Aquatic Ecology Lecture 1

What is ecology?

The study of the interactions between organisms and their environments.

What is limnology?

The study of inland waters, focusing on lakes.

What factors affect an organism's survival?

Food, water access, population, quality.

What is the largest freshwater habitat in the world?

The Everglades.

How long does the Amazon River flow?

4,000 miles through six countries.

What are abiotic factors?

Physical and chemical factors in an ecosystem.

What are examples of abiotic factors important to aquatic habitats?

Sunlight, water temperature, water clarity.

What are the components of ecosystems?

Biosphere, ecosystems, community, populations, organisms.

What does the function of ecosystems describe?

The flow of energy and materials through biotic and abiotic components.

What adaptations have freshwater mussels developed?

They developed fish lures to attract fish.

How do aquatic ecosystems compare to terrestrial ecosystems?

They support more life, are a major source of primary production, and are more stable.

What percentage of fresh water is found in surface water?

Only 3%.

What is hydrogen bonding?

The attraction between the partial negative charge of oxygen and the partial positive charge of hydrogen in water molecules.

What symbolizes hydrogen bonding between two water molecules?

An image of two water molecules with a dashed bond between them.

What unique property does water have at room temperature?

It is liquid.

What happens to water as it is heated?

Much of the added energy goes to breaking apart hydrogen bonds.

Why is ice less dense than liquid water?

Ice expands and forms a rigid hexagonal arrangement with large gaps between molecules.

What causes high surface tension in water?

Water molecules are attracted to each other.

What is the universal solvent?

Water, because it stabilizes ions as they dissociate.

What are the layers of thermal stratification in lakes?

Epilimnion (surface layer), thermocline (intermediate zone), hypolimnion (bottom layer).