What is an aquatic ecosystem?

Agenda for Tuesday Sept 20th 1.Outside to collect water samples/data2.Finish aquatic ecosystem presentations

Learning Targets1. Describe a pond and its characteristics2. Identify parameters that constitute a healthy

pond/wetland

Rivers and streams

• Start at headwater and flow to mouth

• Characteristic change as you go down a river– Slow water vs fast water– Plants and animals differ

Lakes and Ponds• 4 zones– Littoral – sunlight reaches the bottom, closest to shore– Limnetic – open water area that well lit (sunlight does

not reach bottom)– Profundal – no light, colder– Benthic - bottom

What makes a healthy pond?

Agenda for Wednesday Sept 21st 1.Finish notes2.Testing

Learning Targets1.Describe a pond and its characteristics2.Identify parameters that constitute a healthy

podn/wetland

Transitional Aquatic Ecosystems• Wetlands• Estuaries– Freshwater merges with saltwater (river to ocean)– Salt tolerant species– Used for nurseries for young

Marine Ecosystem

• Intertidal zone – Ocean meets land– Organisms are adapted to

changes – tide

• Open ocean ecosystem– 4 zones – photic, aphotic,

benthic, abyssal– Species diversity decreases

with depth

Marine Ecosystem

• Coastal ocean and coral reefs– Most diverse ecosystems– Protect shorelines from erosion– Sensitive to change

Ponds/Wetlands• Also known as marshes, bogs, swamps

• A lot of species– Amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects, mammals– MN, 43% endangered/threatened species use wetlands

• Benefits– Recreation (hunt, bird watch, fish)– Improve water quality (absorb contaminants and N2)

– Help control flooding

List 2 uses for a pond/wetland

Agenda for Thursday Sept 22nd 1.Finish testing/looking for organisms2.Go over chemical testing – what does it mean3.Start research

Learning Targets1.Describe a pond and its characteristics2.Identify parameters that constitute a healthy

pond/wetland

Chemical testing – what does it mean?• pH– normal range for most ponds is from 6.8 to 7.8– natural daily fluctuations– Limestone raises pH

• Dissolved Oxygen– About 10 ppm is normal– DO below 3 ppm stress most warmwater species of fish– below 2 ppm will kill some species/stress fish

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen• Sources– Fish waste– Too many fish in a body of water that is too small– Fertilizer run-off– Decaying plants and insects

• High Levels = increased plant growth– Eutrophication – rapid plant growth• Uses oxygen and gives off toxins• Kills plants/animals

Nitrogen

• Less than 10 ppm is wanted– 10 mg/L

• More will increase plant growth

Phosphate

• Sources– living and decaying plant and animal remains– Sediments, soils, rocks– partially treated and untreated sewage,– runoff from agricultural sites – some lawn fertilizers

• Levels

Phosphate

• Importance– key element necessary for growth of plants and

animals • growth limiting nutrient

– low levels limit the production of freshwater systems – Unlike nitrogen, phosphate is retained in the soil – Not toxic unless they are present in very high levels

PhosphateTable 7. Phosphate-phosphorus levels and effects

Total phosphate/ phosphorus* Effects

0.01-0.03 mg/L Amount of phosphate-phosphorus in most uncontaminated lakes

0.025 mg/L Accelerates the eutrophication process in lakes

0.1 mg/L Recommended maximum for rivers and streams

* If an orthophosphate test cube or ortho/metaphosphate color disk gives you values above the total phosphate/ phosphorous values given above, there is cause for concern.

What happens when there is too much phosphorous in a pond?

Agenda for Friday Sept 23rd 1.Finish notes2.Start research

Learning Targets1.Describe a pond and its characteristics2.Identify parameters that constitute a healthy

pond/wetland

Animals

• Predictable results• Invertebrates are relatively sedentary and representative of local

conditions• Large number of species involved

– Exhibit a range of sensitivities to contaminants

• Ubiquitous• Fish and other aquatic organisms are used sometimes

Diversity and Taxon Richness

What does it mean if our pond is very diverse?

Agenda for Monday Sept 26th 1.Finish research and presentation

Quiz Wednesday

Learning Targets1.Describe a pond and its characteristics2. Identify parameters that constitute a healthy

pond/wetland

Research• Look up information about ponds/wetlands– Specific to MN and other places– Animals, chemical testing requirements– Other (uses for ponds, habitats for specific organisms)

• Compare to our pond– Draw conclusions – how does our pond compare?– Is it healthy? Why or why not– What could we do to improve?

Make a presentation

• You and your lab partner will make a presentation

• Everyone is required to talk and share information

• At least 5 minutes long