WATER (3) - AP Environmental Exam - Studying
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Most of the water available is either…..
saline (salty) or frozen
What has the highest average NPP?
estuaries and wetlands
What has the highest Net NPP?
open ocean
Cultural Eutrophication
Excessive supply of nutrients by humans leading to toxic algal bloom; Usually from inorganic fertilizers
Cultural Eutrophication - Steps
Excess nutrients gets into the water Feeds algae - causes an excessive algae bloom This excessive algae bloom blocks out sunlight, and so the plants in the lake die. This causes fish to die too (Run out of food, the algea also dies) Decomposers (bacteria) break down the material - dissolved oxygen levels drop (decomposers use it up) The BOD increases drastically - this causes a dead zone or a fish kill. The lake is now lifeless. BOD - Biochemical Oxygen Demand
Bioaccumulation
the accumulation of fat soluble toxins in an individual’s body
Biomagnification
the amplification of toxic concentration from one trophic level to a higher trophic level
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
important criterion for aquatic species survival. Pollution and toxic bloom will drastically increase DO
Life zones
analogous to biomes in terrestrial ecosystem
Phytoplankton
microscopic plant species (producers) dwelling at the top of the water surface; major contributor of DO in water
Zooplankton
microscopic herbivores or omnivores
Aquifer
group water storage; confined and unconfined Largest: Ogallala Aquifer
Nektons
strong swimmers (whales, sharks, etc)
Benthos
bottom dwellers (clams, barnacles)
Nitrates (NO3-) and Phosphates (PO43-) (Common Water Pollutants and their Sources)
Inorganic fertilizers
Mercury (Hg) (Common Water Pollutants and their Sources)
coal-burning power plants
Crude Oil (Common Water Pollutants and their Sources)
oil spill from drilling
Mining Waste (Common Water Pollutants and their Sources)
coal mine (ACIDIC waste) metal mine (BASIC waste)
Warm water (Common Water Pollutants and their Sources)
heat-producing power plants (coal, gas, geothermal) ; Thermal Pollution
Drugs and Medications (Common Water Pollutants and their Sources)
Failure to be removed from water treatment plan
Invasive Species (Common Water Pollutants and their Sources)
release of nonnative species (Ex: zebra mussels in Great Lakes)
Dioxins (Common Water Pollutants and their Sources)
a result of combustion process such as waste incineration or burning fuels HIGHLY TOXIC and can cause cancer
Water - Ecological Services
Climate moderation Nutrient cycling Waste treatment Flood control Groundwater recharge habitats for aqua. + terr. species Genetic resources and biodiversity Scientific Information
Water Measurements
Temperature Turbidity pH Dissolved O2 Nitrates Phosphates Fecal coliform Salinity CO2