It is likely that with the heating of the water the pH will increase and the carbon dioxide stored in the water will be released. By heating up the water. You also kill a lot of the bacteria within the water, which could affect CO2 levels as the amount of carbon dioxide there are exhaling will go down. Also testing a different sites means that the PH and the CO2 levels will likely be different.

Rivers in North America have a general pH of 6.5–9.0. Anywhere outside that zone is generally inhabitable for the greater majority of plant/fish and other aquatic species.

• Use pH strips on the various water samples taken from the separate places in Fish Creek 

 

Common aquatic life in Fish Creek, Alberta, Canada:

• Brown Trout
• Mountain Whitefish

 

Brown Trout Information:

• Fish feel uncomfortable at about 20 degrees celsius
• Tolerate pH levels at about 5.0–9.5, but optimal levels are about 6.8–7.8

 

Mountain Whitefish Information:

• Can tolerate up to 20 degrees celsius in the summer, but prefer the cold
• Roughly 6.8–7.8 as well for pH levels

 

pH above 9.0 is considered widely toxic to most fish species, though some are exceptions, like the Brown Trout, that can survive pH of 9.5.

 

Common riverine plants in Fish Creek, Alberta, Canada:

• Canada Buffaloberry
• Water Birch

 

Canada Buffaloberry Information:

• The Buffaloberry is very adaptable, very easily accommodating for changes in pH, temperature, wind and water

 

Water Birch Information:

• Generally prefers pH levels of 5.0–6.5 to maintain a healthy life
• Adaptable

 

Heightened temperature in water decreases the amount of dissolved oxygen entering the flow. Unfortunately, low dissolved oxygen content can kill fish and plant life, and make it extremely difficult for organisms to thrive in aquatic environments.

 

Excess nutrients (Eutrophication):

When there is excess nutrients In the water from fertilizer or sewage it can cause rapid growth of algae blooms which cover the surface of the water blocking all sunlight from coming in, and reducing oxygen when the algae die And decompose. with The limiting oxygen supply it is very likely that the fish will not be able to survive.

 

Higher pH levels:

When the PH of the water increases fish are very sensitive to those changes. Lots of fish can only survive in medium pH levels; a pH of 9.0 is considered very toxic. If the water becomes too alkaline (high pH) it can lead to the warming of their gills, skin and eggs which would be very hard to adapt to. A higher pH can also create toxins like ammonia which is more harmful to fish.

 

Temperature Changes:

Higher water temperature holds less oxygen Which can stress the fish out and make it much harder for them to survive. Trout for example need Cold water to survive so if the water increases it will force them to move or die.

 

Pollutants:

When chemicals like pesticides and heavy metals enter the water it can poison fish and disrupt their reproductive system.

The variables is how many different places we took water from and what we did to the water a.k.a. heating it up, or testing it for bacteria.

We took water from different sites along Fish Creek in small glass jars. We used a Water tester To find out the different levels of pH and carbon dioxide oxide in the Water in one from each we heated it up in the microwave for 20 seconds. We then tested the heated up ones again and wrote them down following this. We also tested two different sites for bacteria levels.

Water from the river was often higher in pH as well as water from the small creeks generally higher in CO2 and bacteria levels.

We could've tested the same site twice, we could've gotten the wrong testing site or forgot to write down our dates, record our data, or not documented here exactly we went. 

Plants - Fish Creek Provincial Park | Alberta Parks

https://www.alberta.ca/fish-and-wildlife-topic

https://parks.canada.ca/voyage-travel/conseils-tips/faune-wildlife

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/ph-measurement#:~:text=There%20are%20two%20methods%20for,a%20millivoltmeter%20(pH%20meter)

https://www.awes-ab.ca/species/canada-buffaloberry/ 

https://www.alberta.ca/mountain-whitefish

https://www.alberta.ca/brown-trout

Our thanks goes to Mr. Syme for helping the students at Nickle School create and enter their projects into the Science Faire, we also thank him for helping us access information and help when working on our Science Faire project.