What is PNI ?A Chesapeake Bay Trust-funded collaboration

among:Carroll County Public SchoolsMaryland Sea GrantThe Society for Ocean SciencesMorgan State University, Estuarine Research Center

An inquiry-based learning program to build an understanding of the sources, impacts and possible control strategies for nutrient enrichment of the Patapsco and Patuxent River watersheds

Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience Grant

What is a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience?

• is investigative or project oriented • is an integral part of the instructional program • is part of a sustained activity• considers the watershed as a system

An MWEE:

An MWEE consists of three parts:

The preparation phase focuses on a question, problem, or issue and involves students in discussions about it.

The action phase includes one or more outdoor experiences sufficient to conduct the project, make the observations, or collect the data required.

The reflection phase should refocus on the question, problem, or issue; analyze the conclusions reached; evaluate the results; assess the activity and the learning; and include sharing and communication of the results.

Nutrient Enrichment and Limitation in the Sub-estuaries of the Chesapeake

Bay

1. What are the different types of plankton and why are they important?

2. What is the impact of nutrient enrichment to the ecology of the Chesapeake?

3. What nutrient (N or P) controls the growth of algae at any particular point in time and location in the Bay?

4. What are the processes and mechanisms that cause the limiting nutrient to vary seasonally?

5. What nutrient sources are the most critical to control on local / regional scales in two watersheds: the Patapsco and the Patuxent?

The PNI Issue

Learn about the different types of plankton and the role they each play in aquatic ecosystems

Collect a water sample from a local pond

Gain hands-on experience in identifying various types of plankton

Introduce the concepts of nutrient enrichment and nutrient limitation

Locations – Patapsco or Patuxent Sub-estuary

Field Collection of : Water quality data Water samples Plankton samples Dredge samples

View estuarine plankton samples microscopically

Return to classroom and set up a nutrient limitation bioassay

The PNI Open House

All classes participate

Attendees will include, students, educators, policy makers, scientists, media, the public

Poster presentations as well as other modes of communication

Photo competition

Get ready to Guide your Students on an Exciting Watershed Investigation of Nutrient

and Plankton Interactions!