...Freshwater aquatic ecosystem An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem in a body of water. A freshwater ecosystem is one of the aquatic ecosystems. Pools, ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers are different types of freshwater ecosystems. A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. Ponds are smaller bodies of still water located in natural hollows. A lake is a sizable water body surrounded by land and fed by rivers, springs or local precipitation. Rivers and streams are bodies of fresh, flowing water. Negative Effects There have been several and harmful ways that our growing human population has affected freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Whether it is directly or indirectly humans have changed the natural order of the aquatic environment, one such example is when people build dams somewhere in the tropics it creates a reservoir which can house snails and mosquitoes. It can also create a fishery which can accommodate many blackflies for their need for freshwater, but in the process a person done two wrong things in building a dam in the first place. A disease which is called river blindness carried by the blackflies can infect a quantity of people living in the area, the disease can spread due to the blackflies being able to travel long distances and the parasite that produces the larvae may cause blindness in a person. Another effect that a growing human population can have on a freshwater aquatic ecosystem is what...
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...Impacts of Tourism on Freshwater Resources in Mediterranean Chintan Patel Student Id: 090303630 MI201: A. Beggar November 19th, 2010 Mediterranean is considered to be one of the most desirable destinations for vacation due to its mild climate, beautiful costal sceneries and rich biodiversity. Each year millions of tourists visit Mediterranean, by 2025 tourist population in Mediterranean is predicted to reach up to 355 million per year. On average, 1/3 of the worlds overall tourism income is received by Mediterranean countries. Unfortunately, when the tourism activity peaks in summer, nature’s ability to produce freshwater is at its lowest. Currently, Mediterranean countries use dams and extract ground water to meet the ever increasing demands due to increasing tourists. Water ecosystems are suffering through significant devastation as river flows are being disturbed due to increasing numbers of dams and groundwater level are decreasing due to intense pumping. Furthermore, decreasing groundwater level have an adverse impact on human communities, as the groundwater level decreases, it becomes more saltier and thus forces us to abandonment or limit the use of groundwater for drinking and irrigation. In addition, as the tourism industry expands, urban boundaries are likely to move inwards destroying precious lagoons and coastal wetlands. Appropriate measures must be taken by the government, tourism industry and an individual tourism in order to reduce the consumption of...
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...Freshwater Ecosystem Fresh water ecosystems are very common across the United States. Fresh water ecosystems can consist of several different factors. A fresh water ecosystem will be around a body of water. The body of water is always fresh water, meaning that the body of water is non-salt water like the ocean. Fresh water ecosystems can be around a lake, river, stream, pond, wetland or other (National Geographic, n.d.). Often times, fresh water ecosystems consist of live vegetation, and animal life. The fresh water ecosystem uses the plants, vegetation, and animals as its own purity system and pollution control. The vegetation around a fresh water ecosystem includes different trees, plankton, algae, and others. In addition, there is normally a variety of different wild life in a fresh water ecosystem. Birds, fish, and mammals help maintain the fresh water ecosystem. The human population is continuously growing and as a result the resources available are being used to the point of changing the overall flow of ecosystems. Rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands are an example of freshwater ecosystems. Naturally, these bodies of waters are important for reducing pollution, controlling floods and the homes for aquatic life (National Geographic, n.d.). Since human population is rising any number of current negative uses such as the overuse of fossil fuels has a negative impact on freshwater ecosystems. Acid rain is a result of high amounts of nitric and sulfuric...
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...October 6, 2013 Katrina Baron The issue of freshwater pollution is a serious level of concern. The Environmental Protection Agency has projected that water pollution will be as high in 2025 as it was in 1968, which is before the passage of the Clean Water Act. We must comprehend the problems and become part of the resolution in order to combat this pollution. There are many different types of water pollution, with that being said the quality and quantity of our clean freshwater resources are depleting. The water pollution is not just a local issue but rather a global problem that does require serious attention in order for the cleanup of these contaminates to be anywhere near successful. According to Pielou, (1998) “The UN reports that one person in six lives without regular access to safe drinking water.” There are many essential changes that are needed that are not going to come easily. We need to remember that water is essential to the survival of all living things. We need to do everything we can to maintain the quality of clean water. The world today has various categories of water pollution that affects it. We do recognize this reality, but humans still ignore this problem by polluting the rivers and lakes. Many humans throw their trash into the lakes and rivers when they are fishing and camping. The main contributors of water pollution are classified as municipal, industrial, and agricultural. Providing a step by step “Freshwater Sustainability Plan”, this pollution issue...
