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ENVS 301 > Exam 3 > Flashcards

Exam 3 Flashcards

(68 cards)

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1
Q

What is Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)?

A

Amount of O consumed in 5 days by microorganism in water to decompose organic matter in water.

Higher BOD, more pollution, lower water quality

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2
Q

What does the oxygen sag curve indicate?

A

Relationship between oxygen levels and distance from pollution source

shows how oxygen levels decrease (high rate of decomposers consuming O) and sensitive species are lost … and then recover.

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3
Q

How have humans altered the nitrogen cycle?

A

fertilizer application, fossil fuel combustion, land-use changes, nutrient pollution

coastal zones are N limited
(gulf of Mexico “dead zone”)

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4
Q

What are the main approaches for controlling water pollution?

A

land use practices and waste treatments

INPUT solutions (not make it in first place)
(ex. banning DDT, removing lead from gas, removing phosphates from detergents, modification of manufacturing process to not produce toxic byproducts/ waste)

OUTPUT solutions (remove pollutant before it reenters the env, (treatment facilities)
(ex. erosion control thru buffers, less fertilizers and pesticides, minimize pollution entering drains, land disposal and management of sewage sludge, ag waste

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5
Q

What is the Clean Water Act?

What effect has it had on water quality in the USA?

A

Clean water act of 1972 (limits on point sources)

improvements in sewage treatment

protection of wetlands (buffers, help improve water quality)

decreased erosion from agriculture

no improvement in nonpoint source areas

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6
Q

What is groundwater?

A

water below the surface

fills pore space btwn soil particles, sedimentary rock layers, cracks and crevices

source: rain, snow falling to ground and percolates

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7
Q

What are the different components/zones in the soil profile?

A

unsaturated zone/ vadose zone (where infiltration happens)

capillary fringe/ action

water table (upper groundwater border)

saturated zone (groundwater)

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8
Q

What is the difference between a confined and an unconfined aquifer?

A

CONFINED aquifer is trapped between impermeable layers, completely filled with pressurized water, separated from land surface by relatively impermeable confining bed (ex. Shale)

UNCONFINED aquifer is open to the surface, partially filtered, marked by rising and falling water table, more susceptible to pollution/ contamination

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9
Q

How do confined and unconfined aquifers differ in recharge rate?

A

CONFINED recharges slower

UNCONFINED recharges faster

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10
Q

What is a gaining stream?

A

receives water from zone of saturation

groundwater/ water table above stream

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11
Q

What is a losing stream?

A

loses water to zone of saturation/ groundwater

groundwater/water table BELOW stream

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12
Q

How does pumping of groundwater influence the capacity of a stream to gain water from groundwater?

A

Pumping can lower water table, cause a cone of depression

Reduces the amount of water a stream gains from groundwater.

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13
Q

How does urbanization influence the capacity of a stream to gain water from groundwater?

A

Increased impervious surfaces cause increased runoff and decreased infiltration

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14
Q

What factors control the movement of groundwater?

A

Hydraulic gradient (slope)

Hydraulic conductivity (Porosity, Grain size, Packing evenness, Material interactions with fluid properties)

Soil permeability

Soil composition

Aquifer properties

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15
Q

How is the slope determined?

A

Difference in water table elevation (h) over a specified distance (L)

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16
Q

In which direction does groundwater typically flow?

A

High to low elevation (downhill)

From areas of low use to high use (human extraction, wells)

From wet areas to dry areas

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17
Q

What factors influence the capacity for groundwater movement?

A

SOIL
Pore space size/ packing density
Particle size (small is denser)
Chemical characteristics
Surface tension

HYDRAULIC GRADIENT = physical env. itself
h/L

permeability (k)
hydraulic conductivity (K)

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18
Q

What is hydraulic conductivity?

A

Ability of material to allow water to move through it (in units of distance/time)

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19
Q

What factors impact the slope of the water table?

A

Dh/dL = hydraulic gradient

K = hydraulic conductivity

A = area

Q = discharge (volume/time)

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20
Q

How does the water table slope influence the flow of groundwater?

A

steeper slope, faster flow

groundwater flows from high to low elevation

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21
Q

How do the properties of the soil influence groundwater?

A

Affect infiltration rates, storage capacity, and contaminant transport.

Factors: soil texture, structure, organic matter, permeability

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22
Q

How does the size, shape, orientation and composition of the soil particles influence the rate of movement of water belowground?

