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https://www.nrem.iastate.edu/research/STRIPs/people
Do you recognize any of these contributers to the Prairie Strips Project? Would you like to do any research like this some day?

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Be sure to check th FAQ's

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Prairie strips is a farmland conservation practice that have been shown to yield disproportionate benefits for soil, water, and biodiversity when integrated into corn and soy fields. Explore this page to learn more about the design and benefits of STRIPS.

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What is the chemical formula for nitrate? Atmospheric Nitrogen?

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What are the parts of this bioreactor? What do the bacteria do to the NO3 in fish tank water?

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How does NO3 become N2?

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Answer the Question

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How does the presence of Nitrates in our water really effect us?

Does the presence of nitrates affect water quality?

Unlike temperature and dissolved oxygen, the presence of normal levels of nitrates usually does not have a direct effect on aquatic insects or fish. However, excess levels of nitrates in water can create conditions that make it difficult for aquatic insects or fish to survive.

Algae and other plants use nitrates as a source of food. If algae have an unlimited source of nitrates, their growth is unchecked. So, Why is that a problem?

A bay or estuary that has the milky colour of pea soup is showing the result of high concentrations of algae. Large amounts of algae can cause extreme fluctuations in dissolved oxygen. Photosynthesis by algae and other plants can generate oxygen during the day. However, at night, dissolved oxygen may decrease to very low levels as a result of large numbers of oxygen consuming bacteria feeding on dead or decaying algae and other plants.

Eutrophication - "The process by which a body of water acquires a high concentration of nutrients, especially phosphates and nitrates. These typically promote excessive growth of algae. As the algae die and decompose, high levels of organic matter and the decomposing organisms deplete the water of available oxygen, causing the death of other organisms, such as fish.

Anoxia - Anoxic Event: Anoxia is a lack of oxygen caused by excessive nutrients in waterways which triggers algae growth. When the plants die and decay, oxygen is stripped from the water, which then turns green or milky white and gives off a strong rotten egg odour. The lack of oxygen is often deadly for invertebrates, fish and shellfish.

Can the presence of nitrates affect human health?

People who use wells as a source of drinking water need to monitor the level of nitrates in their well water. If you drink water that is high in nitrates, it can interfere with the ability of your red blood cells to transport oxygen. Infants who drink water high in nitrates may turn "bluish" and appear to have difficulty in breathing since their bodies are not receiving enough oxygen.

Just like dissolved oxygen, temperature, and pH, the amount of nitrates in water is determined by both natural processes and human intervention. A body of water may be naturally high in nitrates or have elevated nitrate levels as a result of careless human activities.

Why do we need nitrogen? What are the sources of Nitrogen?

Nitrogen is essential for all living things: animals and plants. Nitrogen forms a part of the proteins and DNA that are found in cells. Animals get nitrogen by eating plants and other animals.

Just like animals, plants require nitrogen to grow and survive. But they do not get nitrogen by consuming proteins like animals do. Plants get nitrogen from water and from the soil. They get nitrogen by absorbing it in the form of nitrates and ammonium. Nitrates are the major source of nitrogen for aquatic plants.

Nitrates are not utilized by aquatic organisms such as fish and aquatic insects, but nitrates are used by aquatic plants.

Where do Nitrates come from?

All aquatic organisms excrete wastes and aquatic plants and organisms eventually die. These activities create ammonia. Some bacteria in the water change this ammonia to produce nitrite which is then converted by other bacteria to nitrate. Nitrates (NO ³⁻) are an oxidized form of nitrogen and are formed by combining oxygen and nitrogen.

Nitrates also come from the earth. Soil contains organic matter, which contains nitrogen compounds. Just like the ammonia in water, these nitrogen compounds in the soil are converted by bacteria into nitrates.

Although nitrates occur naturally in soil and water, an excess levels of nitrates can be considered to be a contaminant of ground and surface waters. Most sources of excess nitrates come from human activity. The source of excess nitrates can usually be traced to agricultural activities, human wastes, or industrial pollution.

Nitrogen fertilizers have been applied to yards, fields, golf courses to promote the growth of plants. Rainwater can wash nitrates in the fertilizer into streams and rivers or the nitrates can seep into ground water. This can also occur with animal waste and manure.

In addition to animal waste, untreated human sewage can contribute to nitrate levels in surface and ground water. Leaking or poorly functioning septic systems are a source of such nitrates. City sewage treatment plants treat sewage to make it non-hazardous, but treatment plants still release nitrates into waterways. In addition, industrial plants and agricultural processing operations are potential sources of nitrate pollution.

