WQ - Part 2 General Info

When is water the densest? (temps in C and F)

4°C (39.2°F)

OLD: How do dams decrease water quality? (5)

The impounded water (behind dams) can become more stagnant in warmer months (when flow is slower)-- and traps heat -- giving way to HAB's, and not holding as much DO. - When water goes from free to stagnant, the sediment sinks to the bottom, on in/epifauna - Dams prevent fish from going upstream. - Ramping -- when the flow going through a dam suddenly changes-- can strand fish - Pollutants build up behind dams in the sediment.

OLD: How do riparian buffers help watersheds? (4)

Creates shade to help w/ cooler temps of the water, which also increase DO! Also provides habitats via branches etc. (e.g. Caddisflies!), and prevents erosion by holding soil in place (sediment pollution!) AND FILTERS RUNOFF! (picks up e.g. insecticides, oil…)

How do water droplets actually grow/form precipitation?

Condensation Nucleation : When aerosols (specifically CCN , c loud c ondensation n uclei, aka cloud seeds ) e.g. salt or dust are in the air, allowing water to condense around it. It allows the water to condense at lower supersaturation levels. Coalescence : Collision between the guys from condensation (within the cloud, due to air currents) form larger droplets, until its large enough to become precipitation.

OLD: limnology

the study of lakes/other freshwater bodies

fluoride

the addition of fluorine into drinking water to strengthen oral health

At what pH is it considered acid rain?

OLD: What is acid mine drainage? What causes it, and what are its effects? What are its signs? What are it's aka's ?

Aka acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD), or acid rock drainage (ARD) .
Cause : When the mine's surface and/or shallow water (and air) chemically react with sulfur-containing ore/rocks (e.g. pryride, FeS2), making sulfuric acid (H2SO4) . The water's now-acidity (<7) can then leach heavy metals from rocks into it, along w/ other substances e.g. sediment.
Effects : Severely lower pH of ecosystems to <4. Can occur indefinitely. Even after becoming more alkaline, the heavy metals/sediment from the drainage remain. The dissolved metals can become a precipitate, way increasing TSS.
Signs : "Yellow boy"-- the heavy metals (e.g. iron, aluminum) may become a yellow-orange, solid precipitate (iron hydroxide.) Rotten egg smell.

OLD: What are the three big effects mines can cause? Tell me briefly about each.

Acid mine drainage -When mine water chemically reacts with sulfur in rocks to make sulfuric acid, which also leaches heavy metals Alkaline mine drainage - Calcium, limestone, or dolomite; makes water alkaline (>7). Water drainage - It's very water-intensive; dust control, de-flooding them, etc.

What is Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)?

Cumulative knowledge, beliefs, & practices passed from generation to generation informed by cultural memories, sensitivity to change, and values that include reciprocity. TEK observations are qualitative and long-term.

OLD: Give 4 examples of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK).

Cultural burning : Controlled burning of landscape to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires (since dead leaves/twigs can build up), increase biodiversity(/growth of specific plants), and create habitats for wildlife. "Three Sisters" companion planting : Mesoamerica. Plant corn, bean, and squash together; corn creates something for the bean to grow up, the bean provides nitrogen fixation (N2 into ammonium, NH4)-- fertilizing it, and squash leaves at the bottom shade the soil, keeping moisture, and preventing weeds. gathering foods mix up soil Qanat System : Iran. Horizontal underground tunnels for water extraction from aquifers in mountains = no water loss via evaporation, and no overextraction (limitations of gravity), allowing the aquifer to recharge. Chinampas : Mexico; Aztecs. Make "islands" in shallow lakes via mud, decaying organic matter, etc; plant willow trees along edges, so their dense roots can anchor them. These roots increase water quality via filtering.

OLD: How is climate change effecting Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)?

Climate change can lower the accuracy of TEK, which was based on temps/conditions before. Also, it and the loss of animals/plants can interrupt cultural traditions and practices.

OLD: Which freshwater biome typically contains the highest biodiversity? Why?

Wetlands (e.g. marshes, swamps, and bogs) ; shallow water, high nutrient levels, and diverse microhabitats. Among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth (2x as much as ocean habitats.)

