How Level of Human Recreation Affects Algae Density from Different Water Sources in Stillwater, Oklahoma

Abstract

Pollution has long been a side effect of the presence of humans as we have advanced technologically and industrially over time. This experiment is an observational experiment that studies how the level of human interaction at two different water sources affects the algae density for each of the samples. To do this, the different samples were collected from two water sources weekly and analyzed under a microscope with a hemocytometer slide. We hypothesized that the water source with the most human interaction from recreational activities would have a higher density of algae in the sample. Our results showed only a slight difference in algae density (average at Boomer was 198 algae/.1mL Meridian was 192 algae/.1mL) between the water sources, therefore our hypothesis was supported. Though our results were not completely conclusive, they could still help benefit Biofuels Research and Aquatic Quality Collaborative with their efforts to manage eutrophication in Oklahoma water sources since we tested sources in Stillwater, Oklahoma.