part 1: biotic indicators fresh water studies: water quality & living organisms
Post on 20-Jan-2016
233 views
TRANSCRIPT
Part 1:
Biotic Indicators
Fresh Water Studies: Water Quality & Living Organisms
Tuckahoe Swamp
Aquarium
Types of aquatic habitats
Trout? Dragonflies?
Spirogyra (algae)?
Minnows?
E. coli (bacteria)?
Best Quality for life
River/Stream
Swamp
Aquarium
Tap water
(drinking)
Abiotic Factors
Abiotic Factors
• “abiotic”- without life
Refers to those environmental factors that are not alive, the non-living components of the environment.
Abiotic Factors
1. Temperature
Abiotic Factors
Factors that Affect Water Temperature
exposu re tosunlig ht
M ediumLow Low High
exposu re tosunlig ht
Which water will be warmer?
Air Temperature Amount of shade
Soil erosion increasing turbidity
4. Thermal pollution from human activities
Temperature increases from human activities
Photo: Dominion Virginia Power – North Anna Power Station
Confluence of streams
Photo: Virginia Academy of Science
Abiotic Factors
1. Temperature
Effects of Water Temperature
• Solubility of dissolved oxygen
• Rate of plant growth
• Metabolic rate of organisms
• Resistance in organisms
Abiotic Factors
1. Temperature
2. Oxygen (Dissolved)
Abiotic Factors
1. Temperature
2. Oxygen (Dissolved)
Where does the oxygen come from? How does it get into the water?
Diffusion from atmosphere
Aeration as water moves over rocks and debris
Aeration from wind and waves
AND
Photo: NOAA
Photosynthesis from aquatic plants
Photo: M.B. Elder
Factors that affect DO levels are:
• Temperature of water
• Decaying plants in the water
• Flow Rate
• Human activity
• Altitude and atmospheric pressure
Photo: M.B. Elder
Abiotic Factors
1. Temperature
2. Oxygen (Dissolved)
3. pH
What is pH?
0-7 water is acidic (more H+ ions, less OH- ions)
7 water is neutral (equal number of H+ and OH- ions)
7-14 water is basic (less H+ ions, more OH- ions)
What is the optimum freshwater pH?
Rainfall: 5 – 6.5
Most freshwater systems: 7 - 8
Most aquatic organisms: 6.5 – 8.2
Abiotic Factors
1. Temperature
2. Oxygen (Dissolved)
3. pH
4. Turbidity
Turbidity- An optical property of water based on the amount of light reflected by suspended particles. –USEPA, 1999
Secchi Disk
Abiotic Factors
1. Temperature
2. Oxygen (Dissolved)
3. pH
4. Turbidity
5. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) from hard water, fertilizer, urban runoff, acid rain, tidal mixing
Abiotic Factors
1. Temperature
2. Oxygen (Dissolved)
3. pH
4. Turbidity
5. TDS
6. Stream Flow
Stream Flow
The volume of water that moves through a specific point in a stream during a given period of time.
Stream Flow
The volume of water that moves through a specific point in a stream during a given period of time.
Factors influencing water speed.
1. Depth of the water channel
2. Width of the water channel
3. Roughness of the stream bottom
4. Slope or incline of the surrounding terrain.
Factors influencing water volume
1. Weather or climate
2. Seasonal changes
3. Merging tributaries
4. Human impact
Conclusion• Water quality is determined by conducting physical and chemical measurements of the ABIOTIC factors of a freshwater environment.
• ABIOTIC factors include temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, and stream flow.
• ABIOTIC factors determine the BIOTIC factors (what can live) in the freshwater environment.
1. R.B.Elder2. M.B. Elder3. M.B. Elder4 - 9* 10. M.B. Elder11. Dominion Virginia Power -North Anna Power Station12. Virginia Academy of Science
13 - 15 *16. National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)17 & 18 M.B. Elder19 - 22 *23 & 24 M.B. Elder25 - 30 *
* Background slide - R.B. Elder (all rights reserved)
Photo credits-used with Permission