PA Envirothon- Aquatics

Velocity

This factor influences the shape of a stream channel and determines the size of the stream particle that is moved.

Headwaters

This part of the stream is typically straight, fast and clean. It will normally be found in the mountains.

Wild Brook Trout, Dace, Sculpins

These three types of fish love the fast, cold, oxygen rich headwater streams.

Caddisfly larvae, Stoneflies, mayflies

These macroinvertebrates are common to headwater streams and are a favorite food for brook trout.

Higher order streams

These stream orders are typically found in areas that are less steep. Water is slower, more meanders, more sediment on the stream bottom. Has more diverse habitats for aquatic insects, panfish, trout and bass.

Inside bends

Water flows slower and sediment is deposited on this part of the stream.

Riffle

shallow area in the stream with lots of rocks that break the surface. Provide great habitat for algae, macroinvertebrates and small fish.

Runs

Deep and fast parts of the stream where the water may be turbulent, but rocks don't break the surface. Bass and trout and sometimes catfish will rest along the edges to dart in for food.

Pools

Wide, deep sections with a slow current. Have lots of woody debris for hiding and detritus for macroinvertebrates to feed on.

stream order

Category of stream based on size.

Watershed

Land area drained by a stream or river and all of its tributaries.

Tributary

Small stream that flows into a larger stream or river

First order streams

Small streams that are at the beginning of a waterway that have no tributaries flowing into them.

Second order

This order stream is formed when two first order streams flow together.

Third order

This order stream forms at the confluence of two second order streams.

First order

These streams are found in forested, steep mountain areas. They are typically clear, cold and rocky with high dissolved oxygen content.

Brook Trout

Pennsylvania state fish

larger and longer

As stream order gets higher, the streams become…

Brown trout

This type of fish is typically found in larger, warmer streams second order streams.

Smallmouth Bass

This fish is found in rivers. It is more tolerant of warmer waters. They like living around large rocks, downed trees and debris. They eat hellgrammites, minnows, and crayfish.

Panfish

Ponds are excellent places to catch this type of fish. They love the shade and live bait such as worm, mealworms, waxworms, grasshoppers or crickets.

Ponds

These bodies of water are small and shallow (<12ft deep) with mud or silt bottoms. Most were made by humans.

Lakes

Big and deep (50 to 100ft). Many were made by humans to hold back flood waters or to provide drinking water. Some were formed naturally by glaciers. PA has over 2,500 of them.

Walleye

This is a popular sport fish found commonly in lakes.

Reservoirs

Much bigger than lakes. They can be miles long and a mile or more wide. They are made by blocking rivers. Some were built for electricity or flood control.

Largemouth Bass

These fish the shallow flats and standing timber found in reservoirs. They are warmwater species so they like the warm and calm waters the reservoirs provide.

Susquehanna, Ohio, Delaware, Potomac, Erie, Genessee

These are the 6 major watersheds within in PA.

Predator

This category of macroinvertebrate kill and eat prey. They are good swimmers. Ex. diving beetle, dragon fly nymphs.

Grazers

This category of macroinvertebrates feed on algae, fungi or bacteria attached to rocks and other surfaces. Ex. snails, mayfly nymphs, water penny

Shredders

This category of macroinvertebrate eats large pieces of organic matter, like leaves. Ex. some species of stonefly, cranefly larvae

Collectors

This category of macroinvertebrate gathers or filters food from the water. Feed on small (<1mm) pieces of organic matter which drift in the current. ex. freshwater clams and mussels, netspinner caddisfly larvae

River Continuum

transition from headwaters to larger rivers

Climate, moving water, surrounding geology and topography

The physical characteristics of a stream, such as channel shape, stream bottom composition, water temperature, water chemistry are defined by the interaction of what four factors?

Temperature, stream bottom type, water chemistry

What three variables most affect the number and type of organisms found in a stream?

shredders, collectors

In the river continuum, the headwater streams contain mosty which categories of macroinvertebrate?

Trees

These are the most important sources of energy for first and second order streams. They also provide shade, shelter, and streambank stabilization.

Temperature

Which physical factor is the biggest determinant of the type of fish populations found in a stream?

Pumpkinseeds, Brown bullheads, Largemouth Bass

These fish prefer the warmer, lower oxygen content waters of the higher order streams and rivers.

downstream

The amount and water quality of headwater streams directly impacts the water quality .

vernal pond

These wetland areas fill with rainwater each spring or fall, but may become dry over the summer.

Hydric soils, water-tolerant (hydrophytic) plants, presence of water at some point in the year (hydrologic regime)

What three characteristics are required for a wetland?

Habitat (food, reproduction, shelter); Cleans water (removes excess nutrients, sediment and chemicals),

What are two vital roles of wetlands?

Invasive plants (ex. Purple Loosestrife)

Besides direct human destruction of wetlands, what is another threat to the integrity of Pa wetlands?

Algae

Which organisms form the basis of the food chain of the river continuum?

Bog

Wetland that accumulates peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses, and in a majority of cases, sphagnum moss

Marsh

Wetlands frequently or continually inundated with water, characterized by emergent soft-stemmed vegetation adapted to saturated soil conditions.

Swamp

Wetland dominated by woody plants.

Fens

Peat-forming wetlands that receive nutrients from sources other than precipitation: usually from upslope sources through drainage from surrounding mineral soils and from groundwater movement. Less acidic, higher in nutrients, biodiverse