Ecology Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem Issue: Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

Warm Up 1. What is the difference between abiotic and biotic? 2. What is a habitat? 3. What is your habitat? 4. What is an ecosystem? 5. Explain both abiotic and biotic factors of the marine ecosystem? 6. How would you write the following numbers as a percent? A) B).743 C).125 Decimals to percent review (as needed) Take time to review how to turn a decimal into a percent. “The 5 rule” “The 5 rule” If the thousandths place is 5 or higher round up If the thousandths place is 5 or higher round up If the thousandths place is 5 or lower the number stays the same If the thousandths place is 5 or lower the number stays the same Example:.145 = 14% Example:.145 = 14% (because the 3 rd number is a 5 in the thousand place) (because the 3 rd number is a 5 in the thousand place)

Essential Questions: What factors contribute to the health of the submerged aquatic vegetation? Why is submerged aquatic vegetation importantn to the health of the Chesapeake Bay? (How do interaction and interdependencies contribute to the stability of the population, communities, ecosystem and biomes?) Objective: You will research and explain the importance of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Chesapeake Bay in order to describe how the stability of the Bay is dependent on the SAV plants.

The Bay Ecosystem Independent Research and Power Paragraph! Read the article in order to explain the following in writing: 1. What is an ecosystem? 2. What are abiotic and biotic factors in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem? 3. What is special about the Chesapeake Bay? 4. Provide at least one example of how Chesapeake Bay organisms interact (predator/prey etc). **Review as needed. Students should know this skill from middle school. 5. How do humans affect the Bay?

Power Paragraph Directions The Bay Ecosystem Independent Research Abiotic and biotic factors in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem The Chesapeake Bay is important Organisms in the bay depend on each other Humans effect the Main Idea Ecosystems

Types of Aquatic Systems Lakes & Ponds Lakes & Ponds Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams Wetlands Estuaries Marine system Groundwater Where do you think we are?

Types of Aquatic Systems What type of system is the Chesapeake Bay? Lakes & Ponds Lakes & Ponds Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams Wetlands Estuaries Marine system Groundwater Estuary! A body of water that has fresh water (from rivers, streams etc) and salt water connections.

Habitat Zones Where are the submerged aquatic vegetation in this picture?

Littoral Zone- The intertidal zone is the area where land and sea meet. This zone is covered with water at high tide, and exposed to air at low tide. The land in this zone can be rocky, sandy or covered in mudflats. Within the intertidal, there are several zones, starting near dry land with the splash zone, an area that is usually dry, and moving down to the littoral zone, which is usually underwater. Functions Intercepts Nutrients Refuge from Predators Nursery for Fish

Pelagic Zone-The open ocean, or pelagic zone, is the area of the ocean outside of coastal areas, and where you’ll find some of the biggest marine life species. The sea floor (demersal zone) is not included in the pelagic zone. Functions Plankton Zooplankton

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Nutrient uptake Sediment stabilization Habitat Oxygen production Pelagic Zone

Trophic State Change How are these 3 pictures different? How are the trophic levels different at each level? Which has the fewest organisms? Which has the most organisms?

Low nutrients Low primary productivity Low grazers and insects Low fish production Clear water Sandy/low organic matter on bottom Low nutrients Low primary productivity Low grazers and insects Low fish production Clear water Sandy/low organic matter on bottom Oligotrophic- Low productivity/diversity

TROPHIC STATE Moderate nutrients Increased primary productivity More grazers and insects More fish production Moderate water clarity More aquatic plants Some organic sediment accumulation Moderate nutrients Increased primary productivity More grazers and insects More fish production Moderate water clarity More aquatic plants Some organic sediment accumulation Mesotrophic- Medium productivity/diversity

TROPHIC STATE High nutrients High primary productivity Large number of grazers and insects Moderate fish production Low water clarity, or Clear with aquatic plants High organic sediment accumulation High nutrients High primary productivity Large number of grazers and insects Moderate fish production Low water clarity, or Clear with aquatic plants High organic sediment accumulation Eutrophic- High productivity/diversity

Summarize what you learned today! The Bay Ecosystem Independent Research What are SAV plants? How do SAV plants effect organisms living in the bay? Main Idea SAV Plants in the Chesapeake Bay

Independent Research Chesapeake Bay Journal Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

Other helpful slides below:

Limiting Nutrient Concept … Plants need nutrients to grow Nitrogen and Phosphorus are the main nutrients For every unit of N you need so many units of P If one nutrient is not in sufficient supply it will limit the total production potential.

Summary Lakes have longer residence time and more light than other freshwater systems Littoral Zone, Pelagic Zone, Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Nutrients regulate algae > grazers > fish Removing algae doesn’t remove nutrient regulator Phosphorus is typical nutrient limiting nutrients depending on N:P ratio Stormwater ponds respond just like lakes do to nutrients