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An important environmental partnership has been initiated between Randleman High School and the North Carolina Zoo. Community conservation involving high school students in hands-on science investigation is giving students valuable experience outside the classroom. In return, the Zoo is receiving important data to analyze its impact on the natural waters of the Zoo.
A total of 13 sites have been identified on Zoo property and surrounding areas for the project with Randleman High science teachers, Donna Brown and Cindy Davidson. These teachers feel that ecological problems that have local impact always capture the attention of their students. Having tested the water quality along Deep River for a number of years with their students, the teachers were able and willing to tackle the Zoo’s waterways. Because students are investigating waters in their own community, they are naturally led to question what is happening to the waters and what they and the Zoo can do to preserve or improve its water quality.
A number of chemical tests and scientific probeware are used by the students to test for nitrates, phosphates, dissolved oxygen and pH levels. These tests provide the Zoo with a “snapshot” of what is in the water at the place and time it is measured.
In addition, students are discovering the value of aquatic macroinvertebrates as living indicators of water quality and the overall health of natural water systems. Biological indicators, particularly the benthic macroinvertebrates are excellent indicators of the health of a river or stream. These animals live in the waterway for years and come into contact with whatever enters the waterway over time. Some are more pollution tolerant than others, so students look at how many macroinvertebrates are found and what types are present.
Randleman art students are also actively involved in the project. Students of art teacher Melissa Walker have been busy translating the scientific information into a visual form. Interpreting the watery data, students have created interesting art forms that express the nature of water, aquatic inhabitants and human impacts to aquatic ecosystems.
As a result of their participation in the Zoo’s water quality investigation, Randleman High students are developing the abilities necessary to conduct scientific inquiry. They are also increasing their understanding of factors affecting environmental quality, including the interdependence of organisms and human-induced hazards. This will aide students in learning how science and technology can help people solve local, national and global environmental problems.
The Zoo is greatly benefiting from the student investigations. Staff have been busy identifying potential pollution sources such as sanitary sewers, points of stormwater runoff, petroleum/fuel storage areas, organic waste sites, erosion-prone areas and locales with highest rates of fertilization. Locating these sources, analyzing student-collected data and addressing corrective measures have resulted in the Zoo’s first ‘pollution prevention’ plan. This will certainly aide the Zoo in becoming a better environmental steward by maintaining high quality natural waters for the plants and animals that live on-site and everyone who lives downstream.
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N.C. Zoo is a member institution of AZA and an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr. Secretary; Michael F. Easley, Governor. A part of the North Carolina Government portal.
The Zoo is closed Christmas day and during severe weather. Call our information line at: 1-800-488-0444.
