For East End Kids
Are you interested in learning more about the ponds, rivers, oceans, and estuaries near you? Keep reading for more information!
What is Water Quality?
Water quality is how clean the water is. Pollutants like oil, garbage, and fertilizer can get into the water and affect marine ecosystems. When the water quality is good, it means that the plants, animals, and habitats there are usually healthy and happy.
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Threats To Water Health and What You Can Do To Help
The waters of the East End are becoming more and more polluted. When it rains, the rainwater absorbs into the ground and travels to ponds, streams, and the ocean. This can cause harmful algae to grow which can be toxic. Garbage also gets into these waterways and can hurt sea life.
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What you can do:
Talk to your parents about reducing or cutting out your use of fertilizer.
Look into natural fertilizers that are less harmful to the environment.
Learn more about the ecosystems near you.
Get involved in beach cleanups and other environmental movements.
Explore nature!
Vocabulary
Ecosystem-the system of interactions between different organisms and their environment.
Pollution- harmful substances being introduced to an environment.
Fertilizer- something that helps with plant growth
Bacteria- microscopic organisms that can live in a wide variety of environments. They are only made up of one cell and they help to break down organic matter.
Algae- mainly aquatic organisms that can be made up of one or many cells. Types of algae include spirulina which
Fun Facts About Oysters and Kelp!
There are more than 200 different species of oysters.
Oysters eat by pulling in water then pushing it out through their gills, trapping algae and small organisms.
One oyster can filter between 30 and 50 gallons of water every day.
Oysters can help protect the coastlines from erosion.
Kelp is actually a type of large algae rather than a plant.
Some kelp species can grow to more than 150ft (45m).
Kelp is sometime used as a binding paste in products like toothpaste and ice cream.
Kelp can help reverse climate change because it draws down carbon from the atmosphere.
