Ecosystems
What are the factors of an ecosystem that are non-living? ex: water, sun, or clouds
Abiotic
How many major watersheds are in Virginia?
Three
1. Chesapeake Bay 2. Mississippi River
3. North Carolina Sounds
Name a cause for water pollution:
Ex: oil spill, sediment in water from soil erosion, animal waste from a farm, fertilizers
What is a wetland?
An area of land that is wet. It holds on to water.
What are the factors of an ecosystem that are living or once were living? ex: fish, human, plant
biotic
Complete the sentence: Watersheds are ____________ of land where all the water _______ and collects into one body of water and ______ into a larger body of water.
1. areas 2. drains
3. flows
Why is it important for scientists to test the pH of water?
Water needs to be close to a 7 pH level. If it is too high or too low, it cannot support life.
The Chesapeake Bay is a mix of fresh and salt water. This is called ____________ water.
Brackish
True
All creeks, streams, and rivers in Prince William County flow in to this major river....
Potomac River
Complete this sentence: The health of the ____________ is directly related to the __________ of the water.
1. ecosystem
2. quality
What could happen if a house development cuts down the forest next to the James River to build a new neighborhood of houses?
The houses might fall into the James River with an increased amount erosion. Sediment will fall into the river.
Give an example of a biotic factor and abiotic factor that are in a dependent relationship.
frog = pond
beaver = pond
plants = rain
bacteria = temperature
Areas of high elevation that force water to be separated into different watershed systems are called ___________.
Divides
How can high turbidity impact an aquatic ecosystem?
It reduces sunlight in the water.
1. they filter sediments and break down pollution
2. they reduce erosion and slow run off of water
Explain why wood, a dead fish, and dried spices are all biotic factors in a complete sentence.
The examples are biotic factors because they were all once alive. Biotic factors = living or once was living
Name a Virginia River that flows into the North Carolina sound. (Hint: Think about the Rivers from the map on your quiz)
Roanoke River
When macroinvertebrates no longer appear in samples taken from a water source, what could this indicate?
What do we call a place where freshwater and saltwater mixes with salt water from the ocean. This is also a place where organic waste (dead things) recycle their energy back into the Earth.
Hint: The Chesapeake Bay is an _________.
Estuary