LIVING SYSTEMS WATERSHEDS SOL 6.7 LIVING SYSTEMS WATERSHEDS

ECOSYSTEM COMMUNITY OF LIVING ORGANISMS INTERACTING WITH THE NON-LIVING ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDING IT.

ABIOTIC FACTORS TOPOGRAPHY (shape of the land) LANDFORMS (features like mountains and valleys) GEOLOGY (what the Earth is made of) SOILS SUNLIGHT AIR QUALITY OXYGEN AVAILABILITY WATER SUPPLY

ECOSYSTEM

HOW DO HUMANS AFFECT ECOSYSTEMS? DESTROY WETLANDS(INCREASE FLOODING) OR RESTORE WETLANDS AND PREVENT FLOODING INCREASE EROSION BY CUTTING DOWN TREES OR DECREASE EROSION BY PLANTING TREES

WHAT IS A WATERSHED? AN AREA OF LAND THAT WATER FLOWS ACROSS ON ITS WAY TO A STREAM, LAKE, WETLAND OR OTHER BODY OF WATER WATERSHEDS ARE SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER BY DIVIDES

What is a watershed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ63xGJY4pM

WHAT IS A DIVIDE? IT IS AN AREA OF HIGHER ELEVATION SUCH AS MOUNTAINS

VIRGINIA RIVER SYSTEMS

CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED

CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE TUNNEL

WHAT IS A WETLAND? AN AREA OF LAND THAT HAS SATURATED SOIL OR IS FLOODED BY A LAYER OF WATER 3 MAIN TYPES OF WETLANDS: Marsh, Bog, Swamp

MARSH

BOG

SWAMP

WETLAND FUNCTIONS FILTER SEDIMENTS TRAPPING NUTRIENTS BREAKING DOWN POLLUTANTS REDUCING EROSION REDUCE FLOODING PROVIDE FOOD AND SHELTER FOR DIVERSE WILDLIFE PROVIDE MIGRATORY BIRDS WITH NESTING AND RESTING AREAS

WHAT IS AN ESTUARY? A SLIGHTLY ENCLOSED BODY OF WATER FOUND AT THE EDGE OF A WATERSHED WHERE FRESH RIVER WATER EMPTIES INTO SALTY OCEAN WATER

WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT? PROVIDE HABITATS FOR MANY LIVING ORGANISMS AREAS OF GREAT BEAUTY ATTRACT TOURISTS IMPORTANT TO FISHING INDUSTRY CONTROL POLLUTANTS

Water quality monitoring Our country’s waters are always being checked by state, federal, and local agencies. Water samples are collected and checked for specific parameters (values).

WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS pH Temperature Salinity Dissolved oxygen Turbidity Macroinvertebrates

pH PH is the measure of how acidic or basic a water source is. A pH range of 6.0 to 9.0 has been found to support and protect freshwater aquatic life. High pH levels can damage the tissues of aquatic animals and cause death

Temperature Changes outside of the normal seasonal changes can be detrimental (harmful) When human activities change water temperatures in rivers and streams, the death of aquatic life can result.

Salinity Salinity is the measure of dissolved salts in a water system. High levels of salt can damage floodplains and wetlands. Salinity levels also determine what plant and animal species can live in a water habitat.

Dissolved Oxygen affect the growth and reproduction of aquatic animals. Low levels can kill vulnerable animals such as oysters, clams, and fish.

Turbidity The clearer the water is, the lower the turbidity. Increased turbidity can be caused by silt and clay from shoreline erosion as well as an increase in the numbers of microscopic plants called phytoplankton. High levels of turbidity can block sunlight, clog the gills of fish and smother aquatic nurseries.

Macroinvertebrates Water quality can also be determined by the type of organism present Some organisms will only thrive in healthy streams (like mayfly larvae) Others will thrive in polluted waters (like leeches)

LEECH

MAYFLY LARVA

http://www.epa.gov/bioiweb1/html/lifecycle.html

http://www.epa.gov/bioiweb1/html/benthosclean.htmlSlide 40