A group of Mahopac High School students conducted a variety of scientific tests on samples from the Hudson River to create a snapshot of the river’s ecology. Under the guidance of their science teachers Rob D’Alessandro, Ryan D’Alessandro and Scott Rizzo, the students from Living Environment and Advanced Placement Environmental Science classes participated in the annual “Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor” on Oct. 10.
They joined thousands of other students stationed along the Hudson River in conducting a variety of scientific tests. Organized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in partnership with the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, the students and environmental educators gathered data and shared their results, gaining a better understanding of the health of the river as they build data literacy.
Rizzo explained how collecting data reinforces students’ science curriculum.
“Once a year, on the same day, Hudson Valley schools record the biological, chemical, and physical water parameters at each location using scientific tools to measure and observe their natural surroundings and then upload their data to the DEC,” Rizzo said. “This data can then be used by schools to develop lesson plans using our local ecology. By reviewing the shared data, students learn that the environment impacts species diversity and that each species has preferred environments.”
As part of the experience, the students collected data at a scenic riverfront location in Verplanck, New York, where they collaborated in groups and rotated between biological, chemical, and physical data stations.
At the biological station, the students used a large seine net to collect fish and macroinvertebrate samples from the river, such as striped bass, jellyfish, and crabs, before counting, measuring and identifying the species. At the chemical station, they collected and tested water samples for salinity, pH, nitrates, phosphates, alkalinity, and iron. And at the physical station, they analyzed sediment core from the river and noted birds and commercial and residential watercraft in the vicinity.
