5th Grade Field Trip to Trap Pond State Park

Prepared by Jessica Rash for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative-2013

Thanks!

• This field trip resource was produced with support from a grant from "the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce."

Here at Trap Pond You will learn about:

• Science – Soils and how they support Ecosystems– pH in soils– Freshwater Ecosystems

• Geography/Social Studies– Mapping ecosystems– How people impact ecosystems

What is in the soil?• Soil is made up of both living and non living materials• Soil has decomposing material such as leaves, bacteria, and dead insects• Soil contains living material such as plants, animals, and fungi• Non living materials such as rocks, minerals, and metals• The mixture of all of theses components is what is in the soil.

What is in your soil?

• With an adult go outside and make some observations on the soil around your home or school.

• Draw or write three observation of your soil.

Soil Layers

A soil horizon is a layer of soil.Which layer of the soil do you think has the most nutrients?

Layers of Soil

The soil layers tell a story of the past. The soil layers canprovide insight into the history of the soil.

Soil Types and Textures

Different soil types and textures support different plants and animals.The Shore Line, The Forest, The Beach, The Swamp, or a field all support a few of the same but mostly different plants and animals.

What is pH?

• Soil pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity in the soil.

The most common classes of soil pH are:• Extremely acid 3.5 – 4.4• Strongly acid 5.1 – 5.5• Moderately acid 5.6 – 6.0• Neutral 6.6 – 7.3• Slightly alkaline 7.4 – 7.8• Moderately alkaline 7.9 – 8.4• Strongly alkaline 8.5 – 9.0

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Soil pHSoil pH influences the

mixtures of nutrients. It also

affects the activity of micro-

organisms that

Break down organic matter.

Soil pH affects what nutrients

a plant can take from the soil.

• A pH range of 6 to 7 is

generally best for plant

growth.

However, some plants have

soil pH requirements

above or below this range.

Plants need certain pH to grow properly

Freshwater Ecosystems

• All Communities thrive on and depend upon food

for their survival. The energy in food is what

fuels the processes of life. Energy and nutrients

are passed from one living thing to another in the

food chain. Energy only passes one way through

the food chain but are recycled over and over.

Every food chain is interconnected, forming a complex arrangement called a food web. Every food chain begins with the sun. Green plants and algae, in the process called photosynthesis, “Captured” sunlight. Plants make their own food therefore are called producers.

All other organisms must eat plants or animals in order to obtain the energy and nutrients they need to survive. These organisms are called consumers.

The organisms that eat dead and decaying organisms and then recycle the nutrients to be used by a new generation of plants are called decomposers including insects, worms, bacterial and fungi

A simple food web example for a freshwater ecosystem:

Sun→ Algae→ Mayfly→ Sunfish→ Great Blue Heron→

Bacteria

Freshwater PondCan you identify a producer, consumer, and a decomposer?

Freshwater Ecosystem Food Web

How many different food chains can you

identify in this food web?

Hint: Sun

ProducerConsumer

Decomposer

Can you identify a food web within the Macro invertebrates of the pond?Hint: Some insects eat other insects.

An Example of a Salt Water Food Web

What are some ofthe different organism in a salt water food chain?What organisms arethe same?

Human Impact on the PondOrganism within the pond rely on the plants that grow in the pond. Plants provide food and shelter for insects and animals that live in or around the pond. When humans use the pond for recreation, for example, it can impact ecosystems.

Humans and the EcosystemHumans can protect, respect, and conserve our local ecosystems.

We should understand the impact we have on the ecosystem and its balance.

Within the ecosystem, humans, plants and organisms are all connected.