Data compared from 10/14/06, 10/28/06, 01/20/07, 03/25/07, 07/14/07, 10/06/07

Location: Along the Etowah River at the International Appachian Academy (2.5 miles above Hwy 52W bridge) and Revival Gardens Organic Farm, (1 mile up-river from bridge on Hwy 52W)

Hypothesis: higher levels of dissolved oxygen due to colder water temperatures make conditions more favorable to Mayflies and Stoneflies. Craneflies, on the other hand, may not require as high a level of dissolved oxygen and thrived more when water temperatures are higher and oxygen levels lower. We came up with this hypothesis when we noticed a pattern of contrasts between the data of each sample (see the rows in bold below) and then looked for clues in the invertebrate categories in the Georgia Adopt-a-stream quality assessment formula. Because Mayflies and Stoneflies are the most sensitive to lower levels of oxygen, and Craneflies are less so, we made the connection that the higher levels of dissolved oxygen in the lower water temperatures of winter may have contributed to the rise and drop in these populations respectively. We don't normally think of winter water conditions as being conducive for life, but we can imagine it now. By early spring, invertebrates in general are thriving and, likewise, fish would be thriving too, as they would have more to eat. The sampling on 10/06/07 followed several months of drought and the lower water levels may have have contributed to the lower sample rates.