Sampling site #2

All sites that I tested were silt loam. Silt is the medium sized particles present in soil. Since this soil is a silt loam, it is a medium soil in respect to particle size. Since the particle size is fairly small, there is more surface area. This large surface area holds more water. The organisms that I saw when I was collecting the samples were insects such as ants. In one area, there were many ant hills present. These insects alter the soil due to it being their habitat and where they build their homes. They also move other materials into the area. The soil that I collected is unlikely to be eroded. The areas I collected were fairly flat land. If it were eroded, it would erode down into the creek and pond. This is the low land in the area. It’s presence could either create build up in the bottom of the pond and stream, making it shallow, or it could effect the organisms living there. This decrease in living space above the floor of the pond and creek creates areas closer to oxygen, which could be a problem. On the other hand, the extra sediment could create more room for organisms that live in the damp soil. It is important to think about soil texture to understand what influences humans have in relation to the water table and how our water will move through it. Also, some areas are more ideal for certain species, so conservation could be improved due to this knowledge.

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