Post on 20-May-2018
Aquatics Teacher Packet
AQUATICS BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTTeacher Answer Packet
1. Use the diagram of the water cycle below to answer the following questions.
a. How is freshwater replenished on earth?
precipitation
b. What is the term for the underground
supply of freshwater?
aquifer
2. Refer to the pie chart below on water consumption. Identify 5 ways you can reduce your personal water consumption.
a. _Use low-flow showerheads
b. _Use low-flush toilets
c. _Take shorter showers
d. _Only run dishwasher and washing machine when loads are full
e. _Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth
3. Complete the table below on the salinity of water bodies.
Salinity / Type of Water
Description Example of Aquatic Environment
Fresh Contains no salt or very little saltSalinity ranges from 0 – 1 ppt
River, Lake, Stream, etc.
Brackish A mixture of salt and freshwaterSalinity ranges from 2 – 17 ppt
Estuary
SaltWater has a salt concentration over 17 pptAverage salinity of ocean is 35 ppt
Ocean
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Aquatics Teacher Packet4. Complete the chart for acceptable water quality levels.
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INDICATOR ACCEPTABLE LEVELpH 6.5 – 8.5DO 5 – 8.5 ppmCO2 < 25 ppm
Nitrates <0.3 ppmPhosphates <0.015 ppmHardness 0-60 ppm (soft), 120-180 ppm
(hard)Mayflies presentStoneflies present
Caddisflies presentColiform absent
Aquatics Teacher Packet5. Biological and chemical water quality data were collected from 4 sites in the
Bear Creek watershed. The majority of the land in the rural Bear Creek watershed is inhabited, but there is also a fish farm (farm where fish are raised), a mining company, and a dairy farm. Analyze the water quality data.
WATER QUALITY DATAWater temp (°C)
# of Mayflies
# of Stoneflie
s
# of Caddisflies pH Hardness
(ppm)Nitrates(ppm)
Phosphates(ppm)
DO (ppm)
Coliform
Site A 24 6 2 5 6.1 55.0 7.0 3.2 1.9 PresentSite B 24 293 156 248 7.2 102.0 1.7 0.5 2.9 AbsentSite C 15 1571 24 1391 7.2 98.5 0.25 0.0 7.3 AbsentSite D 15 1558 613 1354 7.2 114.0 0.25 0.01 7.4 Absent
a. Which site has the worst water quality? Explain.Site A has the worst water quality. The populations of macroinvertebrates are very low. The pH is below the acceptable range, and is too acidic. Water hardness is low, indicating a lack of limestone as a geologic substrate. Both nitrates and phosphates are elevated. Dissolved oxygen is too low for organisms to survive. The presence of coliform indicates the body of water is contaminated with animal waste.
b. Which site has best water quality? Explain.Site C has the best water quality. It has the most macroinvertebrates. In addition, all chemical tests are in the acceptable range. The absence of coliform indicates no pollution from animal waste.
c. Rank all four sites in order from best to worst water quality.
Site C Site D Site B Site A
d. Describe the relationship between water temperature and the amount of dissolved oxygen. As water temperature decreases, the amount of dissolved oxygen increases.
e. Which site is most affected by eutrophication? Explain.Site A is most affected by eutrophication. Site A has the highest levels of nitrates and phosphates. In addition, the low dissolved oxygen level is indicative of eutrophication.
f. Which site is most affected by acid rain? Explain.Site A is most affected by acid rain. It has the most acidic pH and the lowest water hardness. This indicates little limestone in the soil to buffer against the effects of acid rain.
g. Which site is contaminated with animal waste? Explain.Site A is contaminated with animal waste. The presence of coliform bacteria indicates pollution by animal waste.
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Aquatics Teacher Packet6. Identify the name of the macroinvertebrate under each image.
__mayfly__ __damselfly__ __stonefly__
__hellgrammite___ __aquatic worm__ __caddisfly__
7. Several different types of stoneflies, mayflies, and caddisflies indicate healthy water quality.
a. Rank these three indicator organisms from most tolerant of pollution to least tolerant of pollution.
Most tolerant of pollution: __caddisflies
__mayflies
Least tolerant of pollution: __stoneflies
b. Which of these three indicator organism would disappear first in a polluted aquatic ecosystem?
__stoneflies
c. What water conditions would be best for the survival of macroinvertebrates?fast-moving stream because it oxygenates the water
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Watershed:
The total land area from which water drains into a particular water body
A
B
C
D
Aquatics Teacher Packet8. Define a watershed.
9. Refer to the map of the Chesapeake Bay and its major tributaries. On the map, add a: Label A—River that adds the majority of the freshwater to the Bay Label B—Area with the highest salinity Label C—Area with the lowest salinity Label D—Area with greatest tidal changes
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Aquatics Teacher Packet
10.Label the diagram of fish with the parts of its anatomy.
