Biological Indicators
These organisms help scientists determine if water is healthy by their presence or absence.
What are indicator species?
This measures how acidic or basic water is.
What is pH?
Too many nutrients can cause this rapid growth of algae.
What is an algal bloom?
Lichens are indicators of this environmental condition.
What is air quality?
What does PPM stand for?
What is Parts Per Million?
Fish need this dissolved substance in water to survive.
What is dissolved oxygen?
Nitrogen and phosphorus are examples of these.
What are plant nutrients?
Pollution often causes dissolved oxygen levels to do this.
What is decrease?
These shellfish accumulate toxins and are used to monitor water quality.
What are mussels?
15 mg of lead in 3 L of water equals this many ppm.
What is 5 ppm?
These animals breathe through their skin and are very sensitive to water pollution.
What are amphibians (frogs and toads)?
Lead, mercury, and cadmium belong to this group of pollutants.
What are heavy metals?
The process where excess nutrients lead to oxygen depletion in water.
What is eutrophication?
Rat-tailed maggots indicate this type of water.
What is highly polluted water?
80 mg of pollutant in 4 L of water equals this many ppm.
What is 20 ppm?
Mayfly larvae are indicators of this type of water.
What is clean water?
A poisonous substance that can cause illness or death.
What is a toxin?
Name two sources of water pollution.
What are pesticides, fertilizers, heavy metals, acid rain, oil, or chemicals?
This mountain animal is an indicator of climate change.
What is the American pika?
2 g of salt in 4 L of water equals this many ppm.
What is 500 ppm?
Name two biological indicators used to test water quality.
What are bacteria, aquatic invertebrates, fish, amphibians, or indicator species?
Scientists use this unit to measure very small amounts of pollution in water.
What is ppm (parts per million)?
These chemicals from farms can enter waterways through runoff.
What are pesticides?
Scientists call indicator species used to assess ecosystem health by this name.
What are bioindicators?
Scientists call indicator species used to assess ecosystem health by this name.
What are bioindicators?