What is an aquatic ecosystem? Agenda for Tuesday Sept 20 th 1.Outside to collect water samples/data 2.Finish aquatic ecosystem presentations Learning Targets 1.Describe a pond and its characteristics 2.Identify parameters that constitute a healthy pond/wetland

Rivers and streams Start at headwater and flow to mouth Characteristic change as you go down a river – Slow water vs fast water – Plants and animals differ

Lakes and Ponds 4 zones – Littoral – sunlight reaches the bottom, closest to shore – Limnetic – open water area that well lit (sunlight does not reach bottom) – Profundal – no light, colder – Benthic - bottom

What makes a healthy pond? Agenda for Wednesday Sept 21 st 1.Finish notes 2.Testing Learning Targets 1.Describe a pond and its characteristics 2.Identify parameters that constitute a healthy podn/wetland

Transitional Aquatic Ecosystems Wetlands Estuaries – Freshwater merges with saltwater (river to ocean) – Salt tolerant species – Used for nurseries for young

Marine Ecosystem Intertidal zone – Ocean meets land – Organisms are adapted to changes – tide Open ocean ecosystem – 4 zones – photic, aphotic, benthic, abyssal – Species diversity decreases with depth

Marine Ecosystem Coastal ocean and coral reefs – Most diverse ecosystems – Protect shorelines from erosion – Sensitive to change

Ponds/Wetlands Also known as marshes, bogs, swamps A lot of species – Amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects, mammals – MN, 43% endangered/threatened species use wetlands Benefits – Recreation (hunt, bird watch, fish) – Improve water quality (absorb contaminants and N 2 ) – Help control flooding

List 2 uses for a pond/wetland Agenda for Thursday Sept 22 nd 1.Finish testing/looking for organisms 2.Go over chemical testing – what does it mean 3.Start research Learning Targets 1.Describe a pond and its characteristics 2.Identify parameters that constitute a healthy pond/wetland

Chemical testing – what does it mean? pH – normal range for most ponds is from 6.8 to 7.8 – natural daily fluctuations – Limestone raises pH Dissolved Oxygen – About 10 ppm is normal – DO below 3 ppm stress most warmwater species of fish – below 2 ppm will kill some species/stress fish

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Sources – Fish waste – Too many fish in a body of water that is too small – Fertilizer run-off – Decaying plants and insects High Levels = increased plant growth – Eutrophication – rapid plant growth Uses oxygen and gives off toxins Kills plants/animals

Nitrogen Less than 10 ppm is wanted – 10 mg/L More will increase plant growth

Phosphate Sources – living and decaying plant and animal remains – Sediments, soils, rocks – partially treated and untreated sewage, – runoff from agricultural sites – some lawn fertilizers Levels

Phosphate Importance – key element necessary for growth of plants and animals growth limiting nutrient – low levels limit the production of freshwater systems – Unlike nitrogen, phosphate is retained in the soil – Not toxic unless they are present in very high levels

Phosphate Table 7. Phosphate-phosphorus levels and effects Total phosphate/ phosphorus*Effects mg/LAmount of phosphate- phosphorus in most uncontaminated lakes mg/LAccelerates the eutrophication process in lakes 0.1 mg/LRecommended maximum for rivers and streams * If an orthophosphate test cube or ortho/metaphosphate color disk gives you values above the total phosphate/ phosphorous values given above, there is cause for concern.

What happens when there is too much phosphorous in a pond? Agenda for Friday Sept 23 rd 1.Finish notes 2.Start research Learning Targets 1.Describe a pond and its characteristics 2.Identify parameters that constitute a healthy pond/wetland

Animals Predictable results Invertebrates are relatively sedentary and representative of local conditions Large number of species involved – Exhibit a range of sensitivities to contaminants Ubiquitous Fish and other aquatic organisms are used sometimes

Diversity and Taxon Richness More diversity the better – Great Habitat for life Some animals are sensitive – More sensitive animals the better the environment Keystone species – Species whose health/existence influences entire ecosystem

What does it mean if our pond is very diverse? Agenda for Monday Sept 26 th 1.Finish research and presentation Quiz Wednesday Learning Targets 1.Describe a pond and its characteristics 2.Identify parameters that constitute a healthy pond/wetland

Research Look up information about ponds/wetlands – Specific to MN and other places – Animals, chemical testing requirements – Other (uses for ponds, habitats for specific organisms) Compare to our pond – Draw conclusions – how does our pond compare? – Is it healthy? Why or why not – What could we do to improve?

Make a presentation You and your lab partner will make a presentation Everyone is required to talk and share information At least 5 minutes long