Aquatic Ecology:

Abiotic Factors
Pages 137 - 148

c
Aquatic Ecosystems
 !ater Quality

c The biological, chemical, and physical properties of

water as they apply to the safety of human/animal
contact and ecosystem health.

c !hy should we test the quality of water?

c And how can we evaluate it?

 !ater Uses

c Recreational:
c Swimming
c Fishing
c Boating
 !ater Uses

c Economical:
c Irrigation
c Hydroelectric Energy
c Nuclear Power
Plants
 ãhanges in !ater Quality

c ãlimate ãhanges

c Seasonal ãhanges

c !ater ãycle
How !ater Pollution Occurs

c Direct Pollution: identifiable source of pollution,

primarily due the the actions of a person, or group of
people.
c Examples:
c Oil Spills
c Trash Dumping
 ãhanges in !ater Quality

c Pollution
How !ater Pollution Occurs

c Indirect Pollution:
unidentifiable source of
pollution, caused
indirectly by human
actions
c Examples:
c Agricultural Runoff
c Acid Rain
 ãhanges in !ater Quality

c Acid Rain
 ãhanges in !ater Quality

c Urban and Industrial

Runoff
 ãonsequences of !ater
Pollution

c !ater ãontamination

c Eutrophication and Excessive Algae Growth

c Ecosystem Imbalance
 Eutrophication

c An excess of nutrients
from chemicals
introduced to a body of
water that promotes
rapid growth of algae.

c The resulting algal

bloom can affect the
health of the entire
ecosystem.
 Analysis of !ater Quality

c Quality is based on two major factors:

c Biotic ± the living components (which will be
covered next week)
c Abiotic ± the non-living components
 Analysis of !ater Quality

4
 

 

  

 

c Plant and Animal Life c Dissolved Oxygen

c ãonductivity
c Pathogens
c pH
c Macro invertebrates
c Nutrients
c Aquatic Plant Life
c Temperature

c Optical Density
 Summary

c !ater quality is a key indicator of the health of

ecosystems. All organisms depend on it to some
degree, and there are various biotic and abiotic
methods of determining the health of the water.
These can change over time, but we as humans play
a major role in shaping and enhancing water quality.
 Today¶s Lab

c Site: Lake !ells 4  

  

1 Nitrate (Pg. 146)

c All of Part A in the lab
2 Phosphate (Pg. 146)
manual, Pages 141 ±
148 3 ãonductivity (Pg. 145)
4 Dissolved Oxygen (Pg. 142)
c Each bench will do 5 Temperature/pH (Pg. 142 ±
every factor 144)