Juliet Sobel
Rio Thorogood
The Cause of the Fish Kill
Scenario 1
The Water temperature was not even throughout and changed often. The pH levels were pretty basic so nothing could have been the cause there. Lead amounts varied there, it's a heavy metal ion. There were small amounts of pesticide during the summer months. There was high rainfall in the first few days of September and pesticides decrease as fall came. We believe that Lead could have been the cause of the fish kill because it could most likely affect water and cause diseases as a heavy metal ion.
Scenario 2
The pH levels were also pretty basic. The water temperature varied a lot (highest was 27'C; lowest was 0.5'C) There was high rainfall for September compared to spring or the first year and again in September, there was a huge spike in organic carbon. During spring, however, there were high amounts of lead. There were huge nitrate spike in September but at the end it decreases. Orthophosphate was also high in September and the water temperature decreased during September as did rainfall. We believe that nitrate could have been the cause of the fish kill because it prevents oxygen from being carried throughout the fish bodies.
Results
In scenario 1, the results contrasted from those of scenario 2. At first, we thought that the pesticides could have caused the fish kill, but after learning that lead is a heavy metal ion and could be harmful to fish, we realized that this was most likely the cause. In scenario 2, we thought that the various events that occurred in September had something to do with the deaths of the fish. Then, after rethinking our predictions, we concluded that nitrate spikes were most likely the cause because they prevent oxygen from being carried throughout the fish bodies.
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