Study Guide: Aquatic Ecology and Pollution
Assignment: Complete both foldable study guides about aquatic ecology and pollution
Extra Credit: Thoroughly complete #s 1-8 below and describe all 5 diagrams on separate paper
Concepts and Topics
 Nonpoint Source Pollution v. Point Source Pollution
 Types of Nonpoint Source Pollution
o Sediment
o Pathogens
o Nutrients
o Thermal Pollution
o Toxic Contaminants
 Basic Aquatic Ecology Concepts
o River/Stream Abiotic Factors (temperature, oxygen, pH, etc)
o River/Stream Food Chains
o Riparian Zone
o Needs of Aquatic Organisms
o Benthic Macroinvertebrates and their role in aquatic food webs
o Why we study Benthic Macroinvertebrates as indicators of water quality
o Relationship between temperature and dissolved oxygen
Key Terms
See Vocabulary List
Resources:
 Reading Handouts and Questions
o Life in a Stream/A Simplified Stream Food Web/The Stream Habitat
o Biological Monitoring: Benthic Macroinvertebrates
o Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Fact Sheet
o Gizmo Question Page
 Watershed Unit Vocabulary - Part 2
 Websites found on Class Extra Help Page
You are Expected to be Able to Respond to the Following:
1. Compare and contrast nonpoint v. point source pollution
2. Describe the different types of point source pollution
3. Describe and explain how the different types of pollutants can impact a river
4. Describe and explain the relationship between temperature and dissolved oxygen
5. Describe and explain the value and functions of a riparian zone
6. Describe and explain a simple steam/river food web
7. Describe a benthic macroinvertebrate
8. Explain why we study benthic macroinvertebrates as indicators of water quality
You are expected to label, explain, and describe diagrams such as: