Field Ecology 1. Aquatics 2. Forests & Grasslands 4. Soils3.Wildlife Populations

Earth’s Fresh Water Supply Oceans 97% (Salt Water) Oceans 97% (Salt Water) Polar Ice Caps 2% (Fresh Water) Polar Ice Caps 2% (Fresh Water) Groundwater 0.9% (Fresh Water) Groundwater 0.9% (Fresh Water) Surface Water 0.1% (Fresh Water) Surface Water 0.1% (Fresh Water) (Lakes, Rivers, Streams, Wetlands) (Lakes, Rivers, Streams, Wetlands) 1. Aquatics

Uses of Freshwater Ecosystems 1. Domestic (drinking, cleaning, sewage treatment) 2. Crop Irrigation 3. Recreational (fishing, boating, canoeing) 4. Hydro-electricity 5. Industrial 6. Habitats (food chains linked to humans)

Aquatics – Freshwater Environments Wetlands Wetlands Ponds Ponds Lakes Lakes Rivers Rivers Streams Streams Standing Waters Flowing Waters

Wetlands Marsh Marsh Swamp Swamp Bog Bog Fen Fen Wetlands are areas that are permanently or seasonally flooded. They are areas where the soils are waterlogged. “The kidneys of the Earth”

Characteristics of Wetlands Transition zone between land and water ecosystems Transition zone between land and water ecosystems Waterlogged soils Waterlogged soils Water tolerant plants Water tolerant plants Abundance of life and bio-diversity Abundance of life and bio-diversity Lots of decomposition (swamp gas) Lots of decomposition (swamp gas)

Marsh Shallow, no open expanses of water Shallow, no open expanses of water Dominated by cattails, reeds, grasses, low shrubs Dominated by cattails, reeds, grasses, low shrubs Contains islands of soggy land Contains islands of soggy land

Swamp Wooded wetland (Black willow, Dogwood, Tall shrubs) Wooded wetland (Black willow, Dogwood, Tall shrubs)

Bog Peat moss (spongy soil) Peat moss (spongy soil) Acidic waterlogged soil Acidic waterlogged soil Fen  Spongy soil, dominated by sedges, grasses and mosses  Neutral waterlogged soil  Often fed by groundwater

Importance of Wetlands Soil and plants naturally filter water Soil and plants naturally filter water Soil and plants absorb run-off, preventing flooding Soil and plants absorb run-off, preventing flooding Habitat/breeding grounds for an abundance of wildlife, including birds, insects, amphibians and aquatic organisms Habitat/breeding grounds for an abundance of wildlife, including birds, insects, amphibians and aquatic organisms

Ponds & Lakes 1. Pond - shallow, light can reach bottom in most places. - lots of vegetation, Mostly submerged. 2. Lake - deeper than a pond, light cannot reach bottom in most places. - no vegetation in deeper areas.

Zones of a Lake

Thermocline Layer

Spring and Fall Turnover

Types of Flowing Waters Flowing waters are classified by a system called stream orders. Flowing waters are classified by a system called stream orders. According to the stream order system, streams with no tributaries are called first order streams. When two first order streams join they form a second order stream. When two second order streams join they form a third order stream. According to the stream order system, streams with no tributaries are called first order streams. When two first order streams join they form a second order stream. When two second order streams join they form a third order stream.

Watersheds

Grand River Watershed

Cold, Low Order Streams Low order streams are often much cooler than higher order streams on the same river system. There are 3 reasons for this: 1. Low order streams often originate in hilly country where the slope is high and therefore the stream speed is high. The resulting turbulence causes evaporation of the water which in turn cools the stream. 2. They are narrow and are often shielded from the heat of the sun by overhanging vegetation. 3. The source of much of their water comes from springs, sub-surface run-off, and the groundwater table.

Groundwater & Springs

Stream Orders and Ecology Two main things usually happen as the stream order increases. 1) The water becomes warmer. 2) The stream speed decreases. These two changes cause a gradual change in the ecology of the stream. Stream Orders & Ecology Stream order Stream speed (m/s) Stream temperature (C) Stream bottom Oxygen concentration (ug/g) Fish species 1st2.212cobble11Trout 5th0.627Sand5Carp