Aragonite

The metastable polymorph of calcium carbonate (of calcifying organisms.)

Bioremediation 3 Examples (5 total)

Uses microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater by breaking down pollutants. Can be done in-situ (on-site) or ex-situ (removed, and treated elsewhere).
IN-SITU :
- Bioaugmentation (Specific, sometimes lab-grown microbes are added when local pops. are insufficient)
- Biostimulation (Nutrients e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus, and O2 are added to encourage the activity of existing native microbes.)
- Bioslurping (Combines pumping to recover sludge, scum, etc w/ bioventing)
- Biosparging (Air is injected below the water table into the saturated zone to promote the biodegradation of groundwater contaminants.)

"small carbon reservoir"

consumers

OLD: Amictic Monomictic Dimictic Polyictic lakes

Amictic : permanently ice-covered lakes Monomictic : Circulates completely from top to bottom once a year, (one period of thermal stratification). Warm or cold. Dimictic : Temperate, often deep (>3–5m) water bodies that have 2 distinct turnover periods annually: spring and fall. Polymictic : A shallow lake that mixes frequently or continuously from top to bottom, preventing stable thermal stratification.

OLD: Endorheic lake

Terminal, landlocked bodies of water with no surface outlet, often located in arid regions where they lose water primarily through evaporation. Often good salinity, since the salt can't escape.

OLD: 6 main drainage patterns; cause and signs

Dendritic - Most common. Many sub-tributaries that merge into one main tributary of the river. Forms V-shaped valleys, so rock has to be impervious and non-porous. Trellis - Tributaries feed into the steep slopes of mountainsides, becoming perpendicular to the main river. Develops in tilted or faulted topography w/ alternating bands of resistant (sandstone) and non-resistant (shale/limestone) rock. Radial - The streams radiate outwards from a central high point. E.g. volcanoes. Rectangular - Happens on rocks with uniform erosion resistance. Develops along the 90-degree joints of the rocks (lower resistance.) Centripetal - When courses flow inwards from surrounding high elevations into a central, low-lying basin, crater, or lake. Parallel - The water courses run swift, straight, and in the same direction, with few tributaries. Happens on elongate landforms and uniform slopes.

Simpson Diversity Index

Measure of biodiversity that calculates the probability that two individuals randomly selected will belong to the same species. Ranges from 0 to 1; a lower D value indicates higher diversity Focuses moreso on dominance than Shannon.

Shannon diversity Index

Measures the uncertainty of predicting the identity of a randomly sampled individual; higher values (typically 1.5–3.5) indicate more diverse ecosystems. Gives more weight to rare species than Simpson.

Allen's rule

Warm-blooded animals in colder climates tend to have shorter limbs and bodily appendages (ears, tails, beaks) than those in warmer regions. Minimizes heat loss.

OLD: Residence time (of lakes)

The average duration water spends in a lake. Lake volume/Outflow rate (assuming lake is well-mixed)

Halosere

OLD: The process where a freshwater body gradually transforms into a terrestrial habitat through a series of plant community stages. Starts with phytoplankton and ends with a climax forest, filling in with organic matter and soil over time. Moves from fully aquatic to swamp, marsh, meadow, and finally woodland.

NEW:

OLD: Baffles

Barriers are inlet/outlet pipes that helps wastewater flow smoothly into the tank without disturbing scum layer. Also guides wastewater in a longer path across the septic tank Two in each septic tank-- outlet and inlet.

Internal Loading (Anoxic Release)

When bottom waters become anoxic, the chemical bond between iron and phosphorus breaks, releasing phosphorus from sediments into the water. Management Can use e.g. alum to bind phosphorus to the sediment.

Allochthonous

Organic matter that originated from same place else (a different environment, habitat, or location.)

OLD: What is the largest freshwater body of water by volume (in the world)?

Lake Baikal, Russia

Strahler stream order

Hierarchical method for classifying streams based on branching, where headwater streams (no tributaries) are designated 1st order. 2nd order is when two 1st-order streams meet. 3rd order is when 2 second order streams meet. If, say, a 2nd order stream is met with a 1st order stream, it's still considered 2nd order.

