner water indicating that our hypothesis was correct.

Water is probably the most important resource we as people have. Humans can survive without food for several weeks, but without water we would die in less than a week. On a slightly less dramatic note, millions of liters of water are needed every day worldwide for washing, irrigating crops, and cooling industrial processes, not to mention leisure industries such as swimming pools and water-sports centers. Despite our dependence on water, we use it as a dumping ground for all sorts of waste, and do very little to protect the water supplies we have.

Did you know that around 200 years ago, it took 90% of the U.S. population living on farms to produce food for the country? How about the fact that now only 2% of our population supplies all the food in our country? The biggest factor leading to this drastic change is fossil fuels along with advancing technologies. They have made it possible for much larger ranches and farms and enabled jobs to be done with a fraction of the personnel once required to operate them. There has been a downside to this technology though; fossil fuels, chemicals, erosion, etc. have degraded the overall health of our ecosystems. Additionally, farmers and ranchers did not realize until much later that these practices were damaging the environment. In reading William

Due to the ecological, and social dependence, monitoring stream health is critical in identifying negative influences that may cause irreversible damage to the stream system, and surrounding ecosystems. Macroinvertebrate assemblage composition is commonly used as a bioindicator of the health of stream systems, ecological, and biological characteristics that reflect short and long term changes in water quality, and easy collection. (Xu et al. 2013; Uherek and Gouveia, 2014) Macroinvertebrate assemblages are used as bio-indicator by finding the relative richness, diversity index, and pollutant sensitivity average of these populations.

The samples were taken from various spots along a stream. The depth and temperature of the spot was taken, along with two sets of water samples for each spot. Three depth measurements were taken in each spot. The samples were then tested for dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrogen concentration, and phosphate levels with a water analysis kit. Observations of the stream were recorded as well as the types of organisms in the stream. Macroinvertebrates were analyzed from two parts of the stream, one fast moving and one slow moving. Each type of macroinvertebrates was recorded, along with the population of that

In the start of the 21st century, human beings have made a huge impact on the global ecosystem. Many people believe that the Anthropogenic epoch has been caused by all humans, while there is the conflicting idea that it is only because of some people. There have been several claims and evidence used with sources that concur and sources that conflict. The use of “Geology of mankind,” by Paul Crutzen, Wild Ones by Jon Mooallem, “The Anthropogenic: Are Humans Now Overwhelming the Great Forces of Nature?” by Steffen et al, “The Anthropogenic Review” by Malm and Hornborg, and the National Museum of Natural History are all used to address these claims and evidence. There is no conclusion of who is responsible for the Epoch, but it is debated. Also, there is no conclusion on how to save the animals in danger. If they are saved, then they would no longer be the animals that were before.

to be grown trees have to be cut down and I have explained the effects

Nearly everything that a human does is in response to the environment. Our lives are defined by what is around us and what we find in front of us, whether this means accepting, dealing with or changing it. This has been the pattern since primates first stood up and became Homo erectus, and has continued until we considered ourselves doubly wise. The shape of the land affected where humans moved. Weather was something with which to contend. Fire affected humans until they conquered it – and herein lies the core of the relationship. The earth affects humans, and humans affect it back, viewing characteristics and patterns as problems and challenges, and finding a solution.

Ecological human effects on the planet are now about 40% greater than the planet can support in a sustainable fashion (Grossman, 2010). One of the many areas with significant damage is the marine biosphere. Ocean acidification is a great threat to marine and subsequently human life.

There is clear signs that GMO products are contaminating our water in various forms, including rivers, streams, and groundwater. The water now is absorbing more and more chemicals that are sprayed and injected into the crops. The seeds are also requiring a much more extensive amount of water compared to regular crops, causing droughts to be deadly to these crops. Many chemicals are coming from the spray that Monsanto created, they have a wide range of synthetic materials that are not safe for our water or consumption. The main chemical and most harmful one they use is called glyphosate which is the herbicide used every crop. The levels of glyphosate in our ground water has grown exponentially and is going to keep rising until our water is unusable. Less than a decade ago there was a study conducted testing the levels of this chemical in water sources around the areas it was used. The results were astounding, according to Dr. Eva Sirinathsinghji and her article “GM Crops and Water - A Recipe for Disaster” gave us data that stated “140 groundwater samples taken from Catalonia, Spain, 41 % of them had glyphosate levels above the limit of detection; contrary to the claim by Monsanto that the herbicide biodegrades rapidly in the environment”(Sirinathsinghiji). Not only are the levels above the detection level, Monsanto is lying to the people about how it degrades into our environment. Glyphosate has been linked to many health issues besides the environmental ones, but that will

Water is an essential substance which is needed by all human beings to survive. It has also enabled us to live in well-furnished houses that have free flowing water in the taps, showers and even some to help us support with our daily use. In a developed country like the US; water has been the most essential thing that has been able to accommodate its citizens. Living the American standards means having flushing toilets, hot and cold showers, swimming pools in the front or the backyard or your house, washing machine and a big house that shines everywhere with electricity (Bradley 1962). Unlike someone else living in Africa or India that have to walk for miles and miles each day in order to find water, in the United States water is always readily available even one that you can use to irrigate your lawn.

There is a saying every action has an equal or greater reaction, but what is to become of our planet if the majority of it is uninhabitable. The GBR is one of the biggest tourist attractions on the planet bringing in millions of dollars revenue each year, and almost two million tourists and five million recreational visitors spend time at the GBR(Tarczynski 1). The reefs sustain more than just the economy in Australia, but in the caribbean, America, south and west Africa (Brown 2). The world within the last century has not faced a time frame in which the world, in total would be so devastated economically. Many malnutritions would surface and suffocate large and small fishing dependant towns. National Geographic published that “Every year more than 170 billion pounds of wild fish and shellfish are caught in the oceans” ( National Geographic 7). The oceans are being overfished as is, for the sole purposes of economic prosperity and survival along with furthering the beneficial factors of fish as a major food export.The change in Ph levels will lead fish to be inedible, and could even lead fish to be toxic for human consumption (Melanie 5). The people of the world will be left will a lack of a major resource. This process is definite, it will lead our economy and quite possibly, our world to be lead to imminent doom. There is no individual country or person that could possible held responsible for these treacherous accounts of eventual destruction of the planet, however it is

Water is one of the most important resources that earth can offer. Indeed, water is essential to the survival of all living things. Pure water must be colorless, tasteless and odorless. However, sometimes, natural water can contain impurities. Indeed, dissolved solute coming minerals in rocks and soils are often present in natural water.

The commodification of water throughout history has had substantial impacts the way we live our lives and the health of our nation. Initially effluents from towns, various types of mills, and tanneries were channeled to the nearest waterway to be carried downstream and away from the pollution source. This theory of "dilution is the solution to pollution" worked for a little while but as population grew and the demand for freshwater for humans consumption increased as well Americans learn quickly that this theory was incorrect.

As we all know that water is a synonym for life and aside from the security issues, my country’s economy is badly impacted by the issues related to lack of water resources. According to estimation by World Bank, Afghanistan’s current population is about 32 million, which will increase to nearly 60 million by the year 2055. Such an increase will raise demand on the country’s already stressed water resources. In addition, a recent research by the United Nations suggests that global climate change could eventually alter precipitation patterns in Afghanistan. This change will affect in particular, both the amount and the timing of snowfall received at higher elevations, impacting the major water sources for many areas in the country.