Mississippi RiverBy: Angela Molina

Jonatan Gomez Jessie Cabrera

Giselle Martinez

Geographic Locations• The Mississippi River is the

largest drainage system in the United States. It reaches Canada, it rises in northern Minnesota. The river either borders or cuts through the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Zones• The crenon is the uppermost zone at the source of the

river. It is further divided into the eucrenon (spring or boil zone) and the hypocrenon (brook or headstream zone). These areas are characterized by low temperatures, reduced oxygen content and slow moving water.

• The rhithron is the upstream portion of the river that follows the crenon. It is characterized by relatively cool temperatures, high oxygen levels, and fast, turbulent flow.

• The potamon is the remaining downstream stretch of river. It is characterized by warmer temperatures, lower oxygen levels, slow flow and sandier bottoms.

Temperature

• During winter, mean monthly temperatures in the Mississippi Basin range from 55*F(13*C) in subtropical southern Louisiana to 10*F(-12*C) in subarctic northern Minnesota.

• Mean monthly temperatures in summer range from 82*F(28*C) in Louisiana to 70*F(21*C) in Minnesota.

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Present of Oxygen

• Oxygen levels in the Mississippi River dropped below 3 milligrams per liter of water due to the increase of nitrates in the river.

• Nitrate in water bodies form an abundance of algae which robs water of oxygen as bacteria breaks down the excess organic matter.

• The depletion of oxygen and increase of nitrates create deadzones and unsafe drinking water. This is mostly seen in the Missouri and Mississippi river.

Geologic Factors

Rock sediments from newest to oldest

1. Glacial Till2. Platteville Limestone3. Glenwood Formation(shale)4. St. Peter Limestone

Chemical Factors

• Hardness of River Waters Both natural and human-influenced sources contribute chemicals to the dissolved solids in the Mississippi River. Hardness of water increases as more calcium and magnesium ions are dissolved. Hard water can precipitate carbonate mineral deposits, scale, and incrustations on pipes, hot water heaters, boilers and cooking utensils. It can also cause problems in homes such as increased soap consumption due to the prevention of other detergents and soap from lathering. Magnesium is an essential nutrient for plants. Calcium is important for the aquatic plant cell walls and the shells and bones of aquatic animals.

Species and Niche• Carp invaders cause a lot of trouble in the Mississippi and the

surrounding waters. These newcomers (collectively named "Asian carp") are four separate invasive exotic species; the bighead carp, the black carp, the grass carp, and the silver carp.

• Asian carp are a problem for a number of reasons. They cause serious damage to the native fish populations in the lakes and rivers that they infest because they out-compete other fish for food and space. Carp are also thought to lower water quality, which can kill off sensitive organisms like native freshwater mussels. Asian carp have been known to dominate entire streams , effectively pushing out the native species.

Carp can also cause direct harm to humans. Silver carp are known to jump out of the water at high speeds, which can injure boaters and damage boating equipment

Blue Gill

Cat Fish

Large Mouth Bass

Northern Pike

Sauger

Small Mouth Bass

Walleye

White Bass

Community Properties• Asian carps are messing up

the food chain because there eating away all the

small animals and changing the food-web in the

community• Carp can also cause direct

harm to humans. Silver carp are known to jump out of the water at high speeds,

which can injure boaters and

damage boating equipment• The community is getting

overcrowded• The river plays a vital role in

the well-being of human communities who depend on it for water, food, jobs

and recreation

Environmental Pressure• Environmental pressure is something that could affect the

health or life of an animal. For example, the environmental pressures for an animal could be a shortage of water, shortage of food, shortage of space, and predators.

Population Dynamics

• Population dynamics describes the ways in which a given population grows and shrinks over time, as controlled by birth, death, and emigration or immigration

• The population in the river are getting overcrowded because of the invasive animals (Asian carp)

• The population of other animals will tend to decrease due to the fact that most of the animals are dying by the loss of food, space and pollution by human

Human Impacts• Damming - destroys river ecosystem downstreams. Dams

can also obstruct the path of migratory fish and disrupt the life cycles of many aquatic organisms.

• Dumping – Chemicals such as car oil or antifreeze , poured down a storm drain will flow directly into a river

• Fertilization- Causes nitrate to enter the river , and creates dead zones

• Domestic Animals – Waste from livestock can be washed into rivers adding excessive nutrients and illness causing bacteria.

The End