1. 2014 WATER QUALITY-(B&C) Marine & Estuary
KAREN LANCOUR
National Bio Rules Committee Chairman
C. Robyn Fischer
National Event Supervisor

2. Event Rules – 2014 DISCLAIMER
This presentation was prepared using draft rules.  There may be some changes in the final copy of the rules.  The rules which will be in your Coaches Manual and Student Manuals will be the official rules.

3. Event Rules – 2014
BE SURE TO CHECK THE 2014 EVENT RULES FOR EVENT PARAMETERS AND TOPICS FOR EACH COMPETITION LEVEL

4. TRAINING MATERIALS Training Power Point – content overview
Training Handout – content information
Sample Tournament – sample problems with key
Event Supervisor Guide – prep tips, setup needs, and scoring tips
Internet Resources & Training Materials – on the Science Olympiad website at under Event Information
A Biology-Earth Science CD and a Water Quality CD (updated to include marine 2014) are available from SO store at

5. Aquatic Ecosystems
Freshwater Lotic ecosystems – flowing water Streams Rivers Lentic ecosystems – still water Ponds Lakes Wetlands Estuary ecosystems – 2014 Marine ecosystems – 2014 Coral Reef Ecology – 2014

6. EVENT COMPONENTS Ecology Content – 2014
Part 1 – Estuary and Marine Ecology
Part 2 – Coral Reef Ecology
Part 3 – Water Monitoring and Analysis
Process skills in data, graph and diagram analysis
Event parameters – check the event parameters in the rules for resources allowed.

7. Part 1: Estuary and Marine Ecology
Areas such as:
Aquatic Ecology in Marine/Estuary Environments
Aquatic Food Chains and Webs
Population Dynamics
Community Interactions
Nutrient Recycling
Water Cycle
Threats to Marine & Estuary Water Quality

8. General Principles of Aquatic Ecology
ECOLOGY – how organisms interact with one another and with their environment
ENVIRONMENT – living and non-living components
ABIOTIC – non-living component or physical factors as soil, rainfall, sunlight, temperatures
BIOTIC – living component are other organisms.

9. Marine Ecology Abiotic Biotic Non-living part of the environment
interdependence of all organisms living in the ocean, in shallow coastal waters, and on the seashore

10. Marine Abiotic Factors
water
salinity
light
pressure
temperature
dissolved gases pH
tides
currents
waves
substratum
nutrient supply
exposure to air

11. Water Cycle
97 % of the water on earth is salt water in the ocean. Of the 3% of water that is fresh water, 2% is frozen in ice caps and only 1% is usable by organisms as liquid water or water vapor found in lakes, rivers, streams, ponds , in the ground water, and as vapor in the atmosphere

12. Unique Qualities of Pure Water
The Unique Nature of Pure Water
Water is 775 times as dense as air at 0 o C
Water is found on earth in three forms – liquid, solid and gas
Density – maximum density is at 4o C not at freeing point of 0 o C and expands as it freezes so ice floats
The H20 molecule is polar and hydrogen bonding is present
Water is a polar molecule; one end is positively charged and the other is negatively charged
Cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water (surface tension) is very high

13. Salt Water Features The oceans consist of (by mass): 96.5% water
3.0% sodium and chlorine ions (table salt, Na+ and Cl–)
0.5% other salts

14. Marine Environments

15. Marine Regions

16. Food Chain Producer 1st order Consumer or Herbivore
2nd order Consumer or 1st order Carnivore
3rd order Consumer or 2nd order Carnivore
4th order Consumer or 3rd order Carnivore
Decomposers – consume dead and decaying matter as bacteria

17. Marine Food Web

18. Ecologic Pyramids
Ecological pyramid - a graph representing trophic level numbers within an ecosystem. The primary producer level is at the base of the pyramid with the consumer levels above.
Numbers pyramid - compares the number of individuals in each trophic level. May be inverted
due to size of individuals
Biomass pyramid - compares the total dry weight of the organisms in each trophic level.
Energy pyramid - compares the total amount of energy available in each trophic level. This energy is usually measured in kilocalories.

