# data[].attributes.headline
This creek is extremely contaminated with junk and feces. "...when it rains raw sewage from our toilets and sinks mix with stormwater that goes down storm drains in the street where it all gets dumped into the waterways across the city." This can actually get others really sick, if they come in contact with the water.      "Changes in water quality can have a big impact on the organisms that live in water." (NCA)... The most concerning thing, is the contamination of the water. Not only is it impacting the way the sea animals live, but it can get us humans really sick too. "Specifically, we look for the presence of indicator bacteria Enterococcus - a bacteria that is only present in fecal matter, or poop. If the water has fecal contamination, people should not come into contact with it or they could get pretty sick." I believe we should work on dissolved oxygen because like humans, sea creatures need oxygen to live. The less oxygen they have, the more the population decreases. "Life underwater needs oxygen just like life on land. If oxygen levels are low, marine organisms like fish, shellfish, invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria can't survive." 

# data[].attributes.subject
This creek is extremely contaminated with junk and feces. "...when it rains raw sewage from our toilets and sinks mix with stormwater that goes down storm drains in the street where it all gets dumped into the waterways across the city." This can actually get others really sick, if they come in contact with the water.      "Changes in water quality can have a big impact on the organisms that live in water." (NCA)... The most concerning thing, is the contamination of the water. Not only is it impacting the way the sea animals live, but it can get us humans really sick too. "Specifically, we look for the presence of indicator bacteria Enterococcus - a bacteria that is only present in fecal matter, or poop. If the water has fecal contamination, people should not come into contact with it or they could get pretty sick." I believe we should work on dissolved oxygen because like humans, sea creatures need oxygen to live. The less oxygen they have, the more the population decreases. "Life underwater needs oxygen just like life on land. If oxygen levels are low, marine organisms like fish, shellfish, invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria can't survive." 

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NIA J. 8th grade

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The ecosystem I investigated was Flora and Fauna. The plant, animal, and insect I chose were the Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis "rocky top"), the Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata), and the Orange Sulfur (Colias eurytheme). These three organisms depend on each other in this ecosystem to survive and increase their population. For example, the Orange Sulfur and the Tennessee Coneflower depend on each other since the Orange Sulfur can pollinate and reproduce more Tennessee Coneflowers... Furthermore, the Tennessee Coneflower helps the Orange Sulphur by giving it a food source which leads to a good population of the butterflies. Additionally, with a stable population of the Orange Sulphur, birds like the Yellow-rumped Warbler can survive by feeding off them. According to allaboutbirds.org, “They're active, and you'll often see them sally out to catch insects in midair, sometimes on long flights" (TheCornellLab). This means that there is a predator/prey relationship between the Yellow-rumped Warbler and the Orange Sulphur, but a mutualism relationship between the Orange Sulphur and the Tennessee Coneflower. This ecosystem demonstrates biodiversity because it contains a variety of species that make the ecosystem sustainable. The benefits of having biodiversity in an ecosystem is that it creates a sustainable environment and holds the ecosystem together. This can help humans because many types of medicines are made from different species of plants in places with large biodiversity. Without those plants, we wouldn’t be able to make certain  medicines and cures. Lastly, lots of biodiversity benefits the other animals in that habitat thrive. 

# data[].attributes.subject
The ecosystem I investigated was Flora and Fauna. The plant, animal, and insect I chose were the Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis "rocky top"), the Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata), and the Orange Sulfur (Colias eurytheme). These three organisms depend on each other in this ecosystem to survive and increase their population. For example, the Orange Sulfur and the Tennessee Coneflower depend on each other since the Orange Sulfur can pollinate and reproduce more Tennessee Coneflowers... Furthermore, the Tennessee Coneflower helps the Orange Sulphur by giving it a food source which leads to a good population of the butterflies. Additionally, with a stable population of the Orange Sulphur, birds like the Yellow-rumped Warbler can survive by feeding off them. According to allaboutbirds.org, “They're active, and you'll often see them sally out to catch insects in midair, sometimes on long flights" (TheCornellLab). This means that there is a predator/prey relationship between the Yellow-rumped Warbler and the Orange Sulphur, but a mutualism relationship between the Orange Sulphur and the Tennessee Coneflower. This ecosystem demonstrates biodiversity because it contains a variety of species that make the ecosystem sustainable. The benefits of having biodiversity in an ecosystem is that it creates a sustainable environment and holds the ecosystem together. This can help humans because many types of medicines are made from different species of plants in places with large biodiversity. Without those plants, we wouldn’t be able to make certain  medicines and cures. Lastly, lots of biodiversity benefits the other animals in that habitat thrive. 

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ELIZABETH J. 8th grade

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I investigated the Flora and Fauna ecosystem. I chose the Echinacea plant, the Yellow-rumped Warbler bird, and the Black Swallowtail butterfly.  The Echinacea plant attracts butterflies and birds. This could mean that the plant serves as a food source for my other two focuses. This is an example of a predator/prey relationship. According to the food web that was provided, cats eat both insects and birds so this is another example of a predator/prey relationship. This ecosystem demonstrates biodiversity because it has a variety of species. Some of the benefits of this ecosystem having a lot of biodiversity is that it boosts productivity within the ecosystem and biodiversity helps keeps the ecosystem healthy.

