bio 207 lab 1: equipment and abiotic factors

beach seine

near the shore, shallow waters, demersal and pelagic species

how to use a beach seine

composed of netting, the headrope floats on the surface while the footrope is in permanent contact with the bottom, creating a barrier which prevents the target species from escaping

sand-mud sieve

sediment of inland waters, burrowing or benthic species

how to use a sand-mud sieve

a sample of sediment is placed in and water is used to wash away unwanted sediment. organisms and other large object will remain for observation

plankton tow net

running open water, planktonic microscopic organisms

how to use a plankton tow net

a funnel-shaped, fine-meshed net that is towed through the water, plankton are gathered from the water that passes through it

refractometer

measuring the index of refraction to determine salinity of water

abiotic factors

non-living components of the environment

salinity

total of salts dissolved in water, impacts the distribution of plant and animal life based on salt tolerance, average is 35

osmoregulators

able to maintain internal fluid levels

osmoconformers

internal fluid levels vary with the environment

euryhaline

tolerate a large range of salinities

sternohaline

tolerate a small range of salinities

dissolved oxygen

the measure of oxygen available to plants and animals within the system, unit is ppm, % saturation, high levels are found in healthy systems

biochemical oxygen demand

measure of the DO used by bacteria in the decomposition of organic waste, unit is ppm

nitrate

essential for the creation of protein by plants and animals, unit is ppm, released into the system by decomposition and excretions

phosphate

required for plant and animal growth, fundamental element in metabolic reactions, unit is ppm, impacted by human/animal waste, industrial pollution, and agricultural runoff

pH

potential of hydrogen, measurement of the acidic or basic qualities of water, most organisms have a specific range and may die from fluctuations, impacted by industrial waste and agricultural runoff

temperature

impacts DO levels and rate of photosynthesis

turbidity

measure of clarity, unit is JTU, impacted by urban runoff, soil erosion, algal blooms and bottom sediment disturbances

turbid water

caused by suspended and colloidal matter (silt, clay, microscopic organisms, in/organic matter)