19. Trophic Pyramids-Marine
The 10% rule for Energy Pyramids

20. Carbon, Nitrogen & Phosphorus Cycles

21. Threats to Marine Ecosystems
Oil spills and their ecological disasters
Marine dumping of wastes – plastic and other wastes
Dredging Wastes
Overfishing
Ocean acidification reducing calcium carbonate
Population displacement
Mangrove Destruction
Bycatch – marine wildlife unintentionally caught as sea turtles, porpoises, albatross, crabs, starfish & fish
Whaling is still a problem though strides are being make

22. Threats to Ocean Health
Marine Pollution
Habitat Destruction
Overfishing and Exploitation
Climate Change
Sea Temperature Rise
Ocean Acidification
Invasive Species
Ocean Dead Zones

23. Estuaries
The areas of water and shoreline where a freshwater stream or river merges with the ocean
Estuaries can be partially enclosed body of water (such as bays, lagoons, sounds or sloughs) where two different bodies of water meet and mix
They often bordered by salt marshes or intertidal mudflats
Salinity varies within the estuary from nearly fresh water to ocean water

24. Importance of Estuaries
Of the 32 largest cities in the world, 22 are located on estuaries
Many animal species rely on estuaries for nesting and breeding
Most of the fish and shellfish eaten in the United States, including salmon, herring, and oysters, complete at least part of their life cycles in estuaries
Estuaries filter out sediments and pollutants from rivers and streams before they flow into the ocean, providing cleaner waters for humans and marine life
Humans also rely on estuaries for recreation, jobs, and even our homes
Coastal development, introduction of invasive species, over fishing, dams, and global climate change have led to a decline in the health of estuaries, making them one of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth

25. Estuary Classification
Estuaries can be classified according to their water circulation:
The amount of circulation affects the salt distribution and salinity concentrations
salt-wedge fjord slightly stratified
vertically mixed freshwater 

26. Common Estuary Habitats
oyster reefs
kelp forests
rocky and soft
shorelines
submerged aquatic
vegetation
coastal marshes
mangroves forests
deepwater swamps
and riverine forests
mud flats
tidal streams
barrier beaches
salt marshes

27. Adaptation of Organisms
Physiological adaptations
How organisms adapt to the environment by changes in metabolism, behavior and other characteristics.
The genes of the organism remains unchanged
The adaptation is not passed onto its progeny
Evolutionary adaptations
Over generations, species adapt to the environment through natural selection.
Genetic differences of an individual organism that makes it better adapted to its environment are passed onto the organism’s progeny

28. Adaptations of Estuary Organisms
Salinity, temperature, water levels and light levels vary along the length of an estuary
shutting up shells, digging borrows and excretion of excess salts
fish maintain water balance by actively drinking salt water
increasing their respiratory water flow and increase oxygen consumption
mechanisms to deal with high energy winds and waves
most efficient tree is low, with numerous crowded branches
the tree may include flattening of the trunk, root and branches in a plan parallel to the wind direction

29. Estuary Organisms & Survival

30. Estuary Food Web

31. Treats to Estuaries EPA
Too many nutrients
Pathogens
Toxic chemicals
Habitat loss
Invasive Species
Changes in water flow

32. Point and Non-Point Pollution Sources
Pollutants pose a large threat to estuarine organisms
Pollutants are introduced into estuaries from either point sources or non-point sources.
Point sources are clearly defined, localized inputs such as pipes, industrial plants, sewer systems, oil spills from tankers, and aquaculture ventures.
Non-point sources are indistinct inputs that do not have a clearly defined source, such as runoff of petroleum products from roadways or pesticides from farmland.
A majority of pollutants find their way into estuaries from non-point sources
Non-point sources are harder to detect and control
Reduction of pollution requires substantial individual and collective efforts
The federal and state governments regulate them.

33. Estuary Preservation
Ensuring the health of our estuaries is vital to the survival of the plant and animal communities
To preserve our estuaries, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System was established to protect more than 1.3 million acres of estuarine habitat for long-term research, monitoring, education, and stewardship throughout the coastal United States.