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...Approximately 97% of the water found on Earth is saltwater leaving around 3% of Earth’s water as freshwater. Of this, 70% is in the form of ice in glaciers, ice caps and as permanent snow. The remaining minority of available freshwater is stretched for use by Earth’s 6 ¾ billion people for agriculture, industry, recreation, tourism and municipal use. This remaining useable freshwater is in the form of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and general wet areas. Lakes, ponds and bogs are generally stationary bodies of water, although bogs can be a source of rivers and streams, which are moving bodies of water. Freshwater ecosystems support us many other ways too; dams can be built to harness the power of rivers to generate electricity. Rivers also provide water for irrigation and industry, processing wastes, producing timber and supplying food. Freshwater serves an important role in transporting goods via ships. They also serve for recreational, cultural and aesthetic purposes. Because of the huge demand we have on freshwater systems, they require 'Management and Policies' in order to regulate and protect them. Pollution and waste due to industrial exploitation and overpopulation are a serious threat to our freshwater resources. Residential, commercial and industrial premises are often concentrated near waterways, lakes and rivers. Historically, humans have congregated by freshwater and used it as medium for transport of goods and people. Now that we know how important water is to the...
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...INDEX Question number Page number Question 1: discuss the distinctive characteristics that set chordates apart from all other phyla Page 3 Question 2.1: Describe the events that takes place during metamorphosis of solitary ascidians Page 4 Question 2.2: Discuss the feeding method of larvaceans Page 5 Question 3: discuss each of the following aspects of Hemichordates Phylogeny body organisation Page 6 Question 4 write explanatory notes on each of the following 4.1) Adaptation of sharks which promote buoyancy in water 4.2) Osmoregulation in freshwater and marine bony fishes Page 7 Page 8 Question 5 discuss the different types of snake venom and their effect on pray Page 10 Bibliography Page 11 Question 1 Discuss the distinctive characteristics that set chordates appart from all other phyla: (Hickman et al 1994) The animals most familiar to most people belong to the great phylum chordate. Humans themselves are members and share one of the common characteristics from which the phylum derives its name, the notochord. 1) Notochord A structure to prevent body shortening. All chordates have as their primary internal longitudinal skeletal element the notochord, a stiff but flexible rod that runs the length of the bilaterally symmetrical animal just ventral to the nerve cord. The notochord develops in every chordate embryo and is retained in many adults. 2) Dorsal tubular nerve cord A structure to coordinate movement. In...
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...------------------------------------------------- Freshwater ecosystem From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Freshwater angelfish Freshwater ecosystems are a subset of Earth's aquatic ecosystems. They include lakes and ponds, rivers, streams, springs, and wetlands. They can be contrasted with marine ecosystems, which have a larger salt content. Freshwater habitats can be classified by different factors, including temperature, light penetration, and vegetation. Freshwater ecosystems can be divided into lentic ecosystems (still water) andlotic ecosystems (flowing water). Limnology (and its branch freshwater biology) is a study about freshwater ecosystems. It is a part of hydrobiology. Original efforts to understand and monitor freshwater ecosystems were spurred on by threats to human health (ex. Cholera outbreaks due to sewage contamination). Early monitoring focussed on chemical indicators, then bacteria, and finally algae, fungi and protozoa. A new type of monitoring involves differing groups of organisms (macroinvertebrates, macrophytes and fish) and the stream conditions associated with them. Current biomonitering techniques focus mainly on community structure or biochemical oxygen demand. Responses are measured by behavioural changes, altered rates of growth, reproduction or mortality. Macroinvertebrates are most often used in these models because of well known taxonomy, ease of collection, sensitivity to a range of stressors, and their overall value to the ecosystem. Most of these measurements...
