1. Stream Ecology

2. Steam Flow
Straight paths
Parallel to bed
Water moves
In tiny circles
Little mixing
Of water
Much mixing
Of water

3. Velocity
______________: Distance water flows during a period of time (m/sec)
Determines the type of flow
Slow moving  ________________ flow
Swift moving  ________________ flow
Also determines the _____________ which the water will carry.

4. Sediment Load Sediment movement
______________________: Sediment carried in solution
Dissolved minerals
______________________: Suspension
Silt and clay
Most sediment are suspended
___________________: Sediment carried on the bottom
Sand
Gravel
Pebbles

5. River Deposits Sediment drop as a river or stream slow down.
__________: Deposits formed when a stream slows down around a bend.
Made of sand and gravel
_____________________: Part of a river valley covered during a flood.
Very fertile areas

6. Factors that Affect Freshwater Ecosystems
_____________________: Non-living factors
________________________

7. Temperature
Small changes in water ______________ can directly or indirectly affect the flora (plants) and fauna (animals) in a stream.
Must measure at different locations along the stream in order to indicate a source of ___________________.
Sources of thermal pollution
______________________ (Power plants)
Runoff from __________________________

8. Temperature Factors Affecting Water Temperature
________________________________
______________________
_________________________ (Other streams entering)

9. Temperature Temperature affects
Amount of ___________________________ in the water
___________________ water holds more DO
_____________ and ___________ prefer colder water because they require more DO
_____________________ water holds less DO
The rate of __________________ increases as the temperature of the water goes up.
______________________
The _______________ the water, the greater the conductivity
We will use ________ as our unit of temperature

10. Current & Velocity
________________ are carried in the current and must be used quickly or they will be lost to the organism.
Organisms must have adaptations to help them live in the current
_____________________

11. Current & Velocity ________________: Change in distance over time.
Velocity changes with the steams course and depth.
Factors Affecting Stream Velocity
_______________
___________________________________

12. Current & Velocity Affect on organisms __________  Little effect
__________  Limited to calm water

13. Substrate ______________: Material organisms live in, on, or around.
Stream substrates
_____________  Algae, small pieces of dead organisms
_____________  Rocks, pebbles, sand, silt, mud

14. Substrate _________________ Most are ____________ living
On the surface of rocks
In the sandy river/stream beds
________________ may serve as a substrate for insect larva

15. Sunlight
More light  more ___________________

16. Turbidity _______________: Water clarity Suspended matter includes:
A measure of the amount of _______________________ in the water.
Suspended matter includes:
______________

17. Turbidity Sources of turbidity Effects of turbidity
____________________
Effects of turbidity
Reduces water ______________
Decreases __________________
Increases ___________________

18. Dissolved solids Most enter steams and rivers from groundwater
Examples of dissolved solids
____: Plant nutrient
____: Needed in fish bones/mollusks shells
____
____: Plant nutrient (> 0.03 ppm adds to plant growth)
____: Needed by diatoms and sponges for shells
____: Plant nutrient (Unpolluted water < 4 ppm)

19. Conductivity
____________________ is the measure of the ability of water to allow electricity to pass through it.
Conductivity ______________ with the presence of _________________ dissolved solids like:
_______________
The conductivity of a stream is affected by the ___________ of the ground through which the stream flow
______________ Low conductivity
______________ Higher conductivity

20. Conductivity
Conductivity is measured in units called _____________________________________.
Distilled water- _____________
Rivers in U.S. _______________
Healthy streams _____________

21. Dissolved Oxygen
________________________ is a measure of the concentration of oxygen gas dissolved in the water.
Dissolved oxygen can enter water by
______________________________.
______________________________
_______________________________
Dissolved oxygen can be removed from water by
_________________________________

22. Dissolved Oxygen Factors affecting DO _______________________
The ______ the temperature, the _____ DO the water can hold
_________________
The _________ the salinity, the ______ DO in the water
The _______ the salinity, the ___________ the DO in the water
__________________
As atmospheric pressure _______________ the amount of DO ______________
As atmospheric pressure ______________ the amount of DO ________________

23. Dissolved Oxygen Units of measure for DO DO Levels and Aquatic Life
_________________: Percentage of DO that will dissolve in a sample of water at a given temperature.
_______________: Amount of oxygen dissolved in water
DO Levels and Aquatic Life
____ mg/L: not enough oxygen to support life. ____ mg/L: only a few fish and aquatic insects can survive. _____ mg/L: good for many aquatic animals, low for cold water fish _____ mg/L: very good for most stream fish

24. Dissolved Oxygen ______________________________:
Measure of the quantity of DO used by bacteria during decomposition.

25. pH
____: A measure of how acidic or basic the water is. pH is the concentration of _____________in a sample.
Scale from ____________
1-6 ______________
7 _______________
8-14 _____________
Optimum pH for aquatic organisms ranges between ___________

26. pH Factors affecting pH _____________________________
______________________________
During the day, _________________ removes ____ thereby making the water more __________________
During the night, __________ levels ______________ and pH becomes more _________________
___________________ (carbonic acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid)

27. pH 3 Factors Hurting the pH of PA streams
PA receives high amount of _________________
______________ in PA add to the acidity of water
______________ is abundant

28. Nutrients
________________ are essential for the proper functioning of a stream ecosystem. Excess nutrients, however, can lead to problems.
Nutrients found in an aquatic ecosystem
________________: Excessive amounts can lead to eutrophication
________________

29. Nutrients
Factors Affecting Nutrient Levels:
______________________

30. Nutrients Acceptable Levels of Nutrients
___________________: Less than 1 mg/L
___________________: Less than 0.05 mg/L
___________________: Average 30 mg/L

31. Benthic Macroinvertebrates
_________________________: Large aquatic invertebrates that live on the bottom of a stream or river.
Often _________________________
Certain species are indicators of “___________________”
Other species are indicators of “____________________”

32. Algae & Animal-like Protists
_________________: Plant-like protists
_______________- Producers capable of photosynthesis
Base of most aquatic food chains

33. Algae & Animal-like Protists
Classification of Protists
_______________________: Protists that feed on decayed organic material
_______________________: Protists that eat other protists.

34. Zooplankton

35. Invertebrates _______________: Flies, beetles, water striders
______________ of many insects are aquatic
Adults may move on land
_______________: Freshwater clams, snails
_______________: Aquatic worms, nematodes

36. Vertebrates ________________: Require water in order to reproduce.
Salamanders
Frogs
________________

37. Invertebrates: A Closer Look
3 Classes of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates
_______________ Organisms: Pollution-intolerant
Indicates GOOD WATER QUALITY
_______________ Organisms: Somewhat tolerant to water pollution
Indicates AVERAGE WATER QUALITY, SLIGHTLY POLLUTED
_______________ Organisms: Pollution-tolerant
Indicates POOR WATER QUALITY

38. Invertebrates: A Closer Look
CLASS I Organisms:
Stonefly nymph
Caddisfly larva
Water penny
Riffle beetle
Mayfly nymph
Dobsonfly nymph
“Hellgrammite”

39. Invertebrates: A Closer Look
Class II Organisms
Beetle larva
Sowbug
Damselfly nymph
Dragonfly nymph
Cranefly larva
Clams
Crayfish
Scud

40. Invertebrates: A Closer Look
Class III Organisms
Midge fly larva
Snails
Leech
Aquatic worms