Maryland Envirothon Aquatic Ecology 2016 Prepared by Stacy

Maryland Envirothon Aquatic Ecology 2016 Prepared by Stacy Epperson MD-DNR Updated 10/06/15

Format of state test n Four categories: n Abiotic Biotic Aquatic Environments Water Protection and Conservation n 5 th topic woven inside all of these. n n Test Questions: Fill in the blank most common; multiple choice, matching (no true/false)

Abiotic n Stream orders http: //www. dnr. maryland. gov/irc/docs/ 00012830. pdf

Abiotic n Stream runoff is affected by n Shape of watershed (affects rate) n Slope (affects rate) n Land use: vegetation and development (affects rate and amount) n Land geology and soils (affects amount) http: //www. dnr. marylan d. gov/irc/docs/0001283 0. pdf

Abiotic n Physiographic provinces n Appalachian Plateau n Ridge and Valley n Blue Ridge n Piedmont n Coastal Plain http: //www. dnr. marylan d. gov/irc/docs/0001283 0. pdf

Abiotic n Conductivity n Measure of the ability of the water to pass an electric current n Why do we care? n Tests at a consistent level n Discharges can change the conductivity n Affected by: n Presence of inorganic dissolved solids n Organic compounds decrease conductivity n Natural systems affected by geology n Water temperature n Ranges 0 -1500 us/cm (microsiemens per centimeter) n Failing sewage system (+), Oil spill (-) http: //georgiaadoptastream. com/Manuals_etc/Bio_Chem. pdf

Abiotic n Watershed Delineation n water flow is perpendicular to contour lines n topographic lines always point upstream. http: //www. nrcs. usda. gov/Inter net/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs 1 44 p 2_014819. pdf

Abiotic http: //www. nrcs. usda. gov/Inter net/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs 1 44 p 2_014819. pdf

Abiotic n Ocean acidification n NOAA says “Ocean acidification, or "OA" for short, is the term given to the chemical changes in the ocean as a result of carbon dioxide emissions. ” http: //www. pmel. noaa. gov/co 2/story/Ocean+Acidification

Abiotic n The lower the p. H, the more acidic the substance. n Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the p. H of surface ocean waters has fallen by 0. 1 p. H units. Since the p. H scale, like the Richter scale, is logarithmic, this change represents approximately a 30 percent increase in acidity.

Abiotic When carbon dioxide (CO 2) is absorbed by seawater, chemical reactions occur that reduce seawater p. H, carbonate ion concentration, and saturation states of biologically important calcium carbonate minerals. http: //www. pmel. noaa. gov/co 2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3 F

Abiotic n Ocean Acidification and shellfish n CO 2 absorbed into water. n CO 2 and water combine to make carbonic acid. n Carbonic acid release hydrogen ions. n Hydrogen ions combine with carbonate, a component of calcium carbonate, reducing available carbonate in the water. n Shellfish need calcium carbonate to make shells. n Less calcium carbonate may cause thinning shells and lower resistance to the corrosive effect of lower p. H water. http: //www. pmel. noaa. gov/co 2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3 F

Abiotic n Temperature, Salinity, Oxygen Relationship n Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water. n Fresh water holds more oxygen than saline water. n Cold fresh water +++oxygen n Warm saline water---- oxygen Warm fresh water vs cold saline water? n http: //www. chesapeakebay. net/content/publications /cbp_13039. pdf

Abiotic n Salinity n Decreases as one moves upstream from ocean to freshwater source. n Denser seawater flows into the estuary along the bottom. n Freshwater flows seaward along the surface. n Creates a salt wedge that moves back and forth and/or mixes according to other physical factors. http: //www. chesapeakebay. net/content/p ublications/cbp_13039. pdf

Abiotic n Isohalines of different levels of salinity http: //www. chesapeakebay. net/content/publications/cbp_13039. pdf

Abiotic Water Cycle

Biotic n Macroinvertebrates n Sensitivity to pollutants-3 levels n Dichotomous Key to family level: n Number and length of tails; location of gills; wing buds; thickness, shape, and length of body n Stonefly, Mayfly, Caddis fly, Water penny, Gilled Snail, Alderfly, Crane Fly, Damselfly, Dragonfly, Scud, Black Fly http: //www. dnr. maryland. gov/irc/docs/00005906. pdf

Biotic Mayfly: Order Ephemeroptera Stonefly: Order Plecoptera Caddisfly: Order Trichoptera

Biotic

Biotic n Invasive Species n n Difference between non-native and non-native invasive Introduction method Effect Control methods http: //www. invasivespeciesinfo. gov/aquatics/main. shtml http: //dnr 2. maryland. gov/invasives/Pages/default. aspx http: //www. mdinvasivesp. org/list_aquatic_plants. html http: //www. mdinvasivesp. org/

Biotic Common Aquatic Invasive Species Zebra Mussel n Hydrilla n Nutria n Grass Carp n Didymo n Water lettuce n Phragmites n Rusty Crayfish n Chinese Mitten Crab n

