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TIEE
Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology - Volume 7, August 2011
Using Stream Leaf Packs to Explore Community Assembly
STREAM PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS DATA SHEET
Measure a 10m segment of your stream to collect the following measurements:
Stream width:
Measure the stream at three different spots along your length and find an average: _________
Water appearance/odor:
___ clear ____ clear-brown _____ milky _____ greenish
___ foamy ____ muddy _____ multi-color _____ other (describe)
Stream velocity:
Step 1: Stream segment width
Find the average width of your stream segment at the top, middle, and bottom end of your segment.
Width top: _______
Width middle: ______
Width bottom: ______
Average: ______ m
Step 2: Stream segment velocity
Using your segment, drop a ping pong ball or a tennis ball (depending on the perceived velocity of
your stream-a ping pong ball works better in slower moving water) and record the speed at which the
object travels the length of the segment. You should do this at the left, middle, and right side of the
stream, and then average your measurements.
TIEE , Volume 7 © 2011 – Jennifer H. Doherty, Cornelia Harris, Laurel Hartley
,
and the Ecological Society of
America. Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology