2014 WATER QUALITY-2014 WATER QUALITY-(B&C) (B&C) Marine & Estuary Marine & Estuary

KAREN LANCOURKAREN LANCOURNational Bio Rules National Bio Rules

Committee ChairmanCommittee Chairman

C. Robyn FischerC. Robyn FischerNational Event National Event

SupervisorSupervisor

Event Rules – 2014 Event Rules – 2014

DISCLAIMERDISCLAIMERThis presentation was prepared using draft rules. This presentation was prepared using draft rules. There may be some changes in the final copy of There may be some changes in the final copy of the rules.the rules. The rules which will be in your Coaches The rules which will be in your Coaches Manual and Student Manuals will be the official Manual and Student Manuals will be the official rules.rules.

Event Rules – 2014 Event Rules – 2014

• BE SURE TO CHECK THE 2014 EVENT BE SURE TO CHECK THE 2014 EVENT RULES RULES FOR EVENT PARAMETERS FOR EVENT PARAMETERS AND TOPICS FOR EACH AND TOPICS FOR EACH COMPETITION LEVELCOMPETITION LEVEL

TRAINING MATERIALS TRAINING MATERIALS • Training Power Point Training Power Point – content overview– content overview• Training Handout Training Handout – content information – content information • Sample Tournament Sample Tournament – sample problems with key – sample problems with key • Event Supervisor Guide Event Supervisor Guide – prep tips, setup needs, – prep tips, setup needs,

and scoring tipsand scoring tips• Internet Resources & Training Materials Internet Resources & Training Materials – on the – on the

Science Olympiad website at www.soinc.org under Science Olympiad website at www.soinc.org under Event InformationEvent Information

• AA Biology-Earth Science CD Biology-Earth Science CD and a and a Water Quality CD Water Quality CD (updated to include marine 2014) (updated to include marine 2014) are available are available from SO store atfrom SO store at www.soinc.orgwww.soinc.org

Aquatic EcosystemsAquatic EcosystemsFreshwater Freshwater

Lotic ecosystems – Lotic ecosystems – flowing waterflowing waterStreams Streams RiversRiversLentic ecosystems – Lentic ecosystems – still waterstill waterPondsPondsLakesLakesWetlandsWetlands

Estuary ecosystems – Estuary ecosystems – 20142014Marine ecosystems – Marine ecosystems – 20142014

Coral Reef Ecology Coral Reef Ecology – – 20142014

EVENT COMPONENTS EVENT COMPONENTS

• Ecology Content – 2014Ecology Content – 2014– Part 1 – Part 1 – Estuary and Marine Ecology Estuary and Marine Ecology – Part 2 – Part 2 – Coral Reef EcologyCoral Reef Ecology– Part 3 – Part 3 – Water Monitoring and Analysis Water Monitoring and Analysis

• Process skillsProcess skills in data, graph and diagram analysis in data, graph and diagram analysis • Event parameters – Event parameters – check the event parameters in check the event parameters in

the rules for resources allowed.the rules for resources allowed.

Part 1: Estuary and Marine EcologyPart 1: Estuary and Marine EcologyAreas such as:Areas such as:–Aquatic Ecology in Marine/Estuary Aquatic Ecology in Marine/Estuary

EnvironmentsEnvironments–Aquatic Food Chains and WebsAquatic Food Chains and Webs–Population DynamicsPopulation Dynamics–Community Interactions Community Interactions –Nutrient Recycling Nutrient Recycling –Water CycleWater Cycle–Threats to Marine & Estuary Water Threats to Marine & Estuary Water

Quality Quality

General Principles of Aquatic Ecology General Principles of Aquatic Ecology

ECOLOGYECOLOGY – how organisms interact with – how organisms interact with one another and with their environment one another and with their environment

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT – living and non-living – living and non-living components components • ABIOTICABIOTIC – non-living component or – non-living component or

physical factors as soil, rainfall, physical factors as soil, rainfall, sunlight, temperaturessunlight, temperatures

• BIOTICBIOTIC – living component are other – living component are other organisms. organisms.

Marine Ecology Marine Ecology

• AbioticAbiotic– Non-living part of the environmentNon-living part of the environment

• BioticBiotic– Living part of the environmentLiving part of the environment– interdependence of all organisms living in the interdependence of all organisms living in the

ocean, in shallow coastal waters, and on the ocean, in shallow coastal waters, and on the seashoreseashore

Marine Abiotic Factors Marine Abiotic Factors • water• salinity• light• pressure• temperature• dissolved gases• pH• tides• currents• waves• substratum• nutrient supply• exposure to air

Water Cycle Water Cycle

97 % of the water on earth is salt water in the ocean. Of the 3% of water that is fresh water, 2% is frozen in ice caps and only 1% is usable by organisms as liquid water or water vapor found in lakes, rivers, streams, ponds , in the ground water, and as vapor in the atmosphere

Unique Qualities of Pure Water Unique Qualities of Pure Water The Unique Nature of Pure Water Water is 775 times as dense as air at 0 o C Water is found on earth in three forms –

liquid, solid and gas Density – maximum density is at 4o C not at

freeing point of 0 o C and expands as it freezes so ice floats

The H20 molecule is polar and hydrogen bonding is present

Water is a polar molecule; one end is positively charged and the other is negatively charged

Cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water (surface tension) is very high

Salt Water Features Salt Water Features The oceans consist

of (by mass):

• 96.5% water

• 3.0% sodium and chlorine ions (table salt, Na+ and Cl–)

• 0.5% other salts

Marine Environments Marine Environments

Marine Regions Marine Regions

Food Chain Food Chain • ProducerProducer• 11stst order Consumer or order Consumer or

HerbivoreHerbivore• 22ndnd order Consumer or 1 order Consumer or 1stst

order Carnivoreorder Carnivore• 33rdrd order Consumer or 2 order Consumer or 2ndnd

order Carnivoreorder Carnivore• 44thth order Consumer or 3 order Consumer or 3rdrd

order Carnivoreorder Carnivore• Decomposers – consume Decomposers – consume

dead and decaying matter as dead and decaying matter as bacteria bacteria

Marine Food Web Marine Food Web

Ecologic Pyramids Ecologic Pyramids

Ecological pyramid - a graph representing trophic level numbers within an ecosystem. The primary producer level is at the base of the pyramid with the consumer levels above.

• Numbers pyramid - compares the number of individuals in each trophic level. May be inverteddue to size of individuals

• Biomass pyramid - compares the total dry weight of the organisms in each trophic level.

• Energy pyramid - compares the total amount of energy available in each trophic level. This energy is usually measured in kilocalories.

Trophic Pyramids-MarineTrophic Pyramids-Marine

The 10% rule for Energy Pyramids

Carbon, Nitrogen & Phosphorus CyclesCarbon, Nitrogen & Phosphorus Cycles

Threats to Marine EcosystemsThreats to Marine Ecosystems• Oil spills and their ecological disasters• Marine dumping of wastes – plastic and

other wastes • Dredging Wastes• Overfishing • Ocean acidification reducing calcium

carbonate• Population displacement • Mangrove Destruction• Bycatch – marine wildlife unintentionally

caught as sea turtles, porpoises, albatross, crabs, starfish & fish

• Whaling is still a problem though strides are being make

Threats to Ocean Health Threats to Ocean Health • Marine Pollution • Habitat Destruction• Overfishing and Exploitation• Climate Change• Sea Temperature Rise • Ocean Acidification • Invasive Species • Ocean Dead Zones

EstuariesEstuaries

• The areas of water and shoreline where a freshwater stream or river merges with the ocean• Estuaries can be partially enclosed body

of water (such as bays, lagoons, sounds or sloughs) where two different bodies of water meet and mix• They often bordered by salt marshes or

intertidal mudflats• Salinity varies within the estuary from

nearly fresh water to ocean water

Importance of Estuaries Importance of Estuaries • Of the 32 largest cities in the world, 22 are located on

estuaries• Many animal species rely on estuaries for nesting and

breeding• Most of the fish and shellfish eaten in the United States,

including salmon, herring, and oysters, complete at least part of their life cycles in estuaries

• Estuaries filter out sediments and pollutants from rivers and streams before they flow into the ocean, providing cleaner waters for humans and marine life

• Humans also rely on estuaries for recreation, jobs, and even our homes

• Coastal development, introduction of invasive species, over fishing, dams, and global climate change have led to a decline in the health of estuaries, making them one of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth

Estuary Classification Estuary Classification Estuaries can be classified according to their water circulation:The amount of circulation affects the salt distribution and salinity concentrations

salt-wedge fjord slightly stratifiedsalt-wedge fjord slightly stratified

vertically mixed freshwater vertically mixed freshwater

Common Estuary Habitats Common Estuary Habitats • oyster reefs • kelp forests • rocky and soft

shorelines• submerged aquatic

vegetation • coastal marshes• mangroves forests• deepwater swamps

and riverine forests• mud flats• tidal streams • barrier beaches • salt marshes

Adaptation of Organisms Adaptation of Organisms – Physiological adaptationsPhysiological adaptations• How organisms adapt to the environment by

changes in metabolism, behavior and other characteristics.–The genes of the organism remains

unchanged–The adaptation is not passed onto its

progeny– Evolutionary adaptationsEvolutionary adaptations• Over generations, species adapt to the

environment through natural selection.–Genetic differences of an individual

organism that makes it better adapted to its environment are passed onto the organism’s progeny

Adaptations of Estuary OrganismsAdaptations of Estuary OrganismsSalinity, temperature, water levels and light levels vary

along the length of an estuary• shutting up shells, digging borrows and excretion of

excess salts• fish maintain water balance by actively drinking salt

water• increasing their respiratory water flow and increase

oxygen consumption• mechanisms to deal with high energy winds and

waves• most efficient tree is low, with numerous crowded

branches• the tree may include flattening of the trunk, root and

branches in a plan parallel to the wind direction

Estuary Organisms & Survival Estuary Organisms & Survival

Estuary Food Web Estuary Food Web

Threats to Estuaries Threats to Estuaries EPAEPA

• Too many nutrients• Pathogens• Toxic chemicals• Habitat loss• Invasive Species• Changes in water

flow

Point and Non-Point Pollution Sources• Pollutants pose a large threat to estuarine

organisms• Pollutants are introduced into estuaries from either

point sources or non-point sources. Point sources are clearly defined, localized inputs

such as pipes, industrial plants, sewer systems, oil spills from tankers, and aquaculture ventures.

Non-point sources are indistinct inputs that do not have a clearly defined source, such as runoff of petroleum products from roadways or pesticides from farmland.

A majority of pollutants find their way into estuaries from non-point sources

Non-point sources are harder to detect and control

Reduction of pollution requires substantial individual and collective efforts

• The federal and state governments regulate them.

Estuary Preservation Estuary Preservation • Ensuring the health of our estuaries is vital to

the survival of the plant and animal communities

• To preserve our estuaries, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System was established to protect more than 1.3 million acres of estuarine habitat for long-term research, monitoring, education, and stewardship throughout the coastal United States.

Part 2: Coral Reef EcologyPart 2: Coral Reef Ecology• Examine coral reefs and the effects of pollution on reef

ecosystems

• Topics that may be included are coral reef biology growth and reproduction zooxanthellae reef fish communities reef ecosystem health indicators the importance of coral reefs problems associated with pollution management of reef systems

Coral Coral Polyp Polyp

•Stony corals are the major reef architects. These small marine animals, (individual organisms are called polyps), produce a hard skeleton made of calcium carbonate, which they extract from the seawater and combine with CO2 for limestone•Other reef building organisms include fire corals, blue & pipe corals, coralline algae, tropical reef worms

Coral Life Cycle Coral Life Cycle • First stage of the coral’s life cycle is

planula larvae, which allows it to be free swimming.

• Second stage of its life is polyp which is when the coral is stuck to a rock.

• In the polyp stage, it is able to reproduce,

• either asexual - involves the splitting of a coral (called fission) or sprouting another coral from itself (called budding).

• sexually (with another polyp) • involves a cycle of: • SPAWNING >> FERTILIZING >>

PLANULAE LARVAE SETTLEMENT >> CLONING

Symbiosis Symbiosis Coral & ZooxanthellaeCoral & Zooxanthellae

• Coral Polyp provides a home for the zooxanthellae, it provides nitrates and phosphates, and it gives off CO2

• Zooxanthellae, a dinoflagellate carries out photosynthesis and make oxygen and food for the polyp through photosynthesis, gain nutrients from the corals nitrogen and phosphorus wastes, and provide for most of the colors for the coral in the reef making them look like underwater gardens

Coral Reef Regions Coral Reef Regions

Requirements for Reef FormationRequirements for Reef Formation• Solid structure for the base with a hard

substrate for attachment• Warm water temperatures > 20°C (68°F)

and oceanic salinities• High Light Levels• Clear waters with high water transparency• Low nutrient waters - low in phosphate

and nitrogen nutrients• Good water circulation with moderate

wave action to disperse wastes and bring oxygen and plankton to the reef

Coral Reef Development Coral Reef Development

Zones of a Coral Biome Zones of a Coral Biome • Shore or inner reef zone - area is

between the crest and the shoreline-full of life including fishes, sea cucumbers, starfish, and anemones.

• Crest reef zone - highest point of the reef and where the waves break over the reef.

