Limnology Final

Important macronutrients

Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus

Phosphorus

In all cells

abundant compared to other macronutrients

becomes first limiting factor of biological productivity

Impact of eutrophication

Freshwater Fish

Takes on large amounts of water and lose salts to the environment

Must produce large amounts of very dilute urine 5-12% of body weight a day.

Marine Fish

conserve water and secrete excess salt

fewer and smaller glomeruli

produce small amounts of very concentrated urine

actively secret ions at gills

Types of water pollution

Physical: solid wastes, garbage

Chemical: fertilizers, oil, etc

Biological: algae blooms, caused by overabundance of nutrients

Impairment of freshwater systems

in last 10 years 36% of stream miles and 37% of lakes impaired

unsuitable to drink

production of fish not safe to eat

unsafe to swim

Toxicology

Additive- added effect of each toxin

Antagonistic- lessen impact of each other

Synergistic- greater than added effect

Mercury

~25% of mercury released into environment comes from the burning of coal

IBI- index of biotic integrity

rates freshwaters using fishes as indicator species

Point Source

from one place ie pipe from a factory

non-point source

a broad input of pollutants

Acid precipitation

Causes water to often time become more basic because of increased erosion and weathering

Allochthonous materials

something imported into a system from outside of it ie leafs

Riffle Community

majority of the primary consumers are omnivorous and consume detritus

types of taxis

chemotaxis

phototaxis

magnetotaxis