maryland envirothon aquatic ecology 2016 prepared by stacy epperson md-dnr updated 10/06/15
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Maryland Envirothon Aquatic Ecology
2016
Prepared by Stacy Epperson
MD-DNR
Updated 10/06/15
Format of state test
Four categories: Abiotic Biotic Aquatic Environments Water Protection and Conservation 5th topic woven inside all of these.
Test Questions:
Fill in the blank most common; multiple choice, matching (no true/false)
Abiotic
Stream
orders
http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/irc/docs/00012830.pdf
Abiotic
Stream runoff is affected by Shape of watershed (affects rate)
Slope (affects rate)
Land use: vegetation and development (affects rate and amount)
Land geology and soils (affects amount)
http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/irc/docs/00012830.pdf
Abiotic
Physiographic provinces Appalachian Plateau Ridge and Valley Blue Ridge Piedmont Coastal Plain
http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/irc/docs/00012830.pdf
Abiotic
Conductivity Measure of the ability of the water to pass an electric current
Why do we care? Tests at a consistent level Discharges can change the conductivity
Affected by: Presence of inorganic dissolved solids Organic compounds decrease conductivity Natural systems affected by geology Water temperature
Ranges 0-1500 us/cm (microsiemens per centimeter)
Failing sewage system (+), Oil spill (-)
http://georgiaadoptastream.com/Manuals_etc/Bio_Chem/Bio_Chem.pdf
Abiotic
Watershed
Delineation
water flow is perpendicular to contour lines
topographic lines always point upstream.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs144p2_014819.pdf
Abiotic
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs144p2_014819.pdf
Abiotic
Ocean acidification
NOAA says “Ocean acidification, or "OA" for short, is the term given to the chemical changes in the ocean as a result of carbon dioxide emissions.”
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/Ocean+Acidification
Abiotic
The lower the pH, the more acidic the substance.
Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the pH of surface ocean waters has fallen by 0.1 pH units. Since the pH scale, like the Richter scale, is logarithmic, this change represents approximately a 30 percent increase in acidity.
Abiotic
When carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed by seawater, chemical reactions occur that reduce seawater pH, carbonate ion concentration, and saturation states of biologically important calcium carbonate minerals.
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3F
Abiotic
Ocean Acidification and shellfish
CO2 absorbed into water.
CO2 and water combine to make carbonic acid.
Carbonic acid release hydrogen ions.
Hydrogen ions combine with carbonate, a component of calcium
carbonate, reducing available carbonate in the water.
Shellfish need calcium carbonate to make shells.
Less calcium carbonate may cause thinning shells and lower
resistance to the corrosive effect of lower pH water.
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3F
Abiotic
Temperature, Salinity, Oxygen Relationship
Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water.
Fresh water holds more oxygen than saline water.
Cold fresh water +++oxygen
Warm saline water---- oxygen
Warm fresh water
vs cold saline water?
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/content/publications/cbp_13039.pdf
Abiotic
Salinity Decreases as one moves upstream from ocean to
freshwater source.
Denser seawater flows into the estuary along the bottom.
Freshwater flows seaward along the surface.
Creates a salt wedge that moves back and forth and/or mixes according to other physical factors.
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/content/publications/cbp_13039.pdf
Abiotic
Isohalines
lines of
different
levels of
salinity
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/content/publications/cbp_13039.pdf
Abiotic
Water Cycle
Biotic
Macroinvertebrates
Sensitivity to pollutants-3 levels
Dichotomous Key to family level: Number and length of tails; location of gills; wing buds;
thickness, shape, and length of body
Stonefly, Mayfly, Caddis fly, Water penny, Gilled Snail, Alderfly, Crane Fly, Damselfly, Dragonfly, Scud, Black Fly
http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/irc/docs/00005906.pdf
Biotic
Caddisfly: Order Trichoptera
Mayfly: Order Ephemeroptera
Stonefly: Order Plecoptera
Biotic
Biotic
Invasive Species
Difference between non-native and non-native invasive
Introduction method Effect Control methods
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/main.shtml http://dnr2.maryland.gov/invasives/Pages/default.aspxhttp://www.mdinvasivesp.org/list_aquatic_plants.htmlhttp://www.mdinvasivesp.org/
Biotic
Common Aquatic Invasive Species Zebra Mussel Hydrilla Nutria Grass Carp Didymo Water lettuce Phragmites Rusty Crayfish Chinese Mitten Crab
Biotic
Maryland Crayfish 14 species 9 Native 5 Non-native
3 Invasive: Rusty and Virile Crayfish, Red Swamp Crawfish
Most abundant crayfish: Virile and Rusty
http://dnr2.maryland.gov/streams/Documents/KeytotheCrayfishesofMD_8_18_10.pdf
Rusty Crayfish
Virile Crayfish
Biotic
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Value Invasives: Water lettuce (free floating) and
hydrilla
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/sav/key/complete_sav_key.pdf
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/sav/key/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQoat0p52k(Hydrilla at Deep Creek Lake)
Biotic
Freshwater Fish ID Eel, catfish, shad, shiner, minnow, dace, chub,
killifish, perch, silverside, sculpin, sunfish, bass, darter, trout, sucker
Invasive fish (fresh and brackish) Blue and Flathead Catfish Northern Snakehead Carp: Black, Silver, Grass, and Bighead
(no native carp)
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/irc/docs/00010619.pdfhttp://dnr2.maryland.gov/Fisheries/Pages/fishfacts-index.aspx
Biotic
Biotic
Biotic
Fish otoliths
Found behind the brain of bony fish.
