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

Maryland Envirothon Aquatic Ecology

2016

Prepared by Stacy Epperson

MD-DNR

Updated 10/06/15

Format of state test

Four categories: Abiotic Biotic Aquatic Environments Water Protection and Conservation 5th topic woven inside all of these.

Test Questions:

Fill in the blank most common; multiple choice, matching (no true/false)

Abiotic

Stream

orders

http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/irc/docs/00012830.pdf

Abiotic

Stream runoff is affected by Shape of watershed (affects rate)

Slope (affects rate)

Land use: vegetation and development (affects rate and amount)

Land geology and soils (affects amount)


Abiotic

Physiographic provinces Appalachian Plateau Ridge and Valley Blue Ridge Piedmont Coastal Plain


Abiotic

Conductivity Measure of the ability of the water to pass an electric current

Why do we care? Tests at a consistent level Discharges can change the conductivity

Affected by: Presence of inorganic dissolved solids Organic compounds decrease conductivity Natural systems affected by geology Water temperature

Ranges 0-1500 us/cm (microsiemens per centimeter)

Failing sewage system (+), Oil spill (-)

http://georgiaadoptastream.com/Manuals_etc/Bio_Chem/Bio_Chem.pdf

Abiotic

Watershed

Delineation

water flow is perpendicular to contour lines

topographic lines always point upstream.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs144p2_014819.pdf

Abiotic

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs144p2_014819.pdf

Abiotic

Ocean acidification

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/co2/story/Ocean+Acidification

Abiotic

The lower the pH, the more acidic the substance.

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the pH of surface ocean waters has fallen by 0.1 pH units. Since the pH scale, like the Richter scale, is logarithmic, this change represents approximately a 30 percent increase in acidity.

Abiotic

When carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed by seawater, chemical reactions occur that reduce seawater pH, carbonate ion concentration, and saturation states of biologically important calcium carbonate minerals.

http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3F

Abiotic

Ocean Acidification and shellfish

CO2 absorbed into water.

CO2 and water combine to make carbonic acid.

Carbonic acid release hydrogen ions.

Hydrogen ions combine with carbonate, a component of calcium

carbonate, reducing available carbonate in the water.

Shellfish need calcium carbonate to make shells.

Less calcium carbonate may cause thinning shells and lower

resistance to the corrosive effect of lower pH water.

http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3F

Abiotic

Temperature, Salinity, Oxygen Relationship

Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water.

Fresh water holds more oxygen than saline water.

Cold fresh water +++oxygen

Warm saline water---- oxygen

Warm fresh water

vs cold saline water?

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/content/publications/cbp_13039.pdf

Abiotic

Salinity Decreases as one moves upstream from ocean to

freshwater source.

Denser seawater flows into the estuary along the bottom.

Freshwater flows seaward along the surface.

Creates a salt wedge that moves back and forth and/or mixes according to other physical factors.


Abiotic

Isohalines

lines of

different

levels of

salinity


Abiotic

Water Cycle

Biotic

Macroinvertebrates

Sensitivity to pollutants-3 levels

Dichotomous Key to family level: Number and length of tails; location of gills; wing buds;

thickness, shape, and length of body

Stonefly, Mayfly, Caddis fly, Water penny, Gilled Snail, Alderfly, Crane Fly, Damselfly, Dragonfly, Scud, Black Fly


Biotic

Caddisfly: Order Trichoptera

Mayfly: Order Ephemeroptera

Stonefly: Order Plecoptera

Biotic

Biotic

Invasive Species

Difference between non-native and non-native invasive

Introduction method Effect Control methods

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/main.shtml http://dnr2.maryland.gov/invasives/Pages/default.aspxhttp://www.mdinvasivesp.org/list_aquatic_plants.htmlhttp://www.mdinvasivesp.org/

Biotic

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

Biotic

Maryland Crayfish 14 species 9 Native 5 Non-native

3 Invasive: Rusty and Virile Crayfish, Red Swamp Crawfish

Most abundant crayfish: Virile and Rusty

http://dnr2.maryland.gov/streams/Documents/KeytotheCrayfishesofMD_8_18_10.pdf

Rusty Crayfish

Virile Crayfish

Biotic

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Value Invasives: Water lettuce (free floating) and

hydrilla

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/sav/key/complete_sav_key.pdf

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/sav/key/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQoat0p52k(Hydrilla at Deep Creek Lake)

Biotic

Freshwater Fish ID Eel, catfish, shad, shiner, minnow, dace, chub,

killifish, perch, silverside, sculpin, sunfish, bass, darter, trout, sucker

Invasive fish (fresh and brackish) Blue and Flathead Catfish Northern Snakehead Carp: Black, Silver, Grass, and Bighead

(no native carp)

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/irc/docs/00010619.pdfhttp://dnr2.maryland.gov/Fisheries/Pages/fishfacts-index.aspx

Biotic

Biotic

Fish otoliths

Found behind the brain of bony fish.

Biotic

Scales have growth rings (similar to trees) called annuli

Scales are dried, pressed into a clear plastic slide

Count the annuli to determine age

Otoliths can also be used, but fish must be killedAnother way to age fish, using

scales.

Biotic

Food web and trophic levels

Aquatic Environment

Salt Water Intrusion

http://kanat.jsc.vsc.edu/student/spatafora/setup.htm

Aquatic Environment

Salt water intrusion

Aquatic Environment

Ground Water Contamination-50% of population relies on groundwater for drinking.

Sources of contamination: Leaking storage tanks Septic systems Uncontrolled hazardous waste Landfills Chemicals and road salts Atmospheric contaminants 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

TMDL’s

EPA 2010 established TMDL for Chesapeake Bay

6 states and a district

TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load Nitrates, Phosphorus, Sediment

All measures in place by 2025

http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/pdf/pdf_chesbay/BayTMDLFactSheet8_26_13.pdf


2002 Maryland Water Conservation Act

Requires systems that serve more than 10,000 population to submit water conservation best practices

MDE will issue guidance for bmps for conservation and efficiency

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_guidance2003.pdf


Water Conservation Plan

Establish goals

Conduct an audit

Prepare a demand forecast

Identify potential water conservation measures Required elements: metering, water accounting and

loss control, pricing, education programs

http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/water_cons/wcp_guidance2003.pdf


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.

Riparian: owns land abut the water, rights to natural flow of water and reasonable use. Western states have ‘prior appropriation’.

Surface: Rights to dispose of if doesn’t harm neighbors

Underground water rights: 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, 10/8/2010http://www.newsweek.com/race-buy-worlds-water-73893

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Water+Rights


Native American Water Rights

Winters Doctrine

Practicably Irrigated Acreage

Contamination

http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2012/finalwebsite/problem/waterrights.shtml


Water Use Average Maryland citizen uses 100 gallons of water

per day.

U.S. uses 355,000 million gallons per day (2010).

Water use going down even as population goes up.

Four states use ¼ of all US withdrawals.

http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2014/3109/


Conservation Tips: (examples)

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.

Private Citizen: Don’t rinse dishes before loading in dishwasher. Plant native plants (need less watering).

Schools: As appliances or fixtures wear out, replace them with water-saving model.

http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/Water/WaterConservation/Pages/Programs/WaterPrograms/Water_Conservation/index.aspx


Safe Water Drinking Act

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

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