1. Intro to Freshwater Ecosystems
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Give 3 reasons why freshwater ecosystems are important to study
• they’re good model ecosystems because they’re usually ~closed (minimal flow) • Understanding freshwater ecosystems helps us understand physics, chemistry, & geology (and vise versa- it’s all connected!) • Function & ecological services of freshwater ecosystems are very important
Give 4 examples of the ecosystem function of freshwaters
• primary production vs: • respiration… sources or sinks of CO2? • secondary production: production of consumer biomass (eg fish) • nutrient cycling (eg nitrogen)
T/F rivers are our only true renewable source of water
true! lakes can dry up
Intact freshwater systems are essential for potable water: rivers contain ___% of freshwater resources and not all of that is good quality
0.01%
Irrigation is critical for food production, but there are two major costs that come with it:
• water withdrawal & evaporation (waste) • pollution from pesticides and fertilizer
__% of the world’s population lives in areas where water security or biodiversity threat exceeds the 75th percentile
80% (as of 2000- probably higher now) freshwater resources are very important!!
T/F Canada is very water abundant, but Alberta isn’t
true
and -
fisheries and recreation value (tourism)
Sampling stratified lake waters is more complicated than sampling small streams or the mixed layer of a lake. How is it done?
• With a Van Dorn sampler (lowered into the water with a rope). This is used to sample anything at depth • not for gas samples, measurements are taken with a probe
Does oxygen form a polar or non-polar molecule? Does this make it have high or low solubility in water?
non-polar low