ECOSYSTEMS, WATERSHEDS AND POLLUTION CONTROL REVIEW

Transcription

1 ECOSYSTEMS, WATERSHEDS AND POLLUTION CONTROL REVIEW ECOSYSTEMS: (6 th grade content) How biotic and abiotic factors make an ecosystem: 1. A/An ecosystem is a community made up of living things and nonliving components that affect them. 2. The living (or was once living) components of an ecosystem are called biotic factors. 3. The nonliving components of an ecosystem are known as abiotic factors. 4. Some examples of biotic factors are plants, animals, humans, log of wood (was once living). 5. Some examples of abiotic factors are sunlight, water, rocks, topography, etc.. 6. The most important abiotic factor affecting an ecosystem is water quality. 7. About 71 percent of the Earth's surface is water-covered. Of the 71%, only 3% is freshwater while 97% is saltwater. 75% of the freshwater that does exist on Earth is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps. That leaves a small amount of usable freshwater (less than 1%) available to people, animals and industries around the world. Color and label the pie chart below to represent this information. 2.25% is frozen fresh water (icecaps) 0.75% fresh water - drinkable 97% salt water - undrinkable WETLANDS: Fabulous Wetlands: 8. What is a wetland? An area of land that is covered with a shallow layer of water during some or all of the year. 1

2 9. Advantages of wetlands: a. Act as natural water filters because plant roots trap wastes b. Absorb extra runoff from heavy rain and act as natural flood control c. Provide habitat for many organisms, including rare and endangered species d. Provide habitats for migratory birds Why can paving over a wetland cause flooding? Wetlands act as giant sponges and absorb excess runoff from heavy rain. Paving over a wetland allows water to runoff directly into water bodies and can lead to flooding. 10. Example of a wetland: (clue: it s in Florida) Everglades ESTUARIES: What is an estuary?: What is an estuary? A partially enclosed body of water where freshwater from rivers meet salt water from the ocean. 11. The largest estuary in the contiguous United States is in our area. It is the Chesapeake Bay. 12. Why are estuaries important? a. Provide critical habitats for fish, birds, and mammals nurseries of the sea. b. Habitat for many plant species c. Help with flood control and prevent shoreline erosion d. Commercial value from fishing, bird watching, and recreational activities WATERSHEDS: What is a watershed?: What is a watershed? A piece of land that water flows across or under on its way to a river, lake or ocean. 14. Watch this video and explain how our actions can affect the health/quality of a watershed. Excess use of fertilizers and pesticides can harm water quality Allowing animals to graze near rivers and water bodies can harm water quality Land use changes such as paving over wetlands can allow more pollutants to enter into a watershed 15. What are point sources of water pollution? A specific source of pollution that can be identified Examples: a leaking pipe, a broken barrel (drum) of chemicals, a factory building 16. What are nonpoint sources of water pollution? A widely spread source of pollution that has no specific origin, usually starts with excess rain and snow Examples: runoff from a farm, road etc. 2

3 17. What are some things you can do to maintain the quality of your watershed? Watch this video and answer the question: Limit the use of fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides on lawns Dispose off hazardous waste appropriately never pour them down storm drains Limit cutting down of trees and plants to prevent erosion Clean up pet waste 18. What is runoff? Rainwater that flows over land, fields, lawns and streets into storm drains and eventually to our watersheds. 19. What is water quality monitoring? Collection of water samples in order to analyze them chemical/physical and biological parameters. Some chemical/physical parameters include ph, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and turbidity. Biological parameters include monitoring for macroinvertebrate organisms and microorganisms. 20. Use the word bank and fill in the blanks: Tributary Flood plains watershed Main stem Headwaters divide mouth Deposition estuary Sediment 3

4 VIRGINIA S WATERSHEDS 21. What are the drainage locations for the three major watershed systems in Virginia? a. Chesapeake Bay b. North Carolina Sounds c. Gulf of Mexico 22. Which is the largest watershed system in Virginia? Chesapeake Bay Watershed system 23. What are the four watersheds in Virginia that flow into Chesapeake Bay? a. Potomac b. Rappahannock c. York d. James (largest watershed in Virginia) Drains into Chesapeake Bay Drains into Gulf of Mexico NOTE : Virginia is shaped like a triangle, each part draining into a separate watershed system. Green part drains into Chesapeake Bay Blue part drains into the North Carolina Sounds Red part drains into Gulf of Mexico Drains into North Carolina Sounds 4

5 POLLUTION CONTROL: Define the following terms : 1. Landfill : An area where garbage and solid waste is disposed off 2. Pollutant : Any material that can harm living things by interfering with life processes 3. Incineration : The burning of solid waste 4. Recycling : Process of reclaiming raw materials and reusing them. Answer the following questions : 5. What are the four categories of materials that can be recycled? a. Plastic b. Paper c. Glass d. Metal 6. What are the three ways to handle solid waste? a. Incinerate (Burn) it b. Bury it c. Recycle it 7. Name one advantage and one disadvantage for incinerating solid waste. a. Advantage: Does not collect in a landfill b. Disadvantage: Creates air pollution 8. Why are modern landfills lined with plastic or clay? To prevent pollutants from leaching through the soil into groundwater 5

6 PARTS OF A WATERSHED DIAGRAM: 1. Top of the mountain where precipitation separates: 2. Small streams joining together at the top of the mountain: 3. Smaller branches of a river: 4. Main part of a fully formed river: 5. Land near a river where it is likely to flood if the river overflows: 6. End of the river where it opens out into the ocean or a larger body of water: 6

7 PARTS OF A WATERSHED DIAGRAM: KEY 1. Top of the mountain where precipitation separates: DIVIDE 2. Small streams joining together at the top of the mountain: HEADWATERS 3. Smaller branches of a river: TRIBUTARIES 4. Main part of a fully formed river: MAIN STEM 5. Land near a river where it is likely to flood if the river overflows: FLOOD PLAIN 6. End of the river where it opens out into the ocean or a larger body of water: MOUTH OF THE RIVER 7