1. Which Way to the Sea?

2. Freshwater
Freshwater accounts for only 3% of Earth’s total water.

3. Ponds vs. Lakes
Lakes and ponds are freshwater systems that store water in depressions on the Earth’s surface.
Lakes tend to be larger and deeper.
Lakes, if large enough, such as U.S. Great Lakes, can affect local climates.

4. Ponds Often little temperature difference throughout the water
Sunlight will often reach the bottom
Support a wide variety of plant life
May be completely recycled with the seasons

5. Wetlands Areas where the ground is saturated and water is apparent.
Can be characterized as marshes, swamps or bogs
Important habitats for a wide range of species
Can be found in coastal areas near estuaries and alongside rivers and streams in floodplains (areas water regularly flows over the river or stream)

7. Rivers & Streams
Flowing bodies of water that originate at the headwaters

8. Springs
Florida has over 200 springs providing freshwater to the surface.
Aquifers store groundwater that collects when rain falls and seeps down through layers of soil until it reaches rock.
Springs form when an aquifer becomes saturated and cannot hold more water.
Aquifers are important renewable freshwater resources.

10. Minerals and sediments in water
As water flows it erodes minerals and sediments; known as “universal solvent”
Limestone throughout Florida is easily dissolved and underground caves and channels for underground rivers can form.
Minerals and salts get washed downstream and eventually get to the ocean.
Water can pick up and transport and deposit sediments

11. Delta
All the tiny minerals, salts, bits of sediment, sand, clay, silt and rocks travel in the water and are deposited in a fan shaped pattern when the river slows down upon entering the ocean

12. Water Sampling
Scientists study the health of the environment by sampling bodies of water.
Results can tell scientists if the environment will support living organisms or if it is unhealthy.
Quality of the ocean is directly related to the quality of freshwater bodies that drain into it.

13. Chemical Parameters Nitrogen & phosphorus
all organisms need nitrogen and phosphorus to build proteins and DNA
Too much can cause serious problems
Excess nutrients can cause algae to grow out of control  eutrophication
Algae bloom algae die off decomposers break down algae and use oxygen fish and other organisms die off from lack of oxygen

14. Possible sources of N & P
Wastewater treatment plants
Runoff water from fertilized lawns and croplands
Leaking septic systems
Runoff from animal manure storage areas
Runoff from industrial areas

15. pH A measure of how acidic or basic a substance is
pH greater than 7.0 is alkaline or basic (ocean is slightly basic)
pH less than 7.0 is acidic
Most organisms require a range of

16. Dissolved oxygen A measure of how much oxygen is in the water
Running water because of its churning dissolves more oxygen than still water
In the ocean, wave action adds oxygen to water
Decreases as a result of human activity such as wastewater from sewage treatment plants and failing septic systems
An increase in decomposition of materials in the water uses up dissolved oxygen

17. Physical & Biological Parameters
Vegetation along the banks of a freshwater body  riparian vegetation
Leaves, twigs and branches fall into the water and provide food for aquatic species
Provide shade and lower temps
Plant roots stabilize the banks and prevents erosion

18. Temperature
Measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules in the water
All organisms require a certain temperature range to survive
Warm water carries less dissolved oxygen than colder waters

19. Manmade factors that affect temperature
Dams
Removing plants along the edge of a stream or lake
Adding heated wastewater from industries
Inflow from urban storm drains

20. Turbidity
A measurement of how cloudy or clear the water is; how easily light can be transmitted through it
As sediments and other suspended solids increase, the amount of light that can pass through decreases
The cloudier the water, the greater the turbidity

21. turbidity High turbidity means less photosynthesis occurring
Measured with a Secchi disk
Smaller volumes of water can use a turbidity tube