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Water Quality Science Olympiad

Terms in this set (138)

Biotic
Living
Abiotic
Non-Living
Anoxic
Without oxygen
Infauna
Animals that live inside the sediment
Epibenthos
Organisms that are affixed to the surface of the sediment
Mobile Epibenthos
Organisms that move around on the surface of the sediment
Population
A group of individuals of the same species living in a given place
Community
Comprised of populations of different species that live together
Ecosystem
Encompasses the community and its abiotic environment
Habitat
The places where organisms make their homes within the estuarine ecosystem
Habitat (Estuarine)
Tens of thousands of birds, mammals, fish, and other wildlife depend on estuaries
Nursery (Estuarine)
Many marine organisms, most commercially valuable fish species included, depend on estuaries at some point during their development.
Productivity (Estuarine)
A healthy, untended estuary produces from four
to ten times the weight of organic matter produced by a cultivated corn field the same size.
Water Filtration (Estuarine)
Water draining off the uplands carries a
load of sediments and nutrients. As the water flows through salt marsh peat and the dense mesh of marsh grass blades, much of the sediment and nutrient load is filtered out. This filtration process creates cleaner and clearer water.
Flood Control (Estuarine
Porous, resilient salt marsh soils and grasses
absorb floodwaters and dissipate storm surges. Salt marsh dominated estuaries provide natural buffers between the land and the ocean. They
protect upland organisms as well as billions of dollars of human real estate.
Types of Estuaries
Coastal Plain Estuaries
Fjords
Tectonic Estuaries
Bar-built Estuaries
Coastal Plain Estuaries
Formed as rising sea level invaded existing river valleys
Fjords
Steepwalled valleys created by glaciers
Tectonic Estuaries
Formed when geologic faulting or folding resulted in a depression
Bar-built Estuaries
Separated from the ocean by barrier beaches lying
parallel to the coastline
Abiotic Factors
Light
Oxygen
Light (Abiotic Factors)
Plants use energy in sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen. This is accomplished through a series of chemical reactions called photosynthesis.
Oxygen (Abiotic Factors)
Used in respiration. Respiration releases
stored chemical energy to power an organism's life processes. An absence of oxygen severely restricts the amount of life that can be
supported.
Respiration
Releases stored chemical energy to power an organism's life processes
Water (Abiotic Factors)
Without water, no organism can remain biologically active. In fact, all living organisms are comprised of 50 to 99 percent water.
Nutrients (Abiotic Factors)
Although sunlight is the fuel for food production, and water and carbon dioxide are the raw materials, plants cannot survive on these alone. Other substances, called nutrients, are necessary for the proper function of a living organism. Major nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorous, are needed in large amounts. Trace nutrients, such as
iron, are required in smaller amounts.
Temperature (Abiotic Factors)
Temperature is one of the best-understood abiotic
factors affecting the distribution and abundance of organisms. Temperature has a large impact on plants and animals because it influences their metabolic rates and affects rates of growth and
reproduction. Geographic ranges of animals are often defined by temperature, and many species respond to seasonal temperature shifts by
acclimatizing to changes or by migrating away from them.
Salinity (Abiotic Factors)
Pure water contains only oxygen and hydrogen, but in the natural world, solid substances such as salt are often dissolved in water. In an estuary, the salt content of water fluctuates continuously
over the tidal cycle. It decreases drastically in the upper reaches of estuarine rivers where tidal influence lessens, and varies radically in salt
pannes because of evaporation and precipitation. Organisms that spend their entire lives in estuaries need to be capable of responding to large, rapid salinity variations.
Space (Abiotic Factors)
A precious resource exploited by living things. The
need for space is most pronounced for organisms that need a substrate, or base, on which to live. Many animals require a certain amount and
type of space to meet their needs, other than simple physical attachment. They need space for nesting, gathering food, wintering, and hiding from
predators.
Substrate
Base
Biotic Factors
Interactions among living things that affect the survival of species
List of Biotic Factors
Competition
Predation
Parasitism
Commensalism
Mutualism
Competition (Biotic Factors)
Occurs between organisms using a
resource that is in finite supply. Can occur between members of different species or the same species. They may compete for
food, space, light, nutrients, water, or even pollinators. Plays an important role in shaping communities. Species or individuals
with a competitive edge have a better chance of surviving long enough to reproduce.
