INDICATOR SPECIES INDICATOR SPECIES Learning Intention Explain what

INDICATOR SPECIES

INDICATOR SPECIES. Learning Intention: Explain what is meant by an indicator species. Success Criteria: • Define the term indicator species. • Give examples of indicator species. • Give some examples of indicator species in different environments.

What do you think is meant by the term INDICATOR SPECIES?

Indicator Species An indicator species is a group of organisms whose presence or absence give information about the level of pollution in the environment. INDICATOR SPECIES- OIL POLLUTION http: //vimeo. com/16839012

INDICATORS OF FRESH WATER POLLUTION By sampling the organisms present in the water it is possible to determine the levels of organic pollution.

INDICATORS OF FRESH WATER POLLUTION In fresh water, certain invertebrates are only found in unpolluted water (they require a lot of Oxygen). These invertebrates indicate the water is UNPOLLUTED.

Stonefly

INDICATORS OF FRESH WATER POLLUTION Other invertebrates can tolerate moderate or extreme pollution (they can live in environments with a low Oxygen concentration). These invertebrates indicate the water is POLLUTED.

Sludge worms

Indicator Species for Fresh water Pollution Level of pollution Indicator species Increasing pollution Very low Stonefly or Mayfly Low Fresh Water Shrimp Moderate Water Louse High Blood worms Very High Rat tailed maggot

Pollution Indicators In which type of water do you think you would find the following organisms?

Stonefly Nymph

Water Louse

Caddis Fly Larva

Rat-Tailed Maggot

Mayfly Nymph

Blood worm

Sludge Worm

Pollution Indicators Ø Collect a copy of the worksheet and stick this into your notes.

DATA SHOWING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SEWAGE FROM A TOWN ENTERS A WATER SYSTEM. town sewer direction of flow 1 2 3 4 5

Look at the map below and the information before answering the questions on the next 2 slides. town sewer direction of flow 1 2 3 4 5

Mayfly nymph Caddis fly larva Blood worm Sludge worm Water louse Shrimp Rattailed maggot 1 55 14 3 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 59 0 0 38 3 0 0 0 10 8 21 0 4 4 0 0 11 5 0 2 9 0 5 40 13 1 0 0 1 1 0 Oxygen Conc. Stonefly nymph No. of Bacteria Cloudiness Sample site

1. In which part of the river is the cloudiness greatest? 1. The river is cloudiness at site 2. What causes the river to be cloudy? 2. The high level of bacteria causes the cloudiness. 3. Why is there a large no. of bacteria at site 2? 3. The bacteria use the sewage for food and so multiply rapidly. 4. Why is there a low conc. of oxygen at site 2? 4. The bacteria use up the oxygen when breaking down the sewage. 5. Why does the water get less cloudy as you move downstream? 5. It is less cloudy as you move downstream as there are less bacteria because there is less food (sewage) for them to eat. 6. Give 2 reasons why the oxygen increases as you move downstream? 6. The oxygen increases as (i) there are less bacteria using it and (ii) more dissolves in from the air.

No. of Species 7. Draw a BAR GRAPH to show the no. of different species at each site. 8. What effect does sewage have on the no. of species at site 2? 8. Sewage reduces the no. of species because sewage is organic pollution and food for bacteria which use up oxygen when breaking down the sewage. Some species of organisms die from lack of oxygen

INDICATORS OF AIR POLLUTION

LICHENS give information about the levels of SULPHUR DIOXIDE pollution in the air Sulphur dioxide is a pollutant produced by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas

NO SULPHUR DIOXIDE POLLUTION

LOW SULPHUR DIOXIDE POLLUTION

MODERATE SULPHUR DIOXIDE POLUTION.

HIGH SULPHUR DIOXIDE POLLUTION

Draw a table to show the different types of lichens and what level of pollution they indicate. Type of Lichen Leafy Crusty Powdery None Level of pollution indicated

Some extra activities you could try; - 1. “LICHENS are unusual plants”. Find out how lichens are formed and then decide if you agree or disagree with this statement. 2. Go out and see if you can spot LICHENS in your environment. 3. Make models of the different types of LICHENS.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR: You know that an indicator species is a species which tells us something about the state of the environment eg. whether it is polluted or not. You can gives some examples of indicator species in different environments eg. fresh water, air.