Biotic and Abiotic
What does biotic mean?
living factors in an ecosystem
What is water quality monitoring?
the collection of water samples to analyze chemical and/or biological parameters
What is a watershed?
The land that water flows across or through on its way to a stream, lake, wetland, or other body of water
What is a wetland?
the transition zone between dry lands and bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, or bays.
What is an estuary?
where freshwater and saltwater meet, provides habitat and nurseries for many organisms
What does abiotic mean?
non-living factors in an ecosystem
Name three testing parameters for water quality monitoring.
pH, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and the presence of macroinvertebrate.
What separates watersheds?
Areas of higher elevations, such as ridgelines and divides
Wetlands provide ___________ and _________ for wildlife and fish.
food and shelter
True or false? Human activities can alter abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
True!
Give an example of a biotic factor in an ecosystem
Water quality is directly related to the health of a(n) _________________.
ecosystem
What are the three major watersheds in Virginia?
Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico, and North Carolina Sound
Wetlands provide ___________ and _____________ areas for migratory birds.
What is brackish water?
a mixture of salt and freshwater
Give an example of an abiotic factor in an ecosystem.
needs to be something non-living!
How does erosion contribute to poor water quality?
Erosion can increase the amount of sediment in the water which can result in less sunlight, more pollutants, and higher turbidity.
What is the watershed we live in?
Chesapeake Bay watershed
Wetlands perform what three functions?
regulating runoff by storing flood waters, reducing erosion by slowing down runoff, and recharging groundwater
What body of water in Virginia is an estuary?
The Chesapeake Bay
Do biotic or abiotic factors determine ecosystem type?
Abiotic!
How do wetlands improve water quality?
filter sediments, trap nutrients, and break down pollutants
What are the four major rivers that drain into the Chesapeake Bay watershed?
Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James Rivers
If a community develops land near a wetland, what kinds of problems might arise?
flooding increases
What is the largest estuary in the United States?
The Chesapeake Bay!