Determining the buffer capacity of lakes and ponds that resist the quick pH change and necessary for water living organisms

pH level is a very important factor on water living organisms. For example, acidic water affects the functionary of fish gills; inhibit their growth and passion fish eggs. Acid rain is one of the major factors that affect the pH of lakes, rivers and ponds. However minor changes happen in nature all the time and nature has its own way to cope with such problems. Some lakes can protect themselves from acid rain with their natural buffer systems. For this reason, I decided to work on buffer systems of fresh water resources such as lakes and ponds I collected water samples from lakes, ponds and rivers in Turkey. I measured pH values of these samples before and after adding small amounts of acid with different concentrations to determine the resistance of them to pH changes. By referring my results the buffer capacity depends on one important factor: Acid rains. The lakes and ponds in Turkey get different amount of rain per year. This affects their buffer capacity and when their buffer capacity damaged the organisms living on it become extinct. To sum up my aim in this essay is to find the buffer capacities of lakes and ponds in Turkey. Keywords: Buffer systems, pH resistance, Buffer capacity