I.

Chase Lake Lab

II.

Problem
How is the biodiversity of soil samples affected by the proximity of their location to
the waterline, measured both into and away from the water?

III.

Hypothesis
I expect that the biodiversity of soil samples will increase as they descend more and
more into water. Water is one of the most important molecules needed to sustain life,
and underwater there should be ample amounts of it. More terrestrial locations might
not be so readily supplied. Also, as samples on land move farther and farther away
from the waterline, they will be moving closer and closer to paths, and areas that
humans walk through. These sections that have been graveled over, etc. are not in
their natural state, and their biodiversity has probably, consequently, suffered.

IV.

Variables
A. Independent: distance of soil sample from water line, measured in feet (2 foot
increments)
B. Dependent: number of and species of organisms found in soil: biodiversity of soil
C. Controlled Variables: Temperature and weather of day on which samples were
taken, depth of sample, amount of dirt taken, time given for organisms to filter soil
soil

V.

Materials
Trowel soil
14 Ziploc bags
Sharpie permanent pen
Tape measure
Microscope
14 observation trays
14 ring stands
14 clips
14 lamps
Paper, pen, ruler

VI.

Procedure
A. find a location near the lake where you can measure 6 feet into the water and 6
feet out of the water, all in a straight line
B. use the trowel to sample 1 cup of dirt from the waterline, and put it in a Ziploc
bag. Seal the bag, and label it waterline, location #1
C. measure 2 feet into the water, use the trowel to take a soil sample from the bottom
of the lake, also of one cup of soil. Put the soil in a second Ziploc bag and label it
2 feet in, location #1

D. repeat step 3 measuring 4 feet into the water and 6 feet into the water. Label all
bags accordingly.
E. measure 2 feet away from the waterline in the other direction, onto land. Use the
trowel to take a soil sample, also of one cup of soil. Put the soil in a new Ziploc
bag and label it 2 feet away, location #1
F. repeat step 5 measuring 4 feet away and 6 feet away, and label bags accordingly
G. repeat steps 1-6 for a second location, labeling location #2 instead of location
#1
H. take all bags back to the lab, where you can set up the funnels
I. clip each funnel onto a ring stand, so that its mouth is positioned over an
observation dish. Position a lamp so that it is shining onto the wide end of each
funnel. Fill each observation dish with water
J. empty each Ziploc bag into a different funnel, keeping the bags with the
corresponding funnel set-up, for labeling purposes
K. leave the samples overnight, so that organisms filter through each funnels netting
into the observation dishes below
L. use the microscope to count the number of each kind of species in the first tray,
and record along with any observations
M. repeat step 11 for each other tray