Ecology- Freshwater Systems (Chapter 3)

3 freshwater systems: Streams

1. zones/features in each

2. prominent autotrophs in each

3. basic details of each

4. major limiting condition(s) of each

5. human influences

6. short answer - compare/contrast 3 freshwater systems

1. Riffles: Fast, coarse bed particles.

Pools: Slow, fine sediments.

Hyporheic Zone: Below the stream.

2. Algae and Macrophytes.

3. Lotic ecosystems.

Varying depth, velocity, temp, clarity, and chemistry.

Connect terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

Stream orders: 1st to 6th+.

4. Human Influences: Pollution, non-native species, deforestation, dams.

5. Pollution: Sewage, industrial waste, runoff.

Non-native species: Disrupt ecosystems.

Deforestation: Increases sediment.

Dams: Alters stream properties

3 freshwater systems: Lakes

1. zones/features in each

2. prominent autotrophs in each

3. basic details of each

4. major limiting condition(s) of each

5. human influences

6. short answer - compare/contrast 3 freshwater systems

1. Pelagic Zone (Limnetic Zone): Open water, dominated by plankton.

Phytoplankton: Photosynthetic, in the upper layers (photic zone).

Profundal Zone: Deeper water, inhabited by heterotrophs.

Littoral Zone: Near shore, rooted macrophytes common.

Benthic Zone: Lake bottom, with detritus as food.

2. Phytoplankton: Photosynthetic plankton.

Macrophytes: Rooted plants in the littoral zone.

3. Lakes are still waters (lentic).

Formed by various processes.

Lake depth and area impact biological communities.

Temperature stratification and nutrient levels influence ecosystems.

Deep, small surface area lakes are nutrient-poor; shallow, large lakes are nutrient-rich.

4. Temperature Stratification: Affects lake regions.

Nutrient Levels: Oligotrophic (low) to eutrophic (high).

5. Pollution: Can affect water quality and ecosystems.

Altered Nutrient Levels: From agriculture and runoff.

Habitat Destruction: Affects littoral and benthic zones.

Climate Change: Can disrupt temperature zones

3 freshwater systems: Wetlands

1. zones/features in each

2. prominent autotrophs in each

3. basic details of each

4. major limiting condition(s) of each

5. human influences

6. short answer - compare/contrast 3 freshwater systems

1. Wetland areas are periodically covered with water.

Hydroperiod is the primary factor influencing productivity.

Wetlands tend to be open systems interacting/connecting with rivers, lakes, and groundwater.

2. There is no specific mention of autotrophs in the provided information.

3. Wetlands contain very high levels of carbon (~10-14% of carbon on Earth).

Wetlands are now seen as valuable resources serving numerous roles and avenues for recycling processes to proceed through.

4. There is no specific mention of major limiting conditions in the provided information.

5. There is no specific mention of human influences in the provided information