Predation (Biotic Factors)
Killing and/or consumption of one
organism by another. Herbivores eat plants, seeds, and/or fruits. Carnivores eat animals. Omnivores eat both plants and animals. Predation is a major selective force in animal evolution. Individuals are more likely to reproduce successfully if they have traits enabling them to avoid being consumed by predators
Parasitism (Biotic Factors)
Similar to predation in that one species
benefits from the relationship and the other is harmed. Differs from predation, however, because parasitism is generally not fatal to the adversely affected organism.
Commensalism (Biotic Factors)
Commensal relationships occur when one
organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed
Mutualism (Biotic Factors)
Occurs when both organisms gain from the relationship
Succession
Progressive changes in the composition of a community
Anthropogenic Disturbances
Human created disturbance
Ecological Responses
Happen during the lifetime of a single organism
Evolutionary Adaptation
Happens over the course of multiple individuals' lifetimes and causes changes to occur in a
species' genetic makeup
Natural Selection
Process in which a species' genetic makeup changes.
Speciation
Creation of a new species through natural selection, occurs when a selective force is intense
Zones
Distinct bands of vegetation
Resources
Items such as the food and water that an
organism uses during its lifetime.
Conditions
Characteristics of the environment (such as temperature and salinity) that influence the survival of an organism but are not used by it
Salinity
The proportion of salt in a solution; levels of salts dissolved in water
Detritus
Particles of decaying plants and animals suspended in the water, which provide nutrients to the organisms living in it
Aquatic orgamisms
Plants and animals that live in water
Nekton
All aquatic organisms that can swim against water currents
Plankton
All water borne organisms that move through the water by currents
Phytoplankton
A group of plankton which are plants
Zooplankton
A group of plankton which are animals
Copepods
Very common, herbivorous zooplankton
Cladocera
Carnivores that eat other zooplankton
Jellyfish
Common type of carnivorous zooplankton
Mudflats
Surfaces with two layers; first layer containing diatoms and seaweed, the second containing bacteria
Niches
A unique role
High marsh
The highest part of a salt marsh, where the soil is infrequently flooded
Low marsh
The lowest part of a salt marsh, where the soil is flooded two times a day with salt water
Producers (autotrophs)
Organisms able to obtain energy from the sun and use it to form energy-rich material
Consumers (heterotrophs)
Organisms which obtain energy-rich materials by eating autotrophs.
Food Chain
The pattern of energy flow, in which an autotroph produces food, a heterotroph eats that autotroph, another heterotroph eats that heterotroph, and so on.
Watershed
An area of land that drains into one river, stream, or other body of water.
Runoff, groundwater, surface water
Water sources that feed watersheds.
Tidal height
The height above sea level to which the tide rises. It is affected by the position of the moon, sun, earth, and land configuration.
Tidal range
The difference in height between high and low tides.
Tertiary Treatment
The fluid from the secondary treatment is cleansed of phosphate and nitrate products that could cause pollution before the water is returned to a natural water source.
Secondary Treatment
After primary treatment, the primary effluent is passed into large aeration tanks where it is constantly agitated mechanically and air is pumped associated with fungal filaments to form mesh like structures.
Primary Treatment
The treatment step of sewage for physical removal of particles, large and small, from the sewage through filtration and sedimentation.
Nutrient Recycling
Natural processes recycle all chemicals or nutrients that plants and animals need to stay alive and reproduce.
Methane Recovery
Gas produced by bacteria in landfill is collected and used to make electricity.
Coagulation
The process of forming semisolid lumps in a liquid.
Sedimentation
The phenomenon of sediment or gravel accumulating.
Filtration
The process whereby fluids pass through a filter or a filtering medium.
Riffles
Rough, shallow that produce rapid turbulent flows
Pools
smooth, deep bottoms that result in a slower, smooth flow in areas
Population Ecology
the study of how populations interact with their environment
Population Size
number of individuals making up its gene pool
Population Density
number of individuals per unit of area or volume
Population Distribution
the general pattern in which the population members are dispersed through its habitat (Clumped, Uniformly, Randomly)
Clumped (of population distribution)
The most common
Uniformly (of population distribution)
Dispersed (the rare kind)
Randomly (of population distribution)
Dispersed
Age Structure (of a population)
the relative proportions of individuals of each age (Pre-Reproductive, Reproductive, Post-Reproductive)
Community Ecology
the study of how different species interact within communities
Neutral
the study of how different species interact within communities
Commensalism
beneficial to one species but neutral to another
Resource partitioning
the resources are divided, permitting species with similar
requirements to use the same resources in different areas, ways and/or times
Parasitism
an interaction that benefits one species and is detrimental to another. Note that the host is generally not killed.