How do nitrates affect human health?

Nitrate concentrations are monitored in municipal water supplies and foods to prevent exposing people to the potential harmful effects of high levels of nitrates. Nitrates are highly soluble, meaning that they easily dissolve in water. For many people in rural areas, the primary source of drinking water is well water, which may be contaminated with nitrates. Nitrates are colorless and odorless, so their presence cannot be determined without the use of special testing equipment.

Nitrates can interfere with the ability of our red blood cells to carry oxygen. Infants are more at risk of nitrate poisoning than older children or adults. Babies can turn "blue" when there is not enough oxygen being transported by their blood. This "blue baby syndrome" (technically known as methemoglobinemia) is a serious condition that can cause brain damage or death.

How do nitrates affect the health of aquatic animals?

Fish and aquatic insects can be affected indirectly by increased nitrate concentrations in the water.

Basically, any excess nitrate in the water is a source of fertilizer for aquatic plants and algae. In many cases, the amount of nitrate in the water is what limits how much plants and algae can grow. If there is an excess level of nitrates, plants and algae will grow excessively.

Excess plants in a body of water can create many problems. An excess in the growth of plants and algae create an unstable amount of dissolved oxygen. During the day, there will be usually be high levels of dissolved oxygen, and at night the levels of oxygen can decrease dramatically.

This will create stressful conditions for fish. If they are stressed for a significant part of the day, they will not behave normally or reproduce. If the conditions persist for a long period of time, the stressed fish species may choose to leave that area or die off.

Excess algae or plant growth is also unsightly. If you've ever been to a beach where mats of rotting algae wash up on shore or the bottom of the lake is teaming with weeds, it's probably because excess nitrates are available for plant growth.

Excess plants and algae will also create conditions where organic matter accumulates. High densities of algae will create a condition where sunlight cannot reach very far into the water. Since plants and algae require some sunlight, plants and algae not receiving sunlight will die off. These dead plant materials will settle to the bottom of the water and bacteria that feed on decaying organic material will greatly increase in numbers. These bacteria will consume oxygen and, therefore, the level of dissolved oxygen in this water will fall to levels that are too low for many aquatic insects and fish to survive. Also, this can cause extreme changes in habitat. Fish that need gravel or sand for spawning may find nothing but mats of vegetation and muck so will be unable to produce offspring.

Information by: Partnership For Environmental Education and Rural Health
PEI - Rivers on PEI with anoxic events.
PEI News Items on Wheatley River Anoxic Events.

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Nitrates and Their Effect on Water Quality - A Quick Study

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How does the presence of Nitrates in our water really effect us? Does the presence of nitrates affect water quality? Unlike temperature and dissolved oxygen, the presence of normal levels of nitrates usually does not have a direct effect on aquatic insects or fish.

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The air we breathes is composed of primarily 2 gases. What percent of air is Nitrogen as N2?

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Top Weather Events 2016 and Environmental Science

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Top Weather Events 2016 and Environmental Science

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https://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=3536 Air PollutionWhat are 3 relevant ideas to this class that can be found in event

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Is this an open or closed system? Provide at least 2 types of evidence.

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Is this an open or closed Ecosystem? Provide at least 2 pieces of evidence.

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Closed ecosystems have a finite amount of resources to recycle. Open systems can have materials added to and removed from the system

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Many of us remember the terrarium craze back in the 1970s - the standard fishbowl containers with ferns and driftwood that our parents or grandparents used to put together. In recent years, the terrarium has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, but the new ones are anything but replicas of the ones of past generations. They are fresh, new takes on an old favorite, and the only thing they have in common with their predecessors is that they comprise clear glass containers and plants. It's almost like Guerrilla Gardening for your home! Here's what you need to know to create your own mini glass-enclosed ecosystem for your home or office.

Containers

Clear glass containers are still the way to go - after all, how else would you get to enjoy the contents? But instead of reaching for the standard fishbowl shape, consider your other options. Start by looking around your house for inspiration. Do you have mason jars, clear empty wine bottles, even large light bulbs? Each of these can serve as a terrarium container (for the light bulb terrarium, check out these instructions.

Keep a lookout for new and unusual glass containers the next time you're shopping at a craft store, home improvement store, or discount chain store. They often have containers in more contemporary shapes and sizes - look for large and small squares, cylinders, globes, and rectangles.

And have you ever heard of aeriums? These are terrariums that hang, like a potted plant. They can be tiny 6" hanging spheres or much larger glass teardrops - both have side openings and can be purchased online or at your favorite garden center.

