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Algae

Algae

Algae (AL-gee) live in the water of the vernal pool ecosystem. Individual algae in the vernal pool are very small. Some algae drift alone near the surface of the water, and some algae grow in groups. As they increase in number in their group, they become visible as pool scum. Algae are similar to plants because they make their own food from water and air. Algae are different from plants because they do not have a stem or leaves.

 

Many organisms eat algae such as zooplankton, fairy shrimp, snapping turtles, and water fleas.

Bayshore Pool Water Levels

My team and I collected water level data in Bayshore Pool in every season. We measured the water levels using a ruler. The data below show what my team and I observed. What patterns do you see in the data? What similarities and differences do you see in the water levels last year and the water levels this year?  – Dr. Cortez

Last Year

Spring

This Year

Summer

Fall

Winter

Bayshore Pool Air Levels

My team and I collected the air levels in Bayshore Pool every season last year and this year. Plants that live in water get their air from the vernal pool’s water. Air mixes with the water in the vernal pool. We used a tool called a dissolved air sensor to measure the amount of air in the vernal pool at different times of the year.

– Dr. Cortez

This is a tool called a sensor. The sensor measures the amount of air in the water. 
Lesson 3-1 Bayshore Pool Air Level with
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