Sci Oly Water Scycle

ECOLOGY

how organisms interact with one another and with their environment

ENVIRONMENT

living and non-living components • ABIOTIC – non-living component or physical factors as soil, rainfall, sunlight, temperatures • BIOTIC – living component are other organisms

ECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

INDIVIDUAL – individual organisms

POPULATION – organisms of same species in same area (biotic factors) • COMMUNITY – several populations in same area (biotic factors) • ECOSYSTEM – community plus abiotic factors •

BIOSPHERE – all ecosystems on earth

Lotic ecosystems

an aquatic ecosystem

flowing water

stereams/rivers

Lentic ecosystems

still water

ponds, lakes, wetlands

watershed

A watershed or drainage basin is an area of land where water from rain and melting snow or ice drains downhill into a body of water, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea or ocean

Watershed

an area of land where water from rain/melting snow and ice drains downhill into body pf water (ex. river, lqke, reservior, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean)

Homeostasis

delicate balance

ecology of individuals

• Components

– Physiological Ecology

– Temperature and Water Balance

– Light and Biological Cycles

– Physiological Ecology and Conservation

ecology of populations

Properties of populations

• Patterns of distribution and density

• Intraspecific competition

• Population dynamics

• Growth and regulation

• Altering population growth

• Human impact

ECOLOGY OF COMMUNITIES

• Closed vs. Open communities

– Closed

– sharp boundaries

– Open

– Lack boundaries

• Species abundance and diversity

• Trophic Structure of Communities

– Food chains

– Food web

– Trophic pyramid

Food Chain

algae 🡪 mayflies 🡪 stoneflies 🡪 trout 🡪 humans

• Producer

• 1st order Consumer or Herbivore

• 2nd order Consumer or 1st order Carnivore

• 3rd order Consumer or 2nd order Carnivore

• 4th order Consumer or 3rd order Carnivore

• Decomposers – consume dead and decaying matter as bacteria

INTERACTIONS AMONG SPECIES

• Interactions

• Interspecific competition

• Predation

• Exploitation

• Symbiosis

Types of Species Interactions

Neutral – two species do not interact

Mutualism – both benefit

Commensalism – one benefits, other neutral

Parasitism – one benefits, one harmed but not killed

Predation – one benefits, other killed

ECOLOGY OF ECOSYSTEMS

Energy Flow

– Energy Flow Pyramids

– Biomass Pyramids

Community Succession and Stability (C Division)

Nutrient Recycling – nutrient cycles

• Nutrients

cyclic (Biogeochemical Cycles)

energy flow

one way

Ecologic Pyramids

Ecological pyramid - a graph representing trophic level numbers within an ecosystem. The primary producer level is at the base of the pyramid with the consumer levels above.

Numbers pyramid - compares the number of individuals in each trophic level. May be inverted due to size of individuals

Biomass pyramid - compares the total dry weight of the organisms in each trophic level.

Energy pyramid - compares the total amount of energy available in each trophic level. This energy is usually measured in kilocalories.

Biogeochemical Cycles

recycles nutrients

• Hydrologic Cycle

• Phosphorus Cycle

• Nitrogen Cycle

• Carbon Cycle

• Water Cycle

Macroflora and Fauna

Identify macroinvertebrates

Identify aquatic nuisance plants by their common name

Relate organisms to water and wetland quality

Indicator Species

will also be expected to know the general ecology, life cycles, and feeding habitats of all listed organisms

Class 1-pollution sensitive

Caddisfly

Dobonfly

Mayfly

Riffle Beetle

Stonefly

Water Penny

Water Scorpion

Class 2-moderately sen.

Aquatic sowbug

crane fly

dragonfly

scuds

Class 3-moderately tolerant

Blackfly

Flatworm

Leeches

Midge

Water Mite

Class 4-pollution tol.

Air breathing snail

blood midge 

deer/house fly

tubifex

Class 5 Air Br.

back swimmer

giant water bug

mosquito

predacious diving beetle

water boatman

water strider

whirligig beetle

Aquatic Nuisance Plants: Purple Loosestrife, Eurasian Water Milfoil and Water Hyacinth.

Aquatic Nuisance Animals: Zebra Mussel; Spiny Water Flea ,Asian Tiger Mosquito, Asian Carp, Crayfish/Crawdads

5-35mm

Stonefly nymph

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

Caddisfly larva

2-40mm

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

Mayfly nymph

3-10mm

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

Alderfly nymph

10-25mm

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

Fishfly larva

5-16mm

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

Stonefly adult

10-40mm

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

Caddisfly adult

14-25mm

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

Mayfly adult

5-25mm

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

Alderfly adult

24-50mm

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

no shells→legs→3 pairs of legs→no wings→1-2 tails→small, spin

Water penny

4-6mm

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

no shells→legs→3 pair of legs→no wings→no obvi tails→suction, cup-like

Hellgrammite (dobsonfly larvae)

25-90mm

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

no shells→legs→3 pairs of legs→no wings→1-2 tails→dobsonfly

Freshwater mussel

2-250mm

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

shells→2-8 inces→freshwater clam

Pouch snail

2-70mm

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

shell→single shell→spiral, open on left

Ramshorn snail (orb snail)

2-70mm

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

shells→single shell→coiled

12-18mm

Snipe fly larva

DO NOT TOLERATE POLLUTION

no shells→no legs→with tentacles, brushes or tails→2 fringed tails

Aquatic Nuisance Plants

purple loosestrifle

eursian water milfoil

water hyacinth

Aquatic Nuisance animals

zebra mussel

spiny water flea

asian tiger mosquito

carp

Water Monitoring

• Understand and interpret data related to testing procedures and purposes for water testing (No actual testing)

• Build and demonstrate a salinometer capable of testing saltwater (1-10% solution)

Chemical Analysis

• Salinity - only actual testing with salinometer

• pH

• Phosphates

• Dissolved oxygen

• Temperature

• Nitrates

• Fecal Coliform

• Total solids

• Biochemical oxygen demand Their relationship to one another

Salinomter

Salinometers / Hydrometers

• Hydrometer calibrated to read in % of salt concentration

• Materials (one example) –

▪ soda straw

▪ modeling clay

▪ a fine-tipped permanent marker

▪ a tall clear container to hold the solution for calibrating your device

▪ salt for mixing one or more standard solutions

▪ water (tap water will work-distilled is better