11.Identify the fish below and fill in the important information about each fish.
Common Name
_______Channel Catfish____________
Body Shape: ___Torpedo________ Mouth Position: __Wide, upturned____
Caudal Fin: ____Forked_________ Dorsal Fins: _____Two (with rays)____
Pectoral Fins: __Present________ Pelvic Fins: ______Present__________
Other fins: ____Anal fin_________ Lateral line: ______Visible________
12.Answer the following questions about aquatic vegetation.
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Spiny dorsal finSoft dorsal fin
Operculum (gill cover)
Caudal (tail) fin
Pectoral fin
Mouth
Aquatics Teacher Packet
a. What do these terms stand for?
o SAV – Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
c. What two water factors affect the growth of SAV in the Chesapeake Bay?
Salinity and Turbidity
d. Explain how the presence of SAV would help the fish in the cartoon and other aquatic animals in the bay
The presence of SAV is very important to the bay. Among its many benefits, SAV providehabitat, shelter, food, and oxygen to the bay. In addition, SAV help maintain water quality and protect shorelines from erosion.
e. Explain two causes that have lead to the decline of SAV in the Chesapeake Bay
SAV has declined in the bay due to eutrophication and sedimentation. Both of these causes reduce the amount of sunlight available to SAV. Over-enrichment of nutrients causes algae blooms which prevent sunlight from reaching SAV. Too much sediment increases the total dissolved solids in the bay. This also reduces the light available for the SAV.
13.Using the graphic below, explain what occurs during primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment.
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Primary Secondary TertiaryWASTE WATER TREATMENT DIAGRAM
Aquatics Teacher Packet
Step in Wastewater Treatment
Explanation
Primary
Wastewater goes through screens to remove coarse debris and grit chambers. Wastewater is then funneled into large sedimentation tanks and left undisturbed to allow heavy particles to settle out. This sludge moves onto sludge treatment while the remaining wastewater moves onto secondary treatment.
Secondary
In an aeration tank, oxygen is added to encourage the growth of microorganisms that consume the organic matter. Water then flows into another sedimentation tank, where sludge settles out and moves onto sludge treatment. The remaining wastewater goes through disinfection or chlorination before moving onto tertiary treatment.
Tertiary/ AdvancedMany salts, pesticides, phosphates, and other pollutants remain after secondary treatment. Tertiary treatment removes these materials and releases a treated effluent that is theoretically “potable.”
14.Circle the best answer. Correct answers are bolded, underlined, and italicized
Which law regulates what is discharged from a wastewater treatment plant?(Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act)
Which law makes water potable?(Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act)
What classification of pollution comes from a wastewater treatment plant? (nonpoint pollution, point pollution)
What type(s) of pollution results from the process of wastewater treatment?(acid rain, eutrophication, thermal pollution)
15.Use the graphic to complete both charts.
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Aquatics Teacher Packet
Pollution source Point or Nonpoint
Farm Nonpoint
Houses Point
Boat Point or Nonpoint depending upon the situation
Factory Point
Factory’s parking lot Nonpoint
Type of pollution produced Pollution source
Acid rain Factory releases SO2 and NOBoat releases NO
Eutrophication Runoff from the farm and fertilizer on lawns
Thermal pollution Factory pulls in water as a coolant and releases warmer water
16.Fill in the blanks.
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Aquatics Teacher Packet ___Nitrates__ and __phosphates__ are the two nutrients that cause eutrophication. Because of the
excess nutrients ___algae___ grows rapidly. Decomposers then move in and break down all
organic matter. This results in low levels of oxygen which can create __dead__ ___zones___.
Thermal pollution increases the ___temperature___ of the water. This change results in lower
levels of __dissolved oxygen_ in the water.
Acid rain ___lowers____ the pH of a body of water. It is primarily caused by sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen dioxide created by the burning of fossil fuels.
17.Below is an energy pyramid illustrating biomagnification.
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Aquatics Teacher Packet
Why are there more dots in the higher trophic levels?
The concentration of pollutants increases as it moves up the food chain.
Why are heavy metals such as mercury harmful?
They have high mobility, are fat soluble, and are biologically active.
In what part of an organism does the pollutant accumulate?
Fats
The organism at the highest trophic level is not killed by this pollutant; instead it can have damaging effects on its offspring. Explain.
Biomagnification of the pollutant interferes with the reproductive system of the organism. For example, biomagnification of DDT resulted in bald eagles laying eggs with shells that were too thin.
18.Check all that apply to each aquatic environment.
Aquatic environment
Salt water
Fresh water
Tidal Nesting ground
Light penetrates almost to bottom
Estuary √ √ √ √
Wetland √ √ √ √
Streams √ √
Ocean √ √
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