OLD: Septic tanks What are they? What are they for? What are the steps?

Part of septic system , alongside drainfield/soil absorption field, in wastewater treatment . Place where water sediment etc separates (oil/fats as "scum" on top; soil, food etc as "sludge" at bottom), and where microorganisms for BOD of suspended solids happens. After, is referred to as " effluent " and enters drain field.

OLD: Drainfield/soil absorption field

Last part of septic system process; after BOD in septic tanks, the effluent is distributed through perforated pipes buried in trenches filled with gravel or sand. As the water trickles out, it percolates through soil, which acts as a natural filter, while microbes in the soil break down harmful bacteria, nutrients, etc. The purified water eventually reaches and recharges the groundwater. It then rejoins the water cycle.

OLD: What is retention time of a septic tank? How do you calculate it?

The time the water spends in the tank, on its way from inlet to outlet, as it waits for stuff to separate. (mostly lasts 24-48 hours) Retention Time (days) = Effective Volume (gallons)/Flow Rate (gallons per day) Effective volume is the amount of available non-waste water (that isn't sludge or scum.) More of that = less effective volume as new wastewater capacity decreases, = water need to move out more quickly (lower retention time)

OLD: What percent of water on Earth is available freshwater? How about of freshwater?

0.1% of all water 1% of all freshwater

Ebullition

When gas (mostly methane, CH4, originating from the decomp of sediment by ANAEROBIC bacteria on the lake bed) form large bubbles, eventually rising up. Significantly contributes to greenhouse gasses!

What things drive ebullition in lakes? (1) Most (2) environmental factors (2) microbe-based factors

Most : Changes in atmospheric pressure (e.g. from storms); reduces total hydrostatic pressure at the lake bottom, allowing bubbles to expand and release
Water depth : Shallow lakes tend to have more ebullition; in deeper water, the higher hydrostatic pressure keep the methane dissolved within the porewater (in-between lakebed sediment). If bubbles do form, they might just dissolve back into water due to greater distance to surface.
Water disturbance : Via wind, storms, etc can shake bubbles loose.
High-organic-matter/eutrophic : Encourages more bacterial activity, and therefore more CH4 production.
High water temperature : Increase smicrobe activity, and therefore more CH4 production.

The largest carbon resevoir

The ocean

OLD: Largest estuary Largest freshwater body In U.S.

1: Chesapeake bay #2: Lake Superior

Red Tides

Cause by harmful algal blooms, particularly in Gulf of Mexico

Brackish water reverse osmosis

Water treatment (to become drinkable, for irrigation, etc), specifically for brackish water. Uses reverse osmosis.

Virtual water vs direct water

1 : The water “hidden” in the products, services and processes people buy and use every day. (e.g. in beef or jeans) #2 : The water that is seen, felt and used in a given time and location to intentionally produce an item or service (e.g. tap water)

OLD: River continuum concept

A model for classifying and describing flowing water, in addition to the classification of individual sections of waters after the occurrence of indicator organisms. As the physical gradient changes from source to mouth, chemical systems and biological communities shift and change in response.

OLD: Anammox bacteria What is it? In treatment?

Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation bacteria . Microorganisms that convert ammonium and nitrite directly into nitrogen gas (N2) under anaerobic conditions. Are autotrophic, aka turns abiotic X into energy store organically. Contributes up to 50% of N2 production in oceans. In wastewater treatment, converts harmful ammonium/nitrite in the water into harmless N2. Less aeration needed, and less sludge produced.

Reverse osmosis and pros/cons

Push water through semi-permeable membranes via very high pressure (maybe after pretreatment of sediment filter of quartz, sand, etc) Pros : - Very clean-- ~99%; removes heavy metals, chlorine , bacteria, etc. ----- Softens hard water - More energy-efficient than other distillation systems; cheaper to buy - Environmentally friendly-- no chemical additives etc in process Cons : - Removes good minerals e.g. salt, potassium, and magnesium from water - Lots of wastewater; 3:1 or even 6:1. - Slow compared to other methods

Allelopathy

When an organism produces biochemicals ( allelochemicals ) that influence the germination, growth, survival, and reproduction of other organisms. Can be detrimental (negative) or beneficial (positive). May be good for controlling HAB's. May be good for ensuring success of invasive plants e.g. hyacinth etc. Example : Cyanobacteria (releases cyanotoxins, often during HAB's. Toxic to humans; inhibits algae/plant growth)

OLD: Two-eyed seeing framework

A framework that encourages seeing from "one eye" with the strengths of Indigenous ways of knowing, and from the "2nd eye" with the strengths of Western ways, using both together for a more holistic perspective.