• Fore or outer reef zone - As the reef wall falls off, the waters get calmer. Around 30 feet deep, will be the most populated part of the reef along with lots of different types of coral species.

Coral Reef Organisms Coral Reef Organisms Coral reefs are inhabited by thousands of species

including:• Algae• Sponges• Soft corals• Sea slugs• Urchins and star fish• Worms• Crabs and lobster• Snails• Clams, scallops,

and barnacles• Fish• Sea turtles• Sharks and rays

Coral Reef Food Web Coral Reef Food Web

Coral Reef Fish Communities Coral Reef Fish Communities

Coral Reef Importance Coral Reef Importance

–Fishery and nursery areas Fishery and nursery areas (food)(food)–Tourism, recreationTourism, recreation–Potential medicinesPotential medicines–Coastal protectionCoastal protection

Coral Reef Health Indicators Coral Reef Health Indicators

•Marine Apex Predators•Biomass•Average Catch Length•Coral Cover•Indicator Organisms

INDICATOR ORGANISMSINDICATOR ORGANISMS

• Reef Check Reef Check http://reefcheck.org/about_RC_Reef/publications/http://reefcheck.org/about_RC_Reef/publications/Reef%20Check%20Report.pdf/Reef%20Check%20Report.pdf/RC_report_FINAL_2.pdfRC_report_FINAL_2.pdf

• Global Coral Reef Monitoring Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network-httpNetwork-http://gcrmn.org/gcrmn-publication/statu://gcrmn.org/gcrmn-publication/status-of-coral-reefs-of-the-world-2008/s-of-coral-reefs-of-the-world-2008/

• http://gcrmn.org/publication-category/status-of-http://gcrmn.org/publication-category/status-of-coral-reefs-of-the-world/coral-reefs-of-the-world/

Healthy vs. Badly Damaged Reef Healthy vs. Badly Damaged Reef

Coral Reef Threats Coral Reef Threats • Chemical pollutantsChemical pollutants• Excess nutrientsExcess nutrients• SedimentationSedimentation• Coral bleachingCoral bleaching• Coral diseasesCoral diseases• Climate change and ocean Climate change and ocean

acidificationacidification•Overfishing Overfishing

Coral Reefs ThreatsCoral Reefs Threats

Healthy vs. Damaged Reef Healthy vs. Damaged Reef

Coral Reef Management Coral Reef Management • Fisheries regulation• Marine protected areas• Coastal zoning• The problem of ecosystem phase-shifts

(how if corals die and area is taken over by algae, it achieves a new steady state and is very difficult for corals to re-colonize)

Part 3: Water Monitoring Part 3: Water Monitoring • Understand and interpret data

related to testing procedures and purposes for water testing (No actual testing)

• Build and demonstrate a salinometer capable of testing saltwater (1-10%)

Chemical Analysis Chemical Analysis • Salinity - Salinity - only actual testing with salinometeronly actual testing with salinometer• TemperatureTemperature• Aragonite Saturation Aragonite Saturation - for marine esp. coral reefs - for marine esp. coral reefs • pHpH• Turbidity – Turbidity – Light Saturation in marine environmentsLight Saturation in marine environments• Dissolved oxygenDissolved oxygen• Biochemical oxygen demandBiochemical oxygen demand• PhosphatesPhosphates• NitratesNitrates• Total solidsTotal solids• Fecal ColiformFecal Coliform

Their relationship to one anotherTheir relationship to one another – – notenote: : the Water the Water Quality Index used for freshwater does not apply to Quality Index used for freshwater does not apply to marinemarine. . Regions have their own marine water quality Regions have their own marine water quality indexindex.

Salinomter – Salinomter – Hydrometer Hydrometer

• SalinometersSalinometers / HydrometersHydrometers

• HydrometerHydrometer calibrated to read in % of salt concentration

• MaterialsMaterials – soda straw modeling clay a fine-tipped permanent marker a tall clear container to hold the solution for calibrating your device salt for mixing one or more standard

solutions water (tap water will work-distilled

is better)

SALINOMETER TIPS SALINOMETER TIPS

• The narrow the diameter of the salinometer, the higher the water will rise – this make calibration easier.

• Small plastic pipettes instead of the straw and clay work well. Hold the pipette upside down, cut the opening to make it wider and weight it putting sand into the bulb. Cover the opening with tape or clay so the sand won’t get wet when you calibrate it.

• Measuring electronic conduction (the more salt the more electricity is conducted) is another possibility – just be sure that the device is made by the team