Biotic
Scales have growth rings (similar to trees) called annuli
Scales are dried, pressed into a clear plastic slide
Count the annuli to determine age
Otoliths can also be used, but fish must be killedAnother way to age fish, using
scales.
Biotic
Food web and trophic levels
Aquatic Environment
Salt Water Intrusion
http://kanat.jsc.vsc.edu/student/spatafora/setup.htm
Aquatic Environment
Salt water intrusion
Aquatic Environment
Ground Water Contamination-50% of population relies on groundwater for drinking.
Sources of contamination: Leaking storage tanks Septic systems Uncontrolled hazardous waste Landfills Chemicals and road salts Atmospheric contaminants Salt water intrusion
http://www.groundwater.org/get-informed/groundwater/contamination.html
Aquatic Environment
Typical urbanized watershed
Typical Forested watershed
Aquatic Environment
Wetlands
Aquatic Environment
Stream and Bank Surveys
Water Protection and Conservation
TMDL’s
EPA 2010 established TMDL for Chesapeake Bay
6 states and a district
TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load Nitrates, Phosphorus, Sediment
All measures in place by 2025
http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/pdf/pdf_chesbay/BayTMDLFactSheet8_26_13.pdf
Water Protection and Conservation
2002 Maryland Water Conservation Act
Requires systems that serve more than 10,000 population to submit water conservation best practices
MDE will issue guidance for bmps for conservation and efficiency
MDE requires written water conservation plans (not best practices) from systems of 10,000…..
http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/water_cons/wcp_guidance2003.pdf
Water Protection and Conservation
Water Conservation Plan
Establish goals
Conduct an audit
Prepare a demand forecast
Identify potential water conservation measures Required elements: metering, water accounting and
loss control, pricing, education programs
http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/water_cons/wcp_guidance2003.pdf
Water Protection and Conservation
Water Rights: A group of rights designed to protect the use and enjoyment of water that travels in streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds, gathers on the surface of the earth, or collects underground.
Riparian: owns land abut the water, rights to natural flow of water and reasonable use. Western states have ‘prior appropriation’.
Surface: Rights to dispose of if doesn’t harm neighbors
Underground water rights: English law-right to use all water regardless of effect on others American law-can withdraw all water as long as its not wasteful or malicious California law-correlative theory-can use water for beneficial purpose but cannot
seriously impact neighbors use.
“Race to Buy Up the Worlds Water” by Jeneen Interlandi, Newsweek, 10/8/2010http://www.newsweek.com/race-buy-worlds-water-73893
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Water+Rights
Water Protection and Conservation
Native American Water Rights
Winters Doctrine
Practicably Irrigated Acreage
Contamination
http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2012/finalwebsite/problem/waterrights.shtml
Water Protection and Conservation
Water Use Average Maryland citizen uses 100 gallons of water
per day.
U.S. uses 355,000 million gallons per day (2010).
Water use going down even as population goes up.
Four states use ¼ of all US withdrawals.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2014/3109/
Water Protection and Conservation
Conservation Tips: (examples)
Business: Turn off the continuous flow used to clean the drain trays of the coffee/milk/soda beverage island; clean the trays only as needed.
Private Citizen: Don’t rinse dishes before loading in dishwasher. Plant native plants (need less watering).
Schools: As appliances or fixtures wear out, replace them with water-saving model.
http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/Water/WaterConservation/Pages/Programs/WaterPrograms/Water_Conservation/index.aspx
Water Protection and Conservation
Safe Water Drinking Act
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