OLD: Aquifer storage and recovery Pros/cons

The injection of surface water supplies e.g. clean (potable) water, reclaimed water (i.e. rainwater), or river water into an aquifer for later extraction and use. (both mostly via wells.) Largely, the water's cleaned first. May be enacted during low demand, and/or to be ready for conditions e.g. when percolation is low, or during dry season (drinking, irrigation…) Pros : Insufficient above-ground storage space, water=protected from external factors e.g. temp, evaporation, contamination, etc, and cheaper (no expensive treatment plants etc) Cons : Potential aquifer contamination, encouragement to rely on sourcewater (surface/ground water) which drains streams etc, and

OLD: Aquifer recharge

Water that moves from the land surface or unsaturated zone into the saturated zone (an aquifer).

Novel weapons hypothesis

Invasive species succeed by introducing novel biochemicals—such as allelopathic root exudates or toxins—to which native communities lack co-evolved defenses.

Peat

A surface organic layer of a soil that consists of partially decomposed organic matter (derived mostly from plant material) which has accumulated under conditions of waterlogging, oxygen deficiency, high acidity and nutrient deficiency. Unique to peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs.

OLD: River Continuum Concept

Rivers function as continuous physical gradients from headwaters to mouth, where riparian habitat inputs, light availability, and energy sources shift predictably — driving corresponding changes in biological communities, organic matter processing, and ecosystem metabolism throughout the entire river system.

OLD: Flood pulse concept

The annual, predictable rise and fall of river water (the "flood pulse") is the primary driver of productivity, biodiversity, and nutrient exchange in river-floodplain systems

OLD: Fish zonation concept

The predictable, longitudinal distribution of fish species along a river system, driven by environmental factors such as slope, temperature, width, and oxygen, creating distinct, sequential habitats from headwaters to mouth.

Bergmann's rule

Endothermic animals in colder climates tend to be larger in size, for insulation. (reduced surface area to volume ratio)

Give me a summary of the phosphorus cycle.

Phosphate ions are released by weathering rocks/sediment , it goes into the soil, it's used by plants/animals, which die and return it. Within the soil, bacteria break down organic matter to inorganic forms of phosphorus (mineralisation.) It can end up in water, where it's incorporated back into sediment.

Give me a cool fact about the phosphorus cycle.

• Is the slowest and most limited cycle because is sparse but important for plants, and has no atmospheric phase.

Diel vertical migration

Migration of organisms e.g. fish, zooplankton, cyanobacteria, etc between deeper parts (hypolimnion) and shallower parts (epilimnion) of lakes, often during the night (to avoid predators.) Can encourage algal blooms, increase turbidity (as zooplankton only feed on phytoplankton at night), etc.

Diel horizontal migration

DVM, but in rivers-- between the littoral and limnetic zones, for the same reason.

PAR

Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) . Designates the spectral range (wave band) of solar radiation from 400 to 700 nm that photosynthetic organisms are able to use in photosynthesis.

OLD: Hypolimnetic withdrawal

The removal of phosphorus-rich bottom waters in stratified ponds and lakes, reducing support of the growth of cyanobacteria in the epilimnion (surface layer) of the water body, thereby reducing HAB's.

HCBs

Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms . Excessive cyanobacteria growth due to nutrient pollution (nitrogen/phosphorus), warm temperatures, and stagnant water. They release toxic cyanotoxins , which damage the liver, nervous system, and kidneys of wildlife, humans, and aquatic organisms. They also form light-blocking mats not the surface, and increase BOD (decreasing DO .)

Ephemeral

Temporary aquatic features that flow or hold water only during or immediately after precipitation events (rain or snowmelt). Above the water table, and doesn't receive groundwater.