BIOL 2650

Study Guide Chapter 11 Part 2: Water resources

Fall 2008

1. What is the difference between point and non-point sources of pollution? Which are harder to control?

 

2. Water quality is measured by assessing which:

Biological factors:

what does the coliform bacterial test show?

 

Chemical factors

 

Physical factors

 

 

3.. Know how the following impact water quality:

            Nutrients and OM

            What does BOD mean? What does it indicate?

 

            Pathogens

 

            Toxic chemicals

 

            Sediments

 

            Heat and cold

 

4. In what way is groundwater pollution a more serious problem than surface water pollution?

 

5. Can polluted groundwater be treated?

 

6. What are the three specific goals of modern wastewater treatment?

 

7. What types of materials are typically NOT removed during treatment?

 

8. The water in the ocean develops layers or strata based on what two characteristics?

 

9. How are upwellings  important in ocean ecology?

 

10. Most photosynthesis occurs between the surface and what depth?

 

11. Know kelp forests, coral reefs, and mangrove swamps as important community types- provide physical structure and food (via photosynthesis) for complex and diverse food webs.  

Kelp forest- mainly temperate zone, rocky coastlines

 

Coral Reefs and Mangroves- tropical to subtropical, sandy coastlines

 

12.  What are the major threats to mangrove forests?

 

13. What are the major threats to coral reefs?

 

14. In what way is plastic debris a threat to sea life?

 

15. What are the sources of oil pollution?  How does it affect sea life?

 

16. In what ways does nutrient pollution impact ocean life?

 

17. What are “red tides”?

 

18. What evidence is there that the oceans are being over-harvested?

 

19. What factors (besides greed) have led to the modern overexploitation of fish and other marine species?

 

20. What is by-catch and why is it a problem?

 

21. Understand how drift nets and bottom-trawling contribute to the destruction of marine life.

 

22. What are the benefits of Marine Preserves for marine life?

 

For fishermen?

 

23. Describe the following socio/political solutions to overfishing.

    Boat buyouts

 

    Shared Catch or Individual transferable quotas (ITQs)

 

    Consumer awareness programs

 

    Ending government subsidies