Aquatic ecology 101
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Transcript of Aquatic ecology 101
Aquatic Ecology 101Aquatic Ecology 101
OutlineOutline Types of aquatic ecosystems Hydrology of lakes and ponds Lake zones and processes Aquatic food web Lake trophic states Concept of limiting nutrient
Types of Aquatic SystemsTypes of Aquatic Systems
Lakes & Ponds
Lakes & Ponds
Rivers & Streams
Rivers & Streams
WetlandsWetlands
EstuariesEstuaries
Marine systemMarine system
GroundwaterGroundwater
Lakes and PondsLakes and Ponds Critical differences from
other freshwater systems Longer residence time Typically not shaded
with most of the surface area exposed to sunlight
Florida lakes are typically shallow and well mixed
Florida lakes are often highly colored, but can have light reaching much of the bottom
Photo by Bill Wade
Watershed / Lake Area RatioWatershed / Lake Area Ratio
Watershed area relative to lake area will influence the residence time of water in the lake.
This ratio is also a factor in the nutrient loading to the lake
Lake Habitat ZonesLake Habitat Zones
Oligotrophic Northern Lake Eutrophic Southern Lake
Lake Littoral ZoneLake Littoral Zone Functions
Intercepts Nutrients Refuge from Predators Nursery for Fish
Lake Limnetic/Pelagic ZoneLake Limnetic/Pelagic Zone Functions
Plankton Zooplankton
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Nutrient uptake Sediment stabilization Habitat Oxygen production
Lake Limnetic / Pelagic ZoneLake Limnetic / Pelagic Zone
Pond Food WebPond Food Web
NutrientsNutrients
Algae/PlantsAlgae/Plants
GrazersGrazers
FishFish
NutrientsNutrients Algae/PlantsAlgae/Plants GrazersGrazers FishFish
Relationship Between Nutrients and Relationship Between Nutrients and Pond ProductivityPond Productivity
NutrientsNutrients Algae/PlantsAlgae/Plants GrazersGrazers FishFish
NutrientsNutrients Algae/PlantsAlgae/Plants GrazersGrazers FishFish
NutrientsNutrients Algae/PlantsAlgae/Plants GrazersGrazers FishFish
NutrientsNutrients Algae/PlantsAlgae/Plants GrazersGrazers FishFish
NutrientsNutrientsHabitat/Environmental Impacts
Algae/PlantsAlgae/Plants GrazersGrazers FishFish
Low nutrientsLow primary productivityLow grazers and insectsLow fish production
Clear waterSandy/low organic matter on bottom
Low nutrientsLow primary productivityLow grazers and insectsLow fish production
Clear waterSandy/low organic matter on bottom
TROPHIC STATETROPHIC STATEModerate nutrientsIncreased primary productivityMore grazers and insectsMore fish production
Moderate water clarity More aquatic plantsSome organic sediment accumulation
Moderate nutrientsIncreased primary productivityMore grazers and insectsMore fish production
Moderate water clarity More aquatic plantsSome organic sediment accumulation
TROPHIC STATETROPHIC STATEHigh nutrientsHigh primary productivityLarge number of grazers and insectsModerate fish production
Low water clarity, or Clear with aquatic plantsHigh organic sediment accumulation
High nutrientsHigh primary productivityLarge number of grazers and insectsModerate fish production
Low water clarity, or Clear with aquatic plantsHigh organic sediment accumulation
Trophic State ChangeTrophic State Change Nutrients & Productivity Sediment &
Accumulation Species Shifts Species Richness
FishFishGrazersGrazers
Manipulating Pond Response to Manipulating Pond Response to NutrientsNutrients
NutrientsNutrients Algae/PlantsAlgae/Plants GrazersGrazers FishFishXAlgae/PlantsAlgae/PlantsXSource of the problem
Limiting Nutrient ConceptLimiting Nutrient Concept…Plants need nutrients to grow Nitrogen and Phosphorus are the main nutrients For every unit of N you need so many units of P If one nutrient is not in sufficient supply it will limit
the total production potential.
For algae N:P > 17 Phosphorus Limited N:P < 10 Nitrogen Limited 10 < N:P < 17 Co-Limitation
N:P < 22 will tend to promote Cyanobacteria which are nitrogen fixers
Phosphorus Limitation: Phosphorus Limitation: Lake 227Lake 227
Total Phosphorus / Chlorophyll-a Total Phosphorus / Chlorophyll-a RelationshipRelationship
Phosphorus is typically liming nutrient in freshwater
Nitrogen is typically limiting nutrient in marine system.
SummarySummary Lakes have longer residence
time and more light than other freshwater systems
Littoral Zone, Pelagic Zone, Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
Nutrients regulate algae > grazers > fish
Removing algae doesn’t remove nutrient regulator
Phosphorus is typical nutrient limiting nutrients depending on N:P ratio
Stormwater ponds respond just like lakes do to nutrients
Questions?Questions?