Investigating the Relationship Between Salinity and Concentration of Microorganisms on Water Clarity in Vancouver's Lakes and Ponds

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between salinity, microbial concentration, and water clarity in five distinct lakes and ponds in Vancouver: Central Park Upper Pond, Nitobe Memorial Garden Pond, Minuro Lake, Deer Lake, and Burnaby Lake. Using a refractometer for salinity measurements, a hemocytometer for cell counts, and a custom lux-measuring tool for light's penetration through samples, the study aims to test two hypotheses: that higher salinity increases water clarity and that higher microorganism concentrations correlated inversely with lux readings. However, the hypothesis about salinity's effect on clarity was unsupported, as all sampled water sources read zero salinity. Notably, Burnaby Lake displayed unique characteristics, where microbial concentrations correlated proportionally with lux readings, indicating a significant pollution impact. These findings demonstrate that water clarity is directly and indirectly influenced by environmental factors, highlighting the need for future studies to further investigate these dynamics.