# data[].attributes.subject
I investigated the Flora and Fauna ecosystem. I chose the Echinacea plant, the Yellow-rumped Warbler bird, and the Black Swallowtail butterfly.  The Echinacea plant attracts butterflies and birds. This could mean that the plant serves as a food source for my other two focuses. This is an example of a predator/prey relationship. According to the food web that was provided, cats eat both insects and birds so this is another example of a predator/prey relationship. This ecosystem demonstrates biodiversity because it has a variety of species. Some of the benefits of this ecosystem having a lot of biodiversity is that it boosts productivity within the ecosystem and biodiversity helps keeps the ecosystem healthy.

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ANJELICA A. 8th grade

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Based on the flood map, it looks like HPCMS is in Hurricane Zone 1.  It has this rating because, I can see that HPCMS is located very close to the East River which has a low-lying topography and it puts them at high risk for severe flooding. This is true because when there is a big storm such as a hurricane, the water rises above sea level and any land close to the water can get heavily flooded due to storm surges.  Sea level rising and flooding can impact how a community uses a city’s waterfront by damaging its property and buildings. I agree with this because Hurricane Sandy caused such severe flooding in the streets that it poured in subway stations causing electrical issues. This made it difficult for people to commute to work or school and in fact, schools were shut down for the week due to this.  Buildings were flooded as well, causing damage to the structures inside them. People were not able to go to work as a result of the flooding. Two features of the shoreline have a special design that protects the waterfront. The athletic field is a big round turf field inside of Hunter’s Point South Park and the Berms are mounds of earth, gravel, rock, and other materials.  Both of these features help to prevent flooding because they keep the water from spilling into the streets. This evidence is important because, in addition to the athletic field being used as a surface for people to play sports on, it doubles as a green infrastructure that can hold up to 600,000 gallons of water which can certainly prevent water from flooding the streets.

# data[].attributes.subject
Based on the flood map, it looks like HPCMS is in Hurricane Zone 1.  It has this rating because, I can see that HPCMS is located very close to the East River which has a low-lying topography and it puts them at high risk for severe flooding. This is true because when there is a big storm such as a hurricane, the water rises above sea level and any land close to the water can get heavily flooded due to storm surges.  Sea level rising and flooding can impact how a community uses a city’s waterfront by damaging its property and buildings. I agree with this because Hurricane Sandy caused such severe flooding in the streets that it poured in subway stations causing electrical issues. This made it difficult for people to commute to work or school and in fact, schools were shut down for the week due to this.  Buildings were flooded as well, causing damage to the structures inside them. People were not able to go to work as a result of the flooding. Two features of the shoreline have a special design that protects the waterfront. The athletic field is a big round turf field inside of Hunter’s Point South Park and the Berms are mounds of earth, gravel, rock, and other materials.  Both of these features help to prevent flooding because they keep the water from spilling into the streets. This evidence is important because, in addition to the athletic field being used as a surface for people to play sports on, it doubles as a green infrastructure that can hold up to 600,000 gallons of water which can certainly prevent water from flooding the streets.

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MATTHEW T. 8th grade

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The ecosystem I've chosen was flora and fauna. The three organism I chosen are the Butterflyweed, Orange Sulfur and Spring Tails. They are very important to this ecosystems. The butterflyweed and Orange Sulfur have a mutualistic relationship, the plant provides food for the butterfly. The butterfly is a pollinator so it helps pollinate the Butterfly weed and other plants. The spring tails are the decomposers in the environment that are important in breaking down other organisms so that it provide nutrients for many plants such as the Butterflyweed. My ecosystem has a lot of biodiversity in that if one organism were to decrease it wouldn't have a huge affect in the whole ecosystems.

# data[].attributes.subject
The ecosystem I've chosen was flora and fauna. The three organism I chosen are the Butterflyweed, Orange Sulfur and Spring Tails. They are very important to this ecosystems. The butterflyweed and Orange Sulfur have a mutualistic relationship, the plant provides food for the butterfly. The butterfly is a pollinator so it helps pollinate the Butterfly weed and other plants. The spring tails are the decomposers in the environment that are important in breaking down other organisms so that it provide nutrients for many plants such as the Butterflyweed. My ecosystem has a lot of biodiversity in that if one organism were to decrease it wouldn't have a huge affect in the whole ecosystems.

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DANIEL R. 8th grade

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I choose the Resilient Design because I wanted to learn about the Athletic field. So turns out the turf athletic field in Hunter's Point South Park shows a case of effectiveness and common sense. In a structure highlight that serves two totally different, however significant purposes. The field is intended to be a multi-use play surface, where on a beautiful day you will see individuals of any age going around, playing frisbee, soccer, football, and that's just what they like doing. It likewise serves as a green foundation highlight that can hold up to 600,000 gallons of water, shielding the area from potential tempest flood.

