On Wednesday June 17th, a coach full of dry, and enthusiastic year ten express science pupils, were let loose on the wilderness of Lightmoor. Only to be told by wildlife expert Ms Keeble that if we did not get eaten by Lightmoors resident alsations, who were not over amused to be blessed with our presence, we would later die from viles disease caused by intake of rats urine present in the water. The tribe of now, wet Charlton pupils, armed with little more than a small fishing net, a paint pallet, several pieces of plastic kitchen cutlery, and a small tray with only our common sense to guide us, ventured into the unknown with thoughts of Indiana Jones and his raiders of the Lost Arc swimming through our heads. Our mission was to seek out, observe and analyse any unsuspecting organisms that happened to inhabit the once peaceful ponds of Lightmoor.

To collect our data we took the small fishing nets and did figure of eight sweeps in the water for thirty seconds. We carefully inverted the net allowing the minibeasts to swim out into a tray of water. We then scooped out the different species and separated them into individual sections. After observing our findings, we recorded and calculated our results, of which are attached. (Soon to be available as a download to this web site, LAG.)

We used this method in open water with a light intensity of 9.5, in water shaded by trees and in muddy water which both have a light intensity of 1. All areas of the pond have a p.H. of 7-neutral.

These results give us detailed information of the present pollution levels of the pond without using any complicated high-tech equipment. Using the ‘Modified Trent Biotic Index’ we can conclude that the water is very clean and unpolluted. The ‘Modified Trent Biotic Index’ states that "As the degree of organic pollution in a stream, river or pond increases, types of organisms tend to disappear in the following order:

Stone fly nymphs, mayfly nymphs, caddis fly larvae, freshwater shrimp, water hoglouse. As the table of results shows stone fly nymphs are present in Lightmoor pond. This proves the water is very clean and unpolluted. Also using the ‘Modified Trent Biotic Index’ chart we can see that the pond has a Biotic Indices of 7.

If the proposed building plans go ahead, we believe that it will effect the pollution and wildlife content in the pond, in the following ways:

As the development is constructed many roads, paths and pavements will be built between the houses. They will be created using concrete and tarmac. These substances are dense and non-porous, this means nothing can pass through them, this includes water. In a natural habitat rain water will be absorbed into the soil and due to the slant of the ground would run through the soil and collect in the pond. This keeps, what is known as the water table, constant. The reason the water can’t run down is because drainage systems will be built which will take away all the water apart from what is in peoples gardens which can enter the soil and run down into the ponds. This will cause a reduction in the water tables.

Many people use fertilisers on their gardens to increase the growth of their plants. This will enter the ponds through the soil and will cause algae to thrive which will cover the surface of the pond. When these algae die their remains will sink to the bottom causing a huge increase in decomposing bacteria which use all of the available oxygen depriving other organisms of the oxygen they need to respire. This will eventually kill off all the living things in the pond. Also people will use weed killers and pesticides which will reach the ponds in the same way also killing the organisms but with faster effects.

During our search for creatures of the ponds we discovered several newts. Newts are a protected species which need a living area of 500 metres around the pond, because they are amphibians who will not only need water but also need land as well. Therefore by law their habitat should not be built over, but the land proposed to be used is under 100 metres away from the pond! Therefore we would like to see the proposed building sites changed to accommodate the needs of the newts and survival of the ponds.