Aquatic Life Zones
For measuring pH is 1 or 14 the most acidic?
1 is the most acidic. 14 is the most basic.
2 ways animals excrete excess salt.
Urine (mammals) and salt glands (birds)
What is a limiting factor?
Factors that effect the carrying capacity of an ecosystem.
Three H's of wetlands.
Hydrology, Hydric Soils, Hydrophytic plants (hydrophytes).
Open ocean and habitats influenced by waves or oceanic current extending to the 1) landward limit of tidal inundation, 2) seaward limit of plant life, or 3) seaward limit of the Estuarine system.
What 3 nutrients are limited in the open ocean?
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Iron.
Predator-prey.
What is carrying capacity?
The set amount of organisms an ecosystem can support.
The majority of America's lakes are formed through what type of activity?
Glacial Activity.
Basic Characteristics of Estuarine Wetlands.
Sea water habitats with variable levels of salinity that are influenced by tides and freshwater and partially enclosed by land.
What 5 River Basins Flow West
New, Watauga, French Broad, Hiwassee, and Little Tennessee.
What relationship occurs between Bluehead Chub fry and Shiner fry?
Competition.
How does excess nutrients impact carrying capacity in a pond?
It increases the carrying capacity of aquatic flora, but can also limit the carrying capacity of fish through fish kills.
Give 4 reasons wetlands are important.
They help recharge groundwater.
They help control floodwaters.
They filter pollutants.
They slow water allowing sediment and pollutants to settle rather than entering streams.
They support fisheries. they provide habitat for wildlife and waterfowl.
They are sanctuaries for rare and endangered species.
They have educational, recreational, and aesthetic value.
They store excess water during times of flooding.
Basic Characteristics of Lacustrine Wetlands.
Wetlands and deep-water habitats with the following characteristics: 1) situated in a topographic depression or a dammed river channel 2) lacking non-submergent plant life with greater than 30% areal coverage 3) total area exceeds 20 acres.
What are the temperature zones?
Epilimnion (top, warm), thermocline (middle, transitory layer), hypolimnion (bottom, colder).
When an Orchid grows on a tree, what relationship is occurring?
Commensalism, Orchid grows on a tree to reach sunlight but does not grow large enough to harm the tree.
Fish that can require less oxygen to be present in water are more resistant to what form of pollution?
Thermal Pollution.
What is the difference between vernal pools and Carolina Bays?
Some Carolina Bays are vernal pools, but all Carolina Bays that are not vernal pools are filled with saltwater. Vernal pools are freshwater ONLY.
Basic Characteristics of Riverine Wetlands.
Wetlands contained in a channel and their associated vegetation. Can be man-made or "artificial".
A water body is tested for pH levels. The average pH of the water body is 5.8. Purely based on this test, is the water body fresh or salt water?
Freshwater (inbetween 5.6-7 pH)
What type of living organism feeds herbivores?
Decomposers.
How could turbidity affect the limiting factors of a pond?
Low turbidity would decrease the amount of sunlight available, limiting plant growth.
Difference between Marsh, Swamp and Bog?
1) Marshes are dominated by herbaceous plants and grasses with constant flooding
2) Woody plant dominated and created in the floodplain of rivers or streams
3) Bogs are ombrotrophic and dominated by peat.
Basic Characteristics of Palustrine Wetlands.
Any inland, non-tidal, freshwater wetlands dominated by non-submergent plant life.