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...1. Describe the weather conditions, including temperature, wind speed, humidity, date and time of the field trip. 1. 72 degrees Fahrenheit, Winds South SW at 8mph, 45% humidity September 17, 2014 at 2:20pm 2. What is an estuary? What large body of water serves the Refuge? An estuary is a mixture of freshwater and saltwater. The Potomac serves the Refuge. 3. At the time of the field trip, are we experiencing high or low tide? Please fill out “Analysis of Local Tidal Fluctuations”. We experienced high tide. 4. See attached 5. See attached for the descriptions of species 6. Carefully explore the sandy beach-what organisms do you find here? Write a description of the beach environment. At the time we visited it was high tide and the area has been eroded. There were snails, and logs. There was also not much sand because of the erosion. 7. How does the sandy beach compare to the wetland marsh? Please describe vegetation, flora and fauna, and any other relevant descriptions. Compared to those living in the Bay, what types of adaptations might organisms living in a marsh need to thrive? A wetland has no salt-there were shells on the beach and a lot of algae. We also saw fresh water clams. 8. What is causing erosion along Bay shoreline? What is being done to rectify this issue? Boats and the tides are causing the erosion. There are barriers that are being built to protect it. 9. Why are there wooden boxes along the marsh and trail? They are for birds...
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...GEOGRAPHY S.B.A [pic] Name: Keeshan Ramkissoon Candidate Number: School: St. Mary’s College School Code: Teacher: Ms. Gangaram Year: 2008-2009 Topic: Pollution – Environmental Degradation Title: What are the causes of pollution in the Couva River located in Trinidad W.I.? GEOGRAPHY S.B.A [pic] Name: Keeshan Ramkissoon Candidate Number: School: St. Mary’s College School Code: Teacher: Ms. Gangaram Year: 2008-2009 Topic: Pollution – Environmental Degradation Title: What are the causes of pollution in the Couva River located in Trinidad W.I.? TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page No. 1. Aim of Study 3 2. Location Maps 4 3. Methodology 7 4. Presentation of Data 8 5. Analysis and Discussion 14 6. Conclusion 16 7. Bibliography 17 AIM OF STUDY What are the types and causes of pollution in the Couva River, Trinidad, W.I.? What are some possible solutions to the causes of pollution? ...
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...Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change Hector Canseco SCI/256 04/30/2015 Carolyn Miller Freshwater Ecosystem is a relatively small in area about 1.8% of the earth’s surface. It consists of ponds and lakes which range in size from just a few square meters to thousands of square miles. All throughout the earth several are remnants from glaciers thousands of years ago. Many ponds are seasonal, lasting just a couple of months while lakes may exist for hundreds of years or more. Ponds and lakes may have limited species since they are often isolated from one another and from other water sources like rivers and oceans. Lakes and ponds are divided into three different zones, which are usually determined by depth and distance from the shoreline. Streams and rivers are also part of the fresh water ecosystem. These are bodies of flowing water moving in one direction. Streams and rivers can be found everywhere, they get their starts at headwaters, which may be springs, snowmelt or even lakes, and then travel all the way to their mouths, usually another water channel or the ocean. The type of a river or stream changes during the journey from the source to the mouth. The temperature is cooler at the source than it is at the mouth. The water is also clearer, has higher oxygen levels, and freshwater fish such as trout and bass can be found there. Towards the middle part of the stream or river, the width increases as does species, numerous aquatic green plants and algae can be found...
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...March 18, 2014 To: Mariani Packing Company Re: Dumping Waste into the Fox River Basin Lead in drinking water can cause many health effects that can vary from minor to severe. In babies and children, drinking lead in water result in delays in physical and mental development during their early childhood stages, along with slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities can occur as well. In adults, it can cause increases in blood pressure. Adults who drink this water, which is contaminated with lead, over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure. Someone might have to undergo a kidney transplant. Children may have to put on medication to treat their delays and deficits. The process of removing metals from water is simple. It would require placing a magnetite into the water which would draw the lead to the magnetite. Once this occurs the magnetite and absorbed metal is removed by flowing the water through a steel wool. Once the magnetite and associated heavy metal is bound to the steel wool, it can be removed and disposed of. Please remember the safety and health of your community. Help keep our rivers clean for our family, as well as yours. Thank you. Global Impact There is major problem with water contamination in Nigeria, Africa. Nigeria are fast being severed by a number of factors, of which pollution remain the most dominant problem. Due to poor living conditions and many other factors, pathogens, sewage, construction debris...
