Aquatic Ecological Problems
Problems Observed
-Excess algae in Lake Washington
(_______________)
-Decrease in Oxygen levels in the water
(Eutrophication and _________ pollution)
-____________toxins in Orca whales and
other top level consumers
(________________)
-Decrease in zooplankton and coral due to
water becoming acidic (_________and
_____________)
Eutrophication
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LAT1gLMPu4
Eutrophication
1.
Increase in ______________&______________from:
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Sewage
___________ and ___________ run-off from farms and residential areas
Pulp from paper mills
2. ______________ dramatically increase in number (algae bloom)
3. These algae have short life spans and _______ sinking to the
bottom.
4. These dead algae and dead plants from ______________begin to
_______________.
5. The ___________ that decompose
this dead matter use __________
6. The______and other organisms
Begin to die.
Eutrophication
Cause of Thermal Pollution
Human activities that increase the water
temperature. This includes:
• Use of water as a ____________ in factories
(Many factories, _____________ power plant,
and Paper Mills)
• Removal of _________ that shade the water
The effects of Thermal Pollution
• The molecules in the water gain _______ energy
(they move faster). This causes gasses (like
________________) that are dissolved in the
water to escape easier. Low O2 affects fish the
most.
• Sensitive organisms, like ___________ and
gammarus, die due to hot environment.
Bioaccumulation and Magnification
Bioaccumulation and Magnification
1. Heavy metal _________ and other ____________ toxins
cannot be ________________easily by the organism.
1. Over the organisms lifetime, the toxins accumulate
(__________________)
2. As these toxins move up the
food chain, they get more
concentrated (10 ________
times more).
4. The _____ of the food chain is
most affected.
Where do these Toxins come from?
These toxins can come from:
-DDT/DDE ____________ (with mercury)
residue still in the soil run-off into rivers and
streams from farms.
-Lead fishing weights and shotgun pellets
-PCB lubricant run-off
Effects of Bioaccumulated toxins
-Behavioral and _________ problems (Lead and
mercury)
-_________________ problems (mostly mercury)
• Low birth rates, birth defects
• _____ and deformed egg shells in predatory
birds
Thermal Pollution
Cause of Thermal Pollution
Human activities that increase the water
temperature. Examples:
• Use of water as a __________ in factories
(Hydro-electric power plants, Paper Mills)
• Removal of ________ that shade the water
The effects of Thermal Pollution
• The molecules in the water gain _________
energy (they move faster). This causes gasses
(like __________) that are dissolved in the water
to escape easier. Low O2 affects _______ the
most.
• Sensitive organisms, like ________ and
gammarus, die due to hot environment.
Acid Rain
1. ______________ from industries and vehicles
release _________________(sulfur and
nitrogen dioxide)
2. This pollutant reacts in the atmosphere and
forms an ________ (sulfuric and nitric acid)
3. This_______the
pH of lakes
(more acidic).
4. Sensitive
organisms die
(daphnia, gammarus)
Ocean Acidification due to excess CO2
• When______ mixes with ________, it forms
______________.
• This ___________ the pH of the water (makes
it more acidic)
• Sensitive organisms such as microorganisms
and coral (causes coral ________) are most
affected.
Invasive Species
• An invasive species is a species that is
___________to the ecosystem brought by
________________
• They c____________ with the native species and
have been one of the top causes
_________________________ 42% of current
threatened species is due to invasive species.
• They may not have _______________________to
control their population.
• Biodiversity: Is a measurement of the ____________
and _________________ of different species in an
ecosystem. The greater the biodiversity, the more
_______________the ecosystem is.
How Invasive Species are spread
• Ballast water- Water expelled by ships as cargo is
loaded.
• Shoes with seeds
• Airplanes
• Wood trade (insects inside)
• Released by humans (pets, etc.)
• On purpose to control other species
Examples of Invasive Species
_______________ in Lake Washington
____________________in Great Lakes
___________________in Australia
Wood-boring bark beetle (Washingtoneradicated)
• Subterranean Termites in Southern states
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