This document summarizes observations from a lake located in A.D. Barnes Park in Miami, Florida. The author describes the plants and animals seen around the lake, including tall green grass, some dying brown grass, squirrels, iguanas, white ibis, and a raccoon. The author predicts that over the next four months, more of the grass will turn brown due to lack of water at the lake's edges and that the white ibis population will increase. To check this prediction, the author would take before and after photos in the same locations and compare them.

1. What is Science? 1.03
By Michael Mena

2. Location

5. Location Information/
Observations
 This is a lake located in Miami, Florida. In a park
called A.D Barnes park.
 This lake is surrounded by grassy slopes and plants.
The color of the lake is a dark green.
 There are recreational shelters near the water which
causes some light pollution.

6. Plants
 The main plants are these tall green plants that
surround the edge of the water. Most of it is healthy
green grass.
 Some of the plants seem to be a light brown and
seem to be dying.

7. Animals
 Some of the animals I saw were Squirrels, Iguanas,
White Ibis, and a raccoon which was surprising to
see in the afternoon).
 The squirrels zipped around the grass in search for
small nuts in the grass.
 The White Ibis, traveled in large flocks around the
park.
 The Iguanas were found laying on some rocks near
the water.
 The raccoon was eating a piece of fallen fruit (I
think it was mango from a nearby mango tree).

9. Predictions for 4 months
My prediction is that most of the tall green plants will
soon match the the color of the light brown dying
grass. I think the cause of this will be because of the
lack of water around the edges of the lake. I also
think there will be much more White Ibis, because
the trees will only get bigger and there will be more
homes for the birds. Every time I visit the park, I see
larger flocks!

10. Extra Info: Pollution
 While observing the area around me, I noticed there
was some light pollution in the water, such as
plates, cups, and bags. Since there are recreational
shelters nearby, where parties and events are
thrown every weekend, the water gets some minor
pollution.

12. What is the Scientific
Process?
The scientific process is the gathering of information
by doing several observations, looking up
background research, forming a hypothesis, and
finally conducting an experiment.

13. Would others make the
same observations?
I think there is a small chance others will make the
same observations I made today because the lake is
a very diverse environment for the animals. For
example the white ibis come only on some days.
Also, the iguanas usually don’t come out or blend in
very well due to their colors. Since raccoons are
mainly nocturnal, I got lucky to see one out and
about. Others might make the same observations on
the dying plants that surround the lake.

14. What would you do to see if predictions came true?
How does this relate to what a real scientist would do?
I would take pictures in the same spots and then
compare them to really see an accurate difference. I
would also take make another trip in time and
compare notes.
This relates to what a real scientists would do
because in most studies and experiments, scientist
take pictures in the same spot and time and it
provides a clear answer to whether predictions
came true.