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...opportunity at the water's edge. On one hand, the threats to freshwater are grave, with climate change and an increasing global population that requires food and clothing, not to mention safe drinking water. Water is simply becoming scarcer. On the other hand, impending crisis is often a great motivator. Savvy and responsible companies from nearly all sectors, along with investors and insurers, are taking action to secure their bottom lines. Becoming an efficient water user "inside the factory fence" is only the first step of the journey. Those further down the water stewardship path are engaging with local, regional and national authorities to help ensure that water resources are managed sustainably. The future security of freshwater resources around the world is of increasing concern. Due to our interlinked global economy, waterscarcity in many parts of the world could harm the global economy in ways we had not thought of. Shortfalls in crop yields and more variable food prices could be an early impact. Our demand for water is closely linked to economic growth. As we grow wealthier, the more freshwater we require to supply cities, power plants, factories and the production high protein food such as dairy, meat and fish. It is not just a question of more people requiring more water. Rather, it is a case of more wealthy societies demanding much more water. During the 20th century, while population grew by a factor of four, freshwater withdrawals grew by a factor of nine. If we take these...
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...solutions can be used to help address this problem? Describe the problem and discuss its different causes and effects. Give examples of solutions already used and possible future solutions.’ Student name: XIONG RONG (Cheryl) Student number: 0010073806 Class: 5A Course: WORLD SHORTAGE OF FRESH WATER Words: 950 Tutor: Joan Reid Submission date: 4th September, 2012 World shortage of fresh water The Earth, which has a variety of valuable natural resources, such as land, climate, water, mineral resources, is our common home. In 1993, the UN (United Nations General Assembly) determined the March 22nd as “World Water Day”, annually. Nowadays, more and more countries pay attention to water resources, especially in freshwater resources, because of its uniqueness and shortage. This essay will discuss water-shortage focusing particularly on four aspects: the problem, causes and effects of water shortage, and solutions. Some problems have been caused by water shortage. It is one of the most serious problems in the world. According to new researches salt water is far more than fresh water in the world. “97.7% of this is salt water; only 2.5% of this is fresh water, 0.26% of accessible fresh water.”(Sustainable World, 2003:4) Another problem is the increasing requirement of water. There is no doubt that human and animals can’t live without water. For instance people will die if there is not enough water, as well as animals. The speed of population has been...
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...parts or subsystems * Parts work interdependently * Grade 2- AZ Science Standard * Communicate the results and conclusions of an investigation (e.g., create terrarium) * Grade 2- AZ Science Standard * PO 2. Communicate with other groups to describe the results of the investigation. Learning Objectives: * Students will be able to identify two types of environments and list three characteristics for each. * Students will be able to understand the types of ecosystems * Students will be able to understand the importance of protecting and preserving our world around us Sub- Objectives: * To get the children actively involved in the outdoors. Show them that it’s important and can be extremely fun. Evidence of Mastery: * Assignment 1: Students will draw and label what a terrarium is in their journal * Assignment 2: Students will create a terrarium with their table mates. * Assignment 3: Students will take a short quiz on ecosystems * Assignment 4: Students will develop a personal action plan for their way to keep the environment safe. * Assignment 5: Students will present their plan to class in small groups. Unit Plan: Monday: Introduce the Environment and...
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...Name: Anna ‘Should we recycle water?’ Introduction: “It is so clean that you have to add back minerals for flavour,” Brent Haddad says, a professor of Environmental Studies at the University of California., of environmental studies about recycling water. There are many reasons why Australia must begin to recycle water. It is our duty and responsibility to guarantee that the future generations of Australia will not come to an end of freshwater resources. You will need to add in your main arguments here. Paragraph 1: Topic sentence- As Australia’s population is getting growing bigger rapidly, this means that the demand for water is on the rise. Water is like gold – it is precious and, in reality, we do not have an unlimited water supply. Explanation-Take a look at Singapore; one of the world’s finest health and Asia’s best leading economies., hHowever, Singapore, as a matter, of fact lacks a dependable water source. How did Singapore then assured it didn’t run out of water? Singapore at this moment has four purification plants which make around 430 million litres of water a day which meets 50 precent of the country’s water requirements. Evidence-“You need a consistent water supply to protect against the unpredictability of our climate, which swings from floods to droughts,” said Mark O’Donohue, the CEO of Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence. “One single source of water is no longer enough to guarantee water security.” Linking sentence-With simply a small...
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