APES Freshwater Ecology Computer Lab
DuPage River / Big Bear Skin Creek
Name
Period
Illinois River Background – Read This
 Illinois has more than 1.6 million acres of surface waters including:
 Illinois' portion of Lake Michigan 976,640 acres
 Three U.S. Corps of Engineers Reservoirs 54,580 acres - Shelbyville, Carlyle, and Rend Lakes
 More than 91,150 lakes and ponds 263,900 acres
 More than 26,400 miles of rivers and streams 325,000 acres
DuPage River
The 84-mile DuPage River drains most of DuPage and western Will counties, one of the most rapidly developing areas in
the Chicago region. This sprawling development tends to degrade the stream and its watershed. Nonetheless, the
DuPage River, largest tributary of the Des Plaines, remains quite a beautiful stream.
The DuPage has two branches. The shallow eastern branch flows through the Morton Arboretum and has not been
developed for canoeing. The west branch is an active water trail and passes through forest preserves and wooded areas.
There are five dams on the west branch, and the stone cascade of Warrenville Dam creates a natural-looking waterfall.
The west branch winds through Naperville, where an attractive riverwalk borders the stream. A dam near Channahon
creates a slack water pool where the Illinois & Michigan Canal crosses the DuPage. The last mile above the confluence
with the Des Plaines is a haven for bass fishing.
Additional Information about the DuPage River: http://www.dupagerivers.org/
Freshwater Ecosystems – Background Information
Part 1: Watershed
Watch the animation of a watershed at: http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/demo/Watershed.html
In your own words, using the animation as you basis. Describe a watershed.
Why could it be important to understand the concept of a watershed?
Part 2: Freshwater Ecosystem Dynamics
Go to: http://www.feow.org/
We are in Watershed 148: Upper Mississippi
a. Click on Find and Ecoregion and look at our watershed.
Complete the Table with information your believe is relevant from the diagrams and descriptions
Species Richness
# of Endemic Species
Threats
b. Go to Global Maps → Summary Biodiversity Maps.
Look at the different maps and draw some conclusions about U.S. Watersheds and the Global Watersheds. Look for
tends and patterns on the maps. Be prepared to discuss in class.
United States
Global
c. Go to Global Maps → Summary Threat & Status Maps
Look at the different maps and draw some conclusions about U.S. Watersheds and the Global Watersheds. Look for
tends and patterns on the maps. Be prepared to discuss in class.
United States
Global
Part 3: Steam Physical Characteristics
a. Evolution of a Meandering Stream
Go to: http://www.wwnorton.com/college/geo/egeo/flash/14_1.swf
Describe how a stream meanders over time.
Make a guess why deposition occurs in some spots and erosion in others.
Deposition
Erosion
Part 3 Continues:
b.Riparian Zone
Go to: http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/files/riparianzonemanagement.pdf or
http://www.ehow.com/list_5745343_riparian-zone-important_.html
What is a riparian zone and why is it important?
Description
Importance
Additional Resource – Ecology of Running Water
http://www.forestencyclopedia.net/p/p1/p1369/p1446/p1482
Part 4: Stream Chemical Characteristics
The Situation
The scarcity of clean surface water was once a concern primarily of state and
federal agencies. Recently it has attracted the attention of local communities.
Community members are turning to environmental consulting companies such as
yours for advice. Your company - Earth, Wind, and Water, Inc. - has helped many
public agencies and private businesses in the small town of Oak View. Earth,
Wind, and Water, Inc. monitors environmental quality. It develops practices that environmentally and
economically benefit Oak View.
Your newest client, Mr. Charles Taylor, owns Taylor's Trout-A-Rama. Taylor's Trout-A-Rama is a local
streamside catch-and-release campsite. Mr. Taylor is upset over the fact that the fish in that stretch of Bear
Creek have been dying. His buisness, like the trout, is going belly-up. He has called on your firm to figure out
what is killing the fish in that section of Bear Creek, and how to stop it.
Go to: http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/waterq3/WQmain.html
Use the information on this site to solve the problem. Summarize your methods and results in the table.
Facts and Key Information
Proposed Solutions to Problem
Additional Chemical Water Quality Resources:
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/waterquality.html
http://water.epa.gov/type/rsl/monitoring/stream_index.cfm
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/management/manual/index.html
Part 5: Stream Biological Characteristics
a. Use the same dichotomous key in this folder to identify each of the critters shown below.
b. Use the links provided below and your skills as a researcher to help verify your answers and then complete the table
for each benthic macroinvertebrate.
Links:
http://www.epa.gov/bioiweb1/html/invertclass.html
http://www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/getinvolved/sos/Pages/Benthics.aspx
http://www.epa.gov/bioiweb1/html/benthosclean.html
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/education/envirothon/aquaticinsectecology.pdf
Marcroinvertebrate Tables
Species 1
Name
Habitat
Characteristics
Adaptations
Niche
Additional
Facts
Species 2
Name
Habitat
Characteristics
Adaptations
Niche
Additional
Facts
Species 3
Name
Habitat
Characteristics
Adaptations
Niche
Additional
Facts
Species 4
Name
Habitat
Characteristics
Adaptations
Niche
Additional
Facts
Species 5
Name
Habitat
Characteristics
Adaptations
Niche
Additional
Facts
Part 5: Man’s Impact
How does mankind and our footprint impact freshwater ecosystems? (use the links below for some help)
Positive Impacts
http://www.nature.org/initiatives/freshwater/features/watershed.html
http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/protecting-rivers/endangered-rivers/
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=390688
Negative Impacts