Methods
Data Collection
Figure 2. Map of Edmonton showing the 35 ponds sampled for water quality data, indicated by teal points, highlighting the 5 that were also sampled for invertebrates, with each coloured circle representing a different pond. Base layer and points created using Google Maps.
I collected water samples from 35 stormwater ponds in the Edmonton area, and invertebrate samples from 5 of those ponds. To collect invertebrate samples, I used a 500 µm dip net, pushed through a 1 m2 section of water for 30 seconds. The samples were then transported to the lab, where vegetation was removed, and the specimens were sorted, identified down to Order, and subsequently stored in 95% ethanol. Water chemistry data was collected on June 6, June 7, and June 8, 2023, and analyzed by the Bureau Veritas Lab, with funding from EPCOR.
Figure 3. Field technicians examining dipnet sample in a bucket.
Analysis
I used a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to visualize the correlation between all of my water quality variables, with an added scale to represent the 5 ponds sampled for invertebrates, and the total number of different invertebrate Orders found at each pond. I also used a boxplot to visualize the different invertebrate Orders and their abundance at each pond. A scatter plot was used to represent the chloride concentrations of each pond and their respective abundance of the specified invertebrate.