Mutualism
an interaction that is beneficial to both species
Oligotrophic
Clear water, low conductivity
Mesotropthic
Increased production, accumulated organic matter, good fishery
Eutrophic
Very productive, oxygen depletion, rough fish common
Oligotrophic lakes
Deep, clear, nutrient-poor lakes
Eutrophic lakes
Shallow, nutrient-rich lakes,
Wetland
Area covered by water, which supports aquatic vegetation
Basin wetlands
Develop in shallow basins ranging from upland depressions to lakes and ponds that have filled in
Riverine wetlands
Develop along shallow and periodically flooded banks of streams and rivers
Fringe wetlands
Found along coast of large wetlands and seas where rising lake levels or tide causes water to flow back and forth
Streams and rivers
Bodies of water that move continuously in one direction
Headwater
A tributary stream of a river close to or forming part of its source
First-order streams
Have no tributaries
Second-order streams
When first-order streams join together
Third-order streams
When two second-order streams join togther
River Continuum Concept
A model used to determine the biotic community expected as the size of the stream increases
Microbes
A microoranganism, especially a bacteria causing disease
Grazers
Animals that only eat plants and trees
Predators
An animal that naturally preys on others
Precipitation
water from the clouds fall to earth rain, snow, hail or sleet
Surface Runoff
water on the surface of the land that flows downhill into bodies of water such as streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes
Infiltration
rain water soaks into the ground through soil and rock layers under the soil with some remaining underground as groundwater
Evaporation
liquid water changes to a gaseous state as water vapor
Transpiration
water that has been absorbed by plants will evaporate through the leaves as
water vapor
Condensation
water vapor is changed into a liquid Water vapors join dust particles to form clouds
Point Source Pollution
Pollution from a clearly identifiable location
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Pollution from many different places
Organic Pollution
decomposition of living organisms and their biproducts
Inorganic Pollution
dissolved and suspended solids as silt, salts, and minerals
Toxic Pollution
heavy medals and other chemical compounds that are lethal to organisms
Thermal Pollution
waste heat from industrial and power generation processes
Lentic Ecosystems
Still water
Ponds
small body of freshwater, with no stream draining it - often fed by an underground spring
Lakes
larger body of freshwater, usually drained by a stream. May be naturally occurring or man made.
Wetlands
region of land that holds a great deal of water for significant periods of time, and that contains specialized plants able to grow in these wet conditions
Lotic Ecosystems
flowing water
Streams
bodies of moving water, contained within a bank (sides) and bed (bottom).
Rivers
natural streams of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course or channel or series of diverging and converging channels
Light Penetration Stratification
Ponds or lakes are divided into two layers due to a decrease in light intensity with increasing depth - as light is absorbed by the water and suspended microorganisms.
Upper Photic Zone
layer where light is sufficient for photosynthesis
Lower Aphotic Zone
receives little light and no photosynthesis occurs
Temperature Stratification
occurs in deeper ponds and lakes during summer in
temperate zones.
Thermocline
narrow vertical zone between the warmer and colder waters where a rapid temperature change occurs
Benthic Zone
one at the lowest level or bottom of the lake including sediment surface and some subsurface layers - most of the organisms are scavengers and
decomposers
Littoral Zone
hallow, well-lighted, warm water close to shore.
Has rooted and floating vegetation, and a diverse attached algal community
(especially diatoms)
Has a diverse animal fauna including suspension feeders (clams);herbivorous
grazers (snails); and herbivorous and carnivorous insects, crustaceans, fishes, and
amphibians
Limnetic Zone
open, well-lighted waters away from shore
Eutrophic Zone
Has photosynthetic phytoplankton (algae and cyanobacteria), zooplankton (rotifers and small crustaceans) that graze on phytoplankton, and small fish which feed on the zooplankton.
Animals visiting this zone may include large fish, turtles, snakes, and birds
Profundal Zone
deep, aphotic zone lying beneath the limnetic zone.
This is an area of decomposition where detritus (dead organic matter that drifts in from above) is broken down.
Water temperature is usually cold and oxygen is low due to cellular respiration of decomposers.
Mineral nutrients are usually plentiful due to decomposition of detritus.
Waters of the profundal zone usually do not mix with surface waters due to density
differences related to temperature.
Mixing of these layers usually occurs twice each year in temperate lakes and ponds
so oxygen enters the profundal zone and nutrients are cycled into the limnetic zone.

Lakes are often classified as oligotrophic, mesotrophic, or eutrophic, depending on the amount of organic matter
produced.
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