Linsman.BIOL1050_LabReport1

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The Effect of Location on the pH and Buffering Capacity of Stream Water Found in the Clemson Experimental Forest Olivia Linsman BIOL 1050 Section 005 ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the location of stream water found in the Clemson Experimental Forest (CEF) on the pH and buffering capacity of various samples. These samples were collected from five different locations in the same stream. Using a pH meter, the pH of each sample was determined, revealing that pH was more basic downstream. The measured pH was then used to determine the buffering capacity by mixing each sample with 0.1 M HCl until the pH changed by 0.1. Using the data collected, buffering capacity was calculated using the buffering capacity equation, revealing that the basic water downstream had a higher buffering capacity than the more acidic water found upstream. INTRODUCTION Change in pH of stream water is an easily manipulated variable and can be attributed to a wide variety of factors (Ågren et al. 2010; Baker et a. 1991). As seen in the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF), pH conditions are more alkaline the further downstream you travel (Driscoll et al. 1988), which varies based on the surrounding vegetation and soil at different elevations (Bowman et al. 1995). In some instances, forest harvesting of certain vegetations, like conifers, can alter soils' pH and, therefore, the pH of the water in which they runoff (Neal et al. 1

2004). This experiment aimed to determine the difference in buffering capacity and pH of stream water samples from various distances downstream. This study was conducted in the Clemson Experimental Forest (CEF), where no previous studies tested downstream pH and buffering capacities. We tested the hypotheses that the further downstream a sample is taken from, the higher the pH will be, and the buffering capacity will be higher as well. METHODS AND MATERIALS Five 100 mL samples of stream water collected from the Clemson Experimental Forest were placed in different beakers, where their pH was determined using a pH meter. Once determined, the pOH, + ¿ H ¿ concentration, and OH- concentration were calculated. Then, the samples were mixed with 0.1 mL of 0.1M Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) until the pH changed to0.1 units. The new pH was recorded, and the pH change was determined by subtracting the initial pH from the final pH. These values were used to determine the buffering capacity using the buffering capacity equation ( β = −( volumeof acid ) × ( molarity of acid ) ❑ 1 ( total volumeof sample ) × ( pHchange ) ). RESULTS Sample 1 had a mean pH of 6.2 (Table 1) and a mean buffering capacity of 0.001288 (Table 2). Sample 2 had a mean pH of 6.41 and a mean buffering capacity of 0.001179. Sample 3 had a pH of 6.6583 and a mean buffering capacity of 0.001376. Sample 4 had a mean pH of 6.8333 and a mean buffering capacity of 0.001377. Sample 5 had a mean pH of 6.8833 and a mean buffering capacity of 0.001151. The change in pH downstream was significant (P = <0.0001), while the buffering capacity downstream was not significant (P = 0.990491). 2

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DISCUSSION In this study, the hypothesis that the further downstream a sample is taken, the higher the pH will be supported. The findings concerning the pH of a stream were considered statistically significant as pH increased traveling downstream. However, the hypothesis that the buffering capacity will be higher was not supported. However, the findings concerning the buffering capacity were not statistically significant and did not show a relationship between distance downstream and buffering capacity. Similar findings have been reported in the Hubbard Brook Valley, where elevation and diversity of vegetation increase the pH of stream water. The further downstream samples are taken, the lower their pH (Driscoll et al. 1988). In other studies, it has been reported that pH is significantly decreased in forest fires and drought cases due to an increase in strong acidic anions combining with water (Bayley et al. 1992). This is seen as a difference from what we reported because it affects the entire stretch of a stream rather than varying across different stretches of the stream. A reason behind this difference could be that factors such as drought and forest fires affect entire areas, whereas vegetation diversity and elevations are constantly changing factors. This would explain why the pH decreases throughout the entire stretch of the stream, rather than as elevation or distance from the start decrease. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated an associated effect between pH of stream water and distance downstream, though there was no significant effect on buffering capacity. Results showed a significant difference in the pH of the stream and distance traveled downstream, though there was no significant difference reported on buffering capacity and distance downstream. A potential point of weakness in the study could have been due to equipment error of the pH meter. 4

By incorrectly measuring the pH of each sample, the results regarding buffering capacity could potentially be skewed, altering the overall conclusion of the experiment. Future studies conducted in the Clemson Experimental Forest could investigate the effect of biodiversity of different aquatic vegetation and organisms on streams' pH and buffering capacity. 5

LITERATURE CITED Ågren A, Buffam I, Bishop K, Landon H. 2010. Sensitivity of pH in boreal network to a potential decrease in base cations caused by forest harvest. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 67:1116-1125. Baker LA, Herlihy AT, Kaufmann PR, Eilers JM. 1991. Acidic Lakes and Streams in the United States: The Role of Acidic Deposition. American Association for the Advancement of Science 252:1151-1154. Bayley SE, Schindler DW, Parker BR, Stainton MP, Beaty KG. 1992. Effects of forest fire and drought on acidity of a base-poor boreal forest stream: similarities between climatic warming and acidic precipitation. Biogeochemistry 17:191-204. Bowman WD, Nemergut DR, McKnight DM, Miller MP, Williams MW. 2015 Temporal Trends in the Quality of Streamwater in an Alpine Environment: Green Lakes Valley, Colorado Front Range, U.S.A. Plant Ecology & Diversity 8:5-6, 727-738. Driscoll CT, Johnson NM, Likens GE, Feller MC. 1988. Effects of acidic deposition on the chemistry of headwater streams: a comparison between Hubbard Brook, New Hampshire, and Jamieson Creek, British Columbia. Water Resources Research 24:195-200. Neal C, Reynolds B, Neal M, Wickham H, Hill L, Williams B. 2004. The impact of conifer harvesting on stream water quality: the Afon Hafren, mid-Wales . Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 8:503-520. 6

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Table 1: Mean pH from five water samples collected in the Clemson Experimental Forest Sample Mean pH 1 6.2 2 6.41 3 6.6583 4 6.8333 5 6.8833 P = < 0.001 7

Table 2: Mean pH from five water samples collected in the Clemson Experimental Forest Sample Mean Buffering Capacity 1 0.001288 2 0.001179 3 0.001376 4 0.001377 5 0.001151 P = 0.990491 8

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