Welcome to the EcoPond Trail @ De La Salle School

Welcome to the EcoPond Trail @ De La Salle School.

The gardeners and teachers have discovered a problem at the EcoPond. They need your assistance in helping to solve this problem.

The Water Hyacinth plant in the pond does not seem to be growing well. You need to figure out why the Water Hyacinth is not growing well.

There are 4 stations set up to guide you through the process. Each of the groups will start at different stations, the order in which you do the stations will not affect the outcome of your findings.

Proceed to the Station your teacher has asked you to go to and scan the QR code to get your next set of instructions.

All the best.

Station 4: Why is the Water Hyacinth not growing well in the Eco-Pond

Now that you have analyzed the water quality as well as the environmental conditions in and around the EcoPond. You need to explain why you believe the Water Hyacinth is not growing well in the Eco-Pond.

Click here to answer the question

Congratulations you are  done with the EcoPond Trail.

Station 3: Calculate the amount of Sunlight per day

Visit this link to find out the number of hours of Sunlight at De Lasalle School on a given day. Do take into account that the classroom block shields the EcoPond from receiving sunlight in the mornings.


http://www.suncalc.net/#/1.395,103.7436,17/2013.05.29/01:10

Station 2: Water quality affecting the growth of Water Hyacinth

Factors that affect growth of Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinth best grows in ponds or slow moving water bodies, such as rivers, dams, lakes and wetlands, in tropical to temperate climates. It can survive frosting but requires temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius for growth, with optimal growth occurring between 28 ˚C and 30 ˚C, but not exceeding 35 ˚C.

Water Hyacinth can grow well in water of pH range from 4.0 to 8.0. It can also survive in water with salinities up to 15 per cent that of sea water.

Although water hyacinth will grow in almost any water body, including low-nutrient conditions, it requires abundant nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium for optimal growth. So, water hyacinth plant loves water bodies with high-nutrient levels, such as those found downstream of agricultural or urban areas.

When the water quality fits the water hyacinth, it can grow very quickly and completely take over water bodies if left unchecked. Its population can double just in two weeks.

Information adapted from: http://www.weeds.org.au/WoNS/waterhyacinth/docs/47053%20ERGO%20Weed%20Mgmt%20guide%20WATER%20HYACINTH_web_FA.pdf

Station 1 : Adaptations of the Water Hyacinth

About Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinth is a free-floating water plant that forms large, dense mats on the water surface. Each plant consists of several broad, waxy leaves, spongy leaf stalks and a mass of fine, hairy roots.

Left picture from: http://www.cloca.com/lwc/wetlands_invasive.php

Leaves

Leaves are smooth, hairless and waxy. They are generally a bright green colour and can be found with yellow edges. The leaves are attached to thick spongy leaf stalks. The stems may grow to be 50 cm long and contain different amounts of air, which enable the plant to float.

Stems

There are two types of stems:

• Stems can grow up to 60 cm long, with flowers,
• Horizontal growing stems (stolons) around 10 cm long can produce new daughter plants.

Seeds

Seeds are 1 to 1.5 mm long and roughly egg-shaped, with ridges from end to end. They are long-lived and may survive in mud for up to 20 years. Seeds have also remained viable over very long periods in dry soil.

Roots

Roots are fibrous and featherlike. In deep water, they may trail below the plant and can be up to 1 m in length. In shallow water, the roots may trap mud or sediment.

Flowers

Flowers are 4 to 7 cm across, funnel-shaped, light bluish-purple or dark blue with a yellow centre and have six distinct petals. The upper petal is darker purple with a yellow mark in the centre. Flowers can self-fertilise and are formed on upright stems with between 3 and 35 (but commonly 8) flowers on each spike.

Information adapated from: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds/profiles/water-hyacinth