Unit 1_.pptx

5A & 5B: Water Quality pH: https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/ph-and-water pH is measured on a 0-14 point scale to measure how acidic or basic a solution is. ○ Acid - 0-6.9 ○ Neutral - 7.0 ○ Base - 7.1-14 Water pH...

5A & 5B: Water Quality pH: https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/ph-and-water pH is measured on a 0-14 point scale to measure how acidic or basic a solution is. ○ Acid - 0-6.9 ○ Neutral - 7.0 ○ Base - 7.1-14 Water pH determines the solubility and biological availability of Carbon, Phosphorous, Nitrogen, & Heavy Metals. Ecosystems are sensitive to pH ○ Pollution can change pH; causing water to be dangerous to organisms sensitive to certain pH levels pH in precipitation varies due to natural and human processes in the area. Practice measuring pH: ○ Choose an aquarium in the classroom (turtle, cichlid, or plant) ○ Choose a method of measurement (probes or paper) ○ Work with a partner to measure the pH of the chosen tank. Record your location (tank) and pH in the space provided in your guided notes. All images from Google Images 5A & 5B: Water Quality Weather Data: Weather pattern computer models are made from observations and data collected from a variety of tools (buoys, satellites, gliders, weather stations, etc.) The computer models are then used to predict weather patterns. NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration https://research.noaa.gov/article/ArtMID/587/ArticleID/2637/NOAA-collects-a-lot-of-data-on-the-ocean-Here-are-4-ways-we-use-it https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/data/ocean-freshwater ○ Tracking and predicting Climate Change - Argo floats collect salt content and temperature ○ Improving Hurricane forecasts - gliders that dive 0.5 deep and report data; drifting buoys to report ocean surface information ○ Forecasting tsunamis - DART buoys ○ Analyze Ocean Tracks - tracking organism behavior and seasonal migration patterns ○ Climate and Data - effects of climate change 2023 Atlantic Hurricane predictions: https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/2023-atlantic-hurricane-season-outlook ○ Normal hurricane season predicted ○ El Nino - above average Atlantic Ocean temps. ○ 12-17 named storms; 5-9 of those advancing to hurricanes; 1-4 advancing to major hurricanes (3, 4, or 5 cat.) ○ Idaila is most recent hurricane, making landfall at Florida’s Big Bend at a Category 3. All images from Google Images 5A & 5B: Water Quality Salinity: Salinity a measurement of dissolved salts in a concentration of water. Salinity is measured in ppt (parts per thousand) Variations in ecosystems: ○ Freshwater (rivers, lakes, & ponds) - less than 0.5 ppt ○ Brackish (estuaries, marshes, & swamps) - between 0.5 and 30 ppt ○ Saltwater (oceans & seas) - greater than 30 ppt Practice measuring salinity: ○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfUC2Oeisqo ○ Use the same aquarium and partner you used to practice measuring pH. ○ You may choose to use the testing strips or hydrometer ○ Record your location (tank) and salinity in the space provided in your guided notes. All images from Google Images 5A & 5B: Water Quality Water Quality: Clean Water Act (1972) - law to protect local watersheds from pollution. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - monitor and regulate water quality standards. Pollution: ○ Point Source - immediate site of pollution dumping in to a water source (ex: factories & sewage treatment plants). Think, you can point to the source of pollution. ○ Non-Point Source - pollution from many places (fertilizers/herbicides/insecticides from agriculture, oil & grease from urban runoff, sediment from construction sites). Think, you cannot point to the source of pollution. All images from Google Images 5A & 5B: Water Quality Water Temperature: Water temperature varies in different ecosystems and sunlight availability. Man-made disturbances: ○ Thermal pollution - power plants can increase water temperatures and decrease dissolved oxygen in surrounding bodies of water. ○ Deforestation - removal of trees around water decreases shade and increases water temperatures. ○ Dams - building of dams can affect water temperatures down stream Extreme Temperatures: Hot Springs, Heliothermic Lakes (cold external temps/extremely hot water temps) Increased Temperatures can result in increase algal growth - especially in aquariums. Drastic changes in water temperature can affect aquatic life. Practice Measuring Temperature: ○ Use the same aquarium and partner you used to practice measuring pH & salinity.. ○ You may choose to use the aquarium thermometer or probe. ○ Record your location (tank) and temperature in the space provided in your guided notes. All images from Google Images 5A & 5B: Water Quality Population Dynamics: Population dynamics is the balance of competition for resources and predation within ecosystems. Invasive species can have drastic effects on native organisms: ○ Zebra mussels - freshwater bivalves that can wreak havoc on freshwater communities as well as damage boats, docks, marinas, and pipes. Fisheries: ○ Fishery scientists must consider birth, immigration, death, & emigration to maintain a sustainable population. All images from Google Images 5A & 5B: Water Quality Mineral Content: Water Hardness - measurement of dissolved Calcium & Magnesium in water. Signs of water hardness: ○ Soap “scum” or residue after washing hands, dishes, hair/body, etc. ○ Spots left on dishes after running dishwasher Evaporation - when evaporation occurs in aquariums, it increases