Biotic n Maryland Crayfish n 14 species n 9 Native n 5 Non-native n n Rusty Crayfish Virile Crayfish 3 Invasive: Rusty and Virile Crayfish, Red Swamp Crawfish Most abundant crayfish: Virile and Rusty http: //dnr 2. maryland. gov/streams/Documents/Keytothe. Crayfishesof. MD_8_18_10. pdf

Biotic n Submerged Aquatic Vegetation n Value n Invasives: Water lettuce (free floating) and hydrilla https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Ig. Qoat 0 p 52 k (Hydrilla at Deep Creek Lake) http: //www. dnr. state. md. us/bay/sav/key/complete_sav_key. pdf

Biotic n Freshwater Fish ID n Eel, catfish, shad, shiner, minnow, dace, chub, killifish, perch, silverside, sculpin, sunfish, bass, darter, trout, sucker n Invasive fish (fresh and brackish) n n n Blue and Flathead Catfish Northern Snakehead Carp: Black, Silver, Grass, and Bighead (no native carp) http: //www. dnr. state. md. us/irc/docs/00010619. pdf http: //dnr 2. maryland. gov/Fisheries/Pages/fishfacts-index. aspx

Biotic

Biotic

Biotic Fish otoliths Found behind the brain of bony fish.

Biotic n Scales have growth rings (similar to trees) called annuli n Scales are dried, pressed into a clear plastic slide n Count the annuli to determine age n Otoliths can also be Another way to age fish, using scales. used, but fish must be killed

Biotic Food web and trophic levels

Aquatic Environment n Salt Water Intrusion http: //kanat. jsc. vsc. edu/student/spatafora/setup. htm

Aquatic Environment n Salt water intrusion

Aquatic Environment n Ground Water Contamination-50% of population relies on groundwater for drinking. n Sources of contamination: n Leaking storage tanks n Septic systems n Uncontrolled hazardous waste n Landfills n Chemicals and road salts n Atmospheric contaminants n Salt water intrusion http: //www. groundwater. org/get-informed/groundwater/contamination. html

Aquatic Environment Typical urbanized watershed Typical Forested watershed

Aquatic Environment Wetlands

Aquatic Environment Stream and Bank Surveys

Water Protection and Conservation n TMDL’s n EPA 2010 established TMDL for Chesapeake Bay n 6 states and a district n TMDL n Total Maximum Daily Load n Nitrates, Phosphorus, Sediment n All measures in place by 2025 http: //www. epa. gov/reg 3 wapd/pdf_chesbay/Bay. TMDLFact. Sheet 8_26_13. pdf

Water Protection and Conservation n 2002 Maryland Water Conservation Act n Requires systems that serve more than 10, 000 population to submit water conservation best practices n MDE will issue guidance for bmps for conservation and efficiency n MDE requires written water conservation plans (not best practices) from systems of 10, 000…. . http: //www. mde. state. md. us/assets/document/water_cons/wcp_guidance 2003. pdf

Water Protection and Conservation n Water Conservation Plan n Establish goals n Conduct an audit n Prepare a demand forecast n Identify potential water conservation measures n Required elements: metering, water accounting and loss control, pricing, education programs http: //www. mde. state. md. us/assets/document/water_cons/wcp_guidance 2003. pdf

Water Protection and Conservation n Water Rights: A group of rights designed to protect the use and enjoyment of water that travels in streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds, gathers on the surface of the earth, or collects underground. n Riparian: owns land abut the water, rights to natural flow of water and reasonable use. Western states have ‘prior appropriation’. n Surface: Rights to dispose of if doesn’t harm neighbors n Underground water rights: n n n English law-right to use all water regardless of effect on others American law-can withdraw all water as long as its not wasteful or malicious California law-correlative theory-can use water for beneficial purpose but cannot seriously impact neighbors use. “Race to Buy Up the Worlds Water” by Jeneen Interlandi, Newsweek, 10/8/2010 http: //www. newsweek. com/race-buy-worlds-water-73893 http: //legal-dictionary. thefreedictionary. com/Water+Rights

Water Protection and Conservation n Native American Water Rights n Winters Doctrine n Practicably Irrigated Acreage n Contamination http: //web. mit. edu/12. 000/www/m 2012/finalwebsite/problem/waterrights. shtml

Water Protection and Conservation n Water Use n Average Maryland citizen uses 100 gallons of water per day. n U. S. uses 355, 000 million gallons per day (2010). n Water use going down even as population goes up. n Four states use ¼ of all US withdrawals. http: //pubs. usgs. gov/fs/2014/3109/

Water Protection and Conservation n Conservation Tips: (examples) n Business: Turn off the continuous flow used to clean the drain trays of the coffee/milk/soda beverage island; clean the trays only as needed. n Private Citizen: Don’t rinse dishes before loading in dishwasher. Plant native plants (need less watering). n Schools: As appliances or fixtures wear out, replace them with water-saving model. http: //www. mde. state. md. us/programs/Water. Conservation/Pages/Pro grams/Water. Programs/Water_Conservation/index. aspx

Water Protection and Conservation Safe Water Drinking Act