Roadway pollutant effects on abundance of Odonate nymphs in a wetland of the Eastern Highland Rim, Tennessee Jason Payne, Undergraduate Student (Marine Biology Concentration), Department of Biology, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN

Does pollution from roadways affect the abundance of Odonate nymphs?  Objective: Collect odonate nymphs at a control area (3), transitional area (2), and impact area (1) at the wetland.  Use a small boat to get to desired areas  Collect with a D-Frame net  Put samples in bags  Expected results:  Less Odonate nymph abundance at the impact and transitional areas than the control.

Introduction  Osborn, R Odonata as indicators of habitat quality at Lakes in Louisiana, United States. Odonatologica 34(3):  Crossman, J.S. and J.R. Cairns A comparative study between two different artificial substrate samplers and regular sampling techniques. Hydrobiologia 44(4):  Elliot, J.M Statistical analysis of samples of benthic invertebrates. Freshwater Biological Association Scientific Publication No. 25.

Hypothesis Cars leak oil and other pollutants causing a decline in abundance of odonate nymphs. Null Hypothesis Pollutants from cars have no affect on Odonate nymphs.

Methods and Materials  Scoop sediment with a D-Frame net while disturbing the branches of aquatic plants at the wetland.  Place in 3 one-gallon zip-lock sample bags from the 3 sites  Treat with alcohol  Sort through samples finding Odonate nymphs  Determine the averages of Odonate nymphs from the 3 sample bags from each site and compare.  Data Form Data Form Data Form

Expected Results and Benefits  I expect the abundance of nymphs at the impact area will be less than the control  This experiment will contribute to the understanding of the fragile ecosystem of wetlands in the presence of pollutants.

Timeline  Timescale graph on my research  Timeline Timeline

Budget  Hypothetical budget in one year  Budget Budget