the levels of minerals left in the water. Topping off with DI water will balance the levels back out. Practice Measuring Mineral Content: ○ Use the same aquarium and partner you used to practice measuring pH, salinity & temp. We will also test the mineral content of bottled water vs tap water, as a class. ○ You will use the water quality test strips for this and read the “Total Hardness” numbers. ○ Record your location (tank) and Hardness (ppm) in the space provided in your guided notes. Also record the class bottled water vs tap water Hardness. All images from Google Images 5A & 5B: Water Quality Seasonal Behavior Changes: Changes in seasonal temperatures drives organisms to make adjustments. ○ Hibernation - aquatic animals may burrow or move to bottoms of ponds/lakes during the winter months to escape the dense cooler waters and ice at the surface of their pond/lake. ○ Aestivation - opposite of hibernation, animals may seek out cooler areas during the hot summer months. Nile crocodiles will burrow deep into the cooler mud during times of warmer temperatures; here, there heart beat slows to two beats per minute! ○ Migration - aquatic animals are on the move to seek out warmer waters for mating seasons and better feeding locations. ○ Climate change - the warming of Earth’s climate is forcing aquatic life to adjust, move, or die off. A lot of migration is now closely related to climate change. All images from Google Images 5A & 5B: Water Quality Nitrogen Compounds: Ammonia (NH3) - natural compound found in water from biological waste products; high levels are toxic to aquatic life; toxicity increases with increase of temperature and pH; partial water changes in aquariums can lower ammonia levels. Nitrites (NO2) - nitrite is the result of bacteria processing ammonia; nitrites bond to hemoglobin, of fish, which is toxic to fish (causes “Brown Blood Disease”); nitrites are especially a problem in freshwater ecosystems, but not so much in brackish or marine ecosystems; partial water change in aquariums can lower nitrite levels. Nitrates (NO3) - naturally occurring and essential for plant growth; excess nitrates come from human use of fertilizers, wastewater treatment plants, & runoff from agricultural animal manure; excessive amounts of nitrates cause eutrophication All images from Google Images 5A & 5B: Water Quality Practice Measuring Ammonia, Nitrite, & Nitrate: ○ Use the same aquarium and partner you used to practice measuring pH, salinity, temp, and mineral content. ○ You will use the two sets of test strips: Nitrite/Nitrate strips and Ammonia strips. ○ Record your location (tank), Nitrite/Nitrate, and Ammonia in the space provided on your guided notes. All images from Google Images 5A & 5B: Water Quality Turbidity: https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/turbidity-and-water Turbidity is the measure of water clarity. Higher turbidity makes water cloudy or appear to be dirty. This is due to high particle content and lowers the clarity of the water. You may notice cloudy water, in aquariums, when you move rocks around to clean the aquarium. The disruption of the sediments create the turbidity and lower the water quality. Light penetration is used to measure turbidity. High concentrations of particles affect light penetration. Secchi disks and probes are used to measure water clarity. Formazin Turbidity Units (FTU) - measurement of scattered light of a water sample. All images from Google Images 10A: Classification Dichotomous Keys: Tool used to classify organisms based on physical characteristics. Tips: ○ Always start at step one. ○ Choose the best trait between the two options and move to the appropriate step. ○ Continue until you come across a name; you will not use a name more than once. ○ Scientific Names are written in Latin; Genus is capitalized and species is not. Practice - complete the dichotomous key in your guided notes. All images from Google Images 10A: Classification Hierarchical Classification System: Levels of Classification: Domain (most broad), Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, & Species (most specific) Characteristics, of organisms, become more specific at each progressing level Organisms at each progressing level are more closely related Number of species at each level decreases at each progressing level All images from Google Images 10B: Adaptations Aquatic Animal Adaptations: Streamline bodies - adapted for easy movement in water, reduces friction. Fins: ○ dorsal and anal fins aid with turning and balance ○ caudal (tail) fins provide power for movement ○ pelvic and pectoral fins help with steering Webbed feet - aquatic birds have webbed feet to help with swimming Scales - scales provide protection and flexibility Eye Structure - adapted to see underwater; deep sea organisms have “eye spots” that can help sense predators or prey but cannot actually see (Freshwater Example: Texas Blind Salamander) Swim (Air) Bladder - organ that stores gas and aids in buoyancy of fish Gills - allow for gas exchange under water All images from Google Images 10B: Adaptations Aquatic Plant Adaptations: Floating plants - float on surface of water; ability to grow in complete saturation; roots do not need soil; ex: lily pads Submerged plants - grow completely submerged in water; no support system, they rely on water to support them; roots used to anchor them to bottom as well as receive nutrients Floating pollen - ability for pollen to travel with the current of the water from plant to plant, as well as insect, bird, and wind pollination. All images from Google Images