# data[].attributes.subject
I choose the Resilient Design because I wanted to learn about the Athletic field. So turns out the turf athletic field in Hunter's Point South Park shows a case of effectiveness and common sense. In a structure highlight that serves two totally different, however significant purposes. The field is intended to be a multi-use play surface, where on a beautiful day you will see individuals of any age going around, playing frisbee, soccer, football, and that's just what they like doing. It likewise serves as a green foundation highlight that can hold up to 600,000 gallons of water, shielding the area from potential tempest flood.

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ALIN P. 8th grade

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I investigated a rooftop garden ecosystem. On the rooftop there is a plant called the Tennessee Purple Coneflower. Moths eat the plant's nectar, these moths are also eaten by bats. The biodiversity in this rooftop garden allows many different plants and animals to live happily. This is proven because large amounts of life are able to coexist.

# data[].attributes.subject
I investigated a rooftop garden ecosystem. On the rooftop there is a plant called the Tennessee Purple Coneflower. Moths eat the plant's nectar, these moths are also eaten by bats. The biodiversity in this rooftop garden allows many different plants and animals to live happily. This is proven because large amounts of life are able to coexist.

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ANDREW Z. 8th grade

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Newtown Creek is a part of the Hudson River Estuary which is a mix of salty ocean water from the Atlantic and fresh river water from the Hudson. ... People at NCA look for the presence of indicator bacteria Enterococcus - a bacteria that is only present in fecal matter, or poop. If the water has fecal contamination, people should not come into contact with it or they could get pretty sick. NCA [is] trying to find ways to make the once loved creek into a non polluted area that the public can enjoy. [They] are trying to make the creek less polluted by spreading awareness to this area. I think that the amount of oxygen levels and pH levels are the most concerning. "Life underwater needs oxygen just like life on land. If oxygen levels are low, marine organisms like fish, shellfish, invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria can't survive." If there is a low oxygen level, it would be hard for many species to live in the creek.

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Newtown Creek is a part of the Hudson River Estuary which is a mix of salty ocean water from the Atlantic and fresh river water from the Hudson. ... People at NCA look for the presence of indicator bacteria Enterococcus - a bacteria that is only present in fecal matter, or poop. If the water has fecal contamination, people should not come into contact with it or they could get pretty sick. NCA [is] trying to find ways to make the once loved creek into a non polluted area that the public can enjoy. [They] are trying to make the creek less polluted by spreading awareness to this area. I think that the amount of oxygen levels and pH levels are the most concerning. "Life underwater needs oxygen just like life on land. If oxygen levels are low, marine organisms like fish, shellfish, invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria can't survive." If there is a low oxygen level, it would be hard for many species to live in the creek.

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ELENI S. 8th grade

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In the 1600's a Native tribe roamed the land. They were called the Lenape. They interacted peacefully with the environment acting with a mentality that showed that the land around them was not their's to ruin. When the Europeans came and brutally slaughtered hundreds of them, that mentality shifted. The new inhabitants wanted to broaden their economy and population. Now, in 2020, that mentality still shows. ... Birds are roaming around [today], but have we made up for all of the things we have done in the past? In the early 1600 the Lenape had a small footprint on their land and water. Ours, even in Quarantine is nowhere near theirs. Some might say it is just the tax that comes with progress, but it could also be greed. The same greed that took the Lenape's home away from them is taking our environment at an extremely fast pace.

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In the 1600's a Native tribe roamed the land. They were called the Lenape. They interacted peacefully with the environment acting with a mentality that showed that the land around them was not their's to ruin. When the Europeans came and brutally slaughtered hundreds of them, that mentality shifted. The new inhabitants wanted to broaden their economy and population. Now, in 2020, that mentality still shows. ... Birds are roaming around [today], but have we made up for all of the things we have done in the past? In the early 1600 the Lenape had a small footprint on their land and water. Ours, even in Quarantine is nowhere near theirs. Some might say it is just the tax that comes with progress, but it could also be greed. The same greed that took the Lenape's home away from them is taking our environment at an extremely fast pace.

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CHIARA O. 6th grade

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I think that pollution is affecting all the other problems happening now, by really endangering many people's health, which means that these people will be more susceptible to COVID. But, if we work to clean the air and water, and use bio-friendly fuel, we could help so many people.  For example, the US passed the Clean Water Act, which carefully regulated all discharges into navigable waters - a marked change for industries on Newtown Creek. The modern-day environmental movement in the country was beginning. This shows that if we make sure that dirty water doesn't go to Newtown Creek, then people might become a lot healthier and as result, perhaps COVID won't affect as many people."

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I think that pollution is affecting all the other problems happening now, by really endangering many people's health, which means that these people will be more susceptible to COVID. But, if we work to clean the air and water, and use bio-friendly fuel, we could help so many people.  For example, the US passed the Clean Water Act, which carefully regulated all discharges into navigable waters - a marked change for industries on Newtown Creek. The modern-day environmental movement in the country was beginning. This shows that if we make sure that dirty water doesn't go to Newtown Creek, then people might become a lot healthier and as result, perhaps COVID won't affect as many people."

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ALEIA F. 6th grade