A

Sandy = Larger pores, larger particles, faster water movement

Clayey = smaller pores, smaller particles, slower water movement

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23
Q

What is Darcy’s Law?

A

Q = -KA *dh/dL

Dh/dL = hydraulic gradient
K = hydraulic conductivity
A = area
Q = discharge (volume/time)

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24
Q

What factors determine the hydraulic gradient?

A

Change in water level (hydraulic head) per unit of distance.

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25
What factors determine hydraulic conductivity?
Soil Texture (Sandy vs Clayey) Pore Size/ Space Density and viscosity of fluid
26
What is a well?
A structure created to access groundwater
27
What is the hydraulic head?
The height of water in a well, representing the potential energy of groundwater. total energy of water at a specific point
28
Hydraulic Head vs Hydraulic Conductivity
HYDRAULIC HEAD total energy of water at a specific point HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY ease with which water can flow through a porous medium
29
What happens when groundwater is pumped out of a well? How does it impact groundwater flow?
Lowers the water table Can create a cone of depression Groundwater flow can be potentially reversed and pulled TOWARD the well
30
What is a cone of depression?
Depression of the water table formed around well when water is pumped out Shaped like an inverted cone
31
How does the hydraulic head differ between wells in confined and unconfined aquifers?
CONFINED Hydraulic Head allows water level in well to rise above the water level in aquifer (PRESSURE) UNCONFINED Water level in well is the water level in the aquifer
32
What is drawdown?
lowering of the water table near a pumped well
33
What is the relationship between pumping of groundwater and pollution of groundwater?
Increased pumping can lead to the intrusion of pollutants into groundwater sources.
34
What are some possible groundwater pollutants?
Agriculture (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers) Landfill leachate (heavy metals, household chemicals) Septic tanks, sewage, feedlots (bacteria, viruses, parasites) Mines (acid mine drainage) Burial of waste (radioactive, hazardous chemicals)
35
What are the major water uses in the US and how do they differ in terms of consumption and return flow?
Thermoelectric Power * Consumed 2%, Return Flow 98% Irrigation * Consumed 56%, Loss 20%, Return Flow 24% Industrial * Consumption 15%, Return Flow 85%
36
What is the major consumer of groundwater in the USA?
Irrigation
37
What happens when groundwater withdrawal exceeds recharge? Why?
Water table drops Wells need to be deeper Groundwater can become contaminated by salt water in regions of extreme groundwater withdrawal
38
Why do wells need to be deeper? What are the costs?
To access sufficient groundwater as water tables decline due to over-extraction.
39
How can groundwater become contaminated by salt water in regions of extreme groundwater withdrawal?
Excessive withdrawal can lead to saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers.
40
How does urbanization affect groundwater?
Impervious surfaces decrease infiltration/ recharge Filling wetlands kills recharge area
41
What is ecological restoration?
Study of renewing a degraded, damaged or destroyed ecosystem through active intervention
42
What types of activities are included in ecological restoration?
* Reforestation * Wetland restoration * Invasive species removal * Habitat improvement
43
What are the motivations for ecosystem restoration?
Biodiversity conservation Reduce Species Extinctions Ecosystem services Climate change mitigation Cultural/ recreational value
44
What is the difference between Restoration Ecology and Conservation Biology?
RESTORATION ECOLOGY (plant) focuses on returning ecosystems to a previous state, community/ecosystem focus CONSERVATION BIOLOGY (animals) aims to protect existing ecosystems, targets individuals
45
What role does DISTURBANCE play in the design and implementation of ecosystem restoration projects?
LIMIT human disturbance MAINTAIN/ RECREATE natural disturbance
46
what role does SUCCESSION play in the design and implementation of ecosystem restoration projects?
Process by which component species change over time INITITATE, ASSIST, ACCELERATE
47
what role does FRAGMENTATION play in the design and implementation of ecosystem restoration projects?
The breaking up of habitats into smaller, isolated patches. Smaller pieces = more vulnerable INCREASE interior, DECREASE edges ADD habitat corridors
48
what role does COMMUNITY ASSEMBLY play in the design and implementation of ecosystem restoration projects?
Select native species with traits similar to likely invaders Different species compositions between similar sites
49
what role do ALTERNATE STABLE STATES play in the design and implementation of ecosystem restoration projects?
