16.3 Water Quality KEY CONCEPT Pollution of Earth’s freshwater supply threatens habitat and health.

16.3 Water Quality Water pollution affects ecosystems. Pollution can put entire freshwater ecosystems at risk. –Sewage –Farm Run off

16.3 Water Quality Indicator species provide a sign of an ecosystem’s health. –amphibians –top predators –“Canary in a coal mine”

16.3 Water Quality Indicator species examples Frogs have skin that is permeable to water and they spend their entire immature stage in the water This makes them a very valuable indicator species

16.3 Water Quality

Pollutants Fat Soluble Retained in tissues of body Stored in body tissue Water Soluble Flushed out of body with water Must be replaced each day

16.3 Water Quality Biomagnification causes accumulation of toxins in the food chain. Pollutants can move up the food chain. –predators eat contaminated prey –pollution accumulates at each stage of the food chain Top consumers, including humans, are most affected.

16.3 Water Quality Biomagnification Measured in Parts per million (ppm) The movement of fat-soluble pollutants through a food chain results in higher concentration in the top consumer. Zooplankton ppm Lake trout 4.83 ppm Smelt 1.04 ppm Herring gull eggs 124 ppm Phytoplankt on ppm

16.3 Water Quality

Biomagnification Examples: DDT, Mercury, PCB’s

16.3 Water Quality