34. Part 2: Coral Reef Ecology
Examine coral reefs and the effects of pollution on reef ecosystems
Topics that may be included are
coral reef biology
growth and reproduction
zooanthellae
reef fish communities
reef ecosystem
health indicators
the importance of coral reefs
problems associated with pollution
management of reef systems

35. Coral Polyp
Stony corals are the major reef architects. These small marine animals, (individual organisms are called polyps), produce a hard skeleton made of calcium carbonate, which they extract from the seawater and combine with CO2 for limestone
Other reef building organisms include fire corals, blue & pipe corals, coralline algae, tropical reef worms

36. Coral Life Cycle
First stage of the coral’s life cycle is planula larvae, which allows it to be free swimming.
Second stage of its life is polyp which is when the coral is stuck to a rock.
In the polyp stage, it is able to reproduce,
either asexual - involves the splitting of a coral (called fission) or sprouting another coral from itself (called budding).
sexually (with another polyp)
involves a cycle of:
SPAWNING >> FERTILIZING >> PLANULAE LARVAE SETTLEMENT >> CLONING

37. Symbiosis Coral & Zooxanthellae
Coral Polyp provides a home for the zooxanthellae, it provides nitrates and phosphates, and it gives off CO2
Zooxanthellae, a dinoflagellate carries out photosynthesis and make oxygen and food for the polyp through photosynthesis, gain nutrients from the corals nitrogen and phosphorus wastes, and provide for most of the colors for the coral in the reef making them look like underwater gardens

38. Coral Reef Regions

39. Requirements for Reef Formation
Solid structure for the base with a hard substrate for attachment
Warm water temperatures > 20°C (68°F) and oceanic salinities
High Light Levels
Clear waters with high water transparency
Low nutrient waters - low in phosphate and nitrogen nutrients
Good water circulation with moderate wave action to disperse wastes and bring oxygen and plankton to the reef

40. Coral Reef Development

41. Zones of a Coral Biome
Shore or inner reef zone - area is between the crest and the shoreline-full of life including fishes, sea cucumbers, starfish, and anemones.
Crest reef zone - highest point of the reef and where the waves break over the reef.
Fore or outer reef zone - As the reef wall falls off, the waters get calmer. Around 30 feet deep, will be the most populated part of the reef along with lots of different types of coral species.

42. Coral Reef Organisms
Coral reefs are inhabited by thousands of species including:
Algae
Sponges
Soft corals
Sea slugs
Urchins and star fish
Worms
Crabs and lobster
Snails
Clams, scallops,
and barnacles
Fish
Sea turtles
Sharks and rays

43. Coral Reef Food Web

44. Coral Reef Fish Communities

45. Fishery and nursery areas (food) Tourism, recreation
Coral Reef Importance
Fishery and nursery areas (food)
Tourism, recreation
Potential medicines
Coastal protection

46. Coral Reef Health Indicators
Marine Apex Predators
Biomass
Average Catch Length
Coral Cover
Indicator Organisms

47. INDICATOR ORGANISMS
Reef Check
Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network-

48. Healthy vs. Badly Damaged Reef

49. Coral Reef Threats Chemical pollutants Excess nutrients Sedimentation
Coral bleaching
Coral diseases
Climate change and ocean acidification
Overfishing

50. Coral Reefs Threats

51. Healthy vs. Damaged Reef

52. Coral Reef Management Fisheries regulation Marine protected areas
Coastal zoning
The problem of ecosystem phase-shifts (how if corals die and area is taken over by algae, it achieves a new steady state and is very difficult for corals to re-colonize)

53. Part 3: Water Monitoring
Understand and interpret data related to testing procedures and purposes for water testing (No actual testing)
Build and demonstrate a salinometer capable of testing saltwater (1-10%)

54. Chemical Analysis Salinity - only actual testing with salinometer
Temperature
Aragonite Saturation - for marine esp. coral reefs pH
Turbidity – Light Saturation in marine environments
Dissolved oxygen
Biochemical oxygen demand
Phosphates
Nitrates
Total solids
Fecal Coliform
Their relationship to one another – note: the Water Quality Index used for freshwater does not apply to marine. Regions have their own marine water quality index.

55. Salinomter – Hydrometer
Salinometers / Hydrometers
Hydrometer calibrated to read in % of salt concentration
Materials –
soda straw
modeling clay
a fine-tipped permanent marker
a tall clear container to hold
the solution for calibrating your
device
salt for mixing one or more standard solutions
water (tap water will work-distilled is better)

56. SALINOMETER TIPS
The narrow the diameter of the salinometer, the higher the water will rise – this make calibration easier.
Small plastic pipettes instead of the straw and clay work well. Hold the pipette upside down, cut the opening to make it wider and weight it putting sand into the bulb. Cover the opening with tape or clay so the sand won’t get wet when you calibrate it.
Measuring electronic conduction (the more salt the more electricity is conducted) is another possibility – just be sure that the device is made by the team