Different ecological states an ecosystem can exist in, depending on environmental conditions. Manipulating timing/ structure of initial species composition Working towards single desired stable state
50
What role does ONTOGENY play in the design and implementation of ecosystem restoration projects?
Need to provide conditions necessary for all stages of organism's life
51
Describe restoration strategies for increasing N removal from streams. What is the key biological processes that you are trying to maximize? What factors can you manipulate to increase the rate of this process?
Most effective in low flow streams MICROBES denitrification (organic matter, Nitrate Anaerobic conditions) PROMOTE contact with benthos/ groundwater contact with vegetation for removal ACTIONS add meanders, Carbon, widen channel, increase riparian vegetation
52
What are the general characteristics of the watershed and each site?
BHS low discharge AS riffles PH near road EB golf course CG riffles
53
What are the measurements/ techniques used to evaluate DISCHARGE?
cross sectional area, flow meter (0.6 depth) Discharge = (cross-sectional area) x (current speed)
54
What are the measurements/ techniques used to evaluate NUTRIENT LOAD AND YIELD?
standard curve in lab use standard curve equation to calculate amount of each nutrient in water sample Load = mass of nutrient entering body of water per unit time (kg/d) Yield = load/drainage area (kg/d/ha)
55
What are the measurements/ techniques used to evaluate SALINITY AND CHLORIDE?
Hach meter
56
What are the measurements/ techniques used to evaluate OXYGEN?
Hach Meter
57
What are the measurements/ techniques used to evaluate MACROINVERTEBRATES?
2 samples per site whole sample or first 100 organisms Models (EPT, Mitchell & Stapps, NY DEC Biotic Index Score, Percent Affinity Model)
58
How does NUTRIENT LOAD AND YIELD change with changing land use?
increased urbanization, increased runoff, increased nutrient load and yield
59
How does SALINITY AND CHLORIDE change with changing land use?
increased urbanization, increased road salt, increased salinity and chloride
60
How does OXYGEN change with changing land use?
increased urbanization, increased nutrient inputs, eutrophication, decreased oxygen
61
How do MACROINVERTEBRATES change with changing land use?
increased urbanization, decreased sensitive species
62
Why are macroinvertebrates commonly used as the only variable measured in a stream? What do they tell us that simple grab samples of water cannot?
Reflect the health of aquatic ecosystems and respond to environmental changes more slowly than water chemistry. Tell more long-term idea of water quality
63
Sensitive Macroinvertebrate Species?
Caddisflies > mayflies > stoneflies gilled snails, water penny
64
Tolerant Macroinvertebrate Species?
worms, blackfly, leeches, lunged snails
65
What do the different macroinvertebrate water quality models tell us about a stream?
EPT only 3 species need proper identification does not consider species evenness, abundance, or diversity MITCHELL & STAPP sorts organisms into 3 categories: sensitive, somewhat sensitive, and tolerant amount of species present in each category is multiplied by a specified amount, and these amounts are added looks at species richness, and species evenness is not considered so species diversity can not be calculated DEC BIOTIC INDEX groups species of macroinvertebrates, and assigns an “ecological value” to them. The ecological value of each individual species, along with the count of individuals found of that species is used to determine the score Species evenness is not considered, species diversity cannot be calculated. Species richness is not major factor, but can be determined PERCENT MODEL AFFINITY (PMA) determines how well your sample matches with an “ideal” sample based on a undisturbed Adirondack water sample species richness and species evenness allows for species diversity to be calculated
66
What are the main themes/findings in Kaushal, S.S. et al. 2005. Increased salinization of fresh water in the northeastern United States. PNAS. 102: 13517-13520. ?
The increasing salinization of freshwater in the northeastern United States threatens drinking water, aquatic organisms impervious surfaces increase mean chloride concentrations
67
What are the main themes/findings in Weitjers, et al. 2009. Quantifying the effect of catchment land use and water nutrient concentrations on freshwater river and stream biodiversity. Aquat. Conserv. 19:104-112. ?
Altered Land use has a major effect on freshwater biodiversity, nutrient concentrations increased urbanization, increased nutrients, decreased diversity
68
What re the main themes/ findings in Ledford, SH, & Lautz, LK. 2015. Floodplain connection buffers seasonal changes in urban stream water quality. Hydrological Processes, 29: 1002-1016. ?
Restoring floodplain connections decreases flood risk due to increased water storage Increased water storage also leads to increased storage of pollutants, so effects of contaminants aren't just seasonal

ENVS 301 (2 decks)

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