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.

16.3 Water Quality Indicator species provide a sign of an ecosystem’s health. –amphibians –top predators

16.3 Water Quality Biomagnification A process in which a pollutant moves up the food chain as predators eat prey; thus, accumulating toxins in higher concentrations.

16.3 Water Quality Trophic Levels Top-Quanternary Consumer-Herring Gulf Egg-124 ppm Tertiary Consumer-Lake trout ppm Secondary Consumer-Smelt ppm Primary Consumer-Zooplankton.123 ppm Producer-Phytoplankton-.055 ppm

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.