Open vs. Closed

The definition is simple - open terrariums have an opening with no lid, while closed terrariums have a lid that encloses the mini garden - but the differences are huge and can mean life or death for your terrarium garden. Closed terrariums create a humid environment and are perfect choices for those tiny tropicals, like ferns, while open terrariums allow more air circulation for plants like succulents and tillandsias (air plants). Try growing a succulent in a closed terrarium and you'll quickly have a rotted mess on your hands.

Plants

When you shop, look for plants in 2" or 4" plastic nursery pots. If your container is a much larger one, suitable as a focal point on a table, you might be able to get away with using plants in 6" containers.

Next, make your plant choice based upon which type of terrarium you are creating, open or closed. Plants for closed terrariums include miniature ferns, begonias, mosses, African violets, prayer plants, and baby's tears. Great plant choices for open terrariums include succulents, tillandsias, dwarf sansevieria, and cacti. Remember that many of the plants that do well in the closed terrarium can also be used in an open one; you may simply need to water them a bit more. Check out the last illustration for tips on plant selection.

Materials

There are some standard materials you'll need regardless of the terrarium size or type, and some specific materials/tools that are necessary if you choose particular plants like cacti or vessels like wine bottles.

Activated charcoal: This is the base layer of your terrarium, and it helps with drainage and maintenance. Activated charcoal is found at the pet or aquarium supply store, and absorbs chemicals, toxins, and odors in the soil, water, and air that can build up inside your terrarium over time, damaging your plants.

Gravel: You can use gravel instead of the activated charcoal, but you'll need to be a little more on top of your terrarium's maintenance to avoid rotting and odors if you do. You can simply use gravel as an additional decorative layer, which is part of the fun in creating terrariums. Look for pea gravel, colored aquarium gravel, small river rocks, or smooth moon pebbles. Smaller gravels can also be used as topdressings in your terrarium to cover the soil.

Soil: Choose a soil that is recommended for the plants you are using, as ferns and cacti have different requirements.

Moss: Different colored mosses, available in the floral section of your craft store, are textural additions to your terrarium. They can be used to separate the soil from the gravel, as a stunning decorative layer, or as a topdressing for the more moisture-loving plants like ferns. Avoid using moss around arid plants like cacti and succulents.

Tools: While there are standard tools for terrarium building that can be purchased in a kit, you can also use items found around your home. Chopsticks are great for adding and moving materials through the narrow neck of a wine bottle, tweezers are good for handling spiny cacti, and long-handled teaspoons mimic a miniature shovel or trowel when manipulating materials.

Decorative items: These are the items that make your terrarium come to life. Look for tiny statuary (Buddhas, zombies, fairy garden accessories), gnarled driftwood, seashells - anything that makes you smile, expresses your personality, or starts a conversation.

Construction

1. Start with a 1-2" layer of your base, either activated charcoal or gravel.

2. Add another layer of either gravel or moss. If your base layer is gravel, opt for a larger river rock for contrast, or moss.

3. Add a layer of soil recommended for your plants. The amount of soil depends upon how large your container is as well as the size of your plants, but should begin at 2-3 inches. If you are using tillandsias, no soil is needed.

4. Carefully add your plants, one at a time, using terrarium tools or items found around your home. Make sure the roots are planted firmly into the soil.

5. Topdress with gravel, river rock, or moss.

6. Add decorative elements.

Maintenance

Most terrarium plants require bright indirect light, so be sure to place your terrarium by a bright window. Keep an eye on your plants' health, though - if leaves are turning brown, you may need to move your terrarium to a less bright location in your office or home.

Watering with closed terrariums is simple and easy - because the lid creates humidity, these types of terrariums don't need weekly watering. In fact, some can go a few months without added moisture; be prepared to experiment to find the best balance. Start by watering every two weeks, using an eyedropper, spoon, or water sprayer to add small amounts of water to your plants. If plants begin wilting, it's time to increase the watering schedule, but if water begins to accumulate on the bottom of the container, decrease watering immediately.

For open containers with succulents or cacti, water very sparingly, just as you would with these types of plants in any container, and keep an eye on any accumulated water. Remember, terrariums have no drainage holes, so when they feature arid plants, try only adding a dropperful of water at a time. Tillandsias will need to be taken out of the open terrarium, soaked in water for 20 minutes each week, then allowed to thoroughly dry out before they're returned to the terrarium.

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Many of us remember the terrarium craze back in the 1970s - the standard fishbowl containers with ferns and driftwood that our parents or grandparents used to put together. In recent years, the terrarium has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, but the new ones are anything but replicas of the ones of past generations.