#34 inland aquatic systems

Question 1

what is lotic water

Answer 1

running water

Question 2

what is lentic water

Answer 2

standing water

Question 3

is freshwater saline

Answer 3

freshwater is generally low in salinity however can become more saline if there is no input and lots of Evaporation

Question 4

how many types of algae are in freshwater?

Answer 4

13 types can be micro or macro

over 1300 species

Question 5

what are the most common algae in freshwater?

Answer 5

filamentous greens

Question 6

are freshwater algae endemic

Answer 6

yes

Question 7

what are primary producers in the freshwater

Answer 7

diatoms and dinoflagelates are in freshwater as primary producers

Question 8

what types of algae are in freshwater

Answer 8

green algae (chlorophyta): green seaweed - majority are freshwater. tend to be in colonies. single cells. includes stone warts - they colonise before flowering plants and stabilise sediments 
blue greens - cyanobacteria: single cells, primary producers, fix nitrogen

Question 9

what are higher plants in freshwater environments

Answer 9

• monocots or dicots - similar to seagrasses
  can be temperate or tropical
  provide nutrients from sediment and water
  includes seagrasses - paddleweeds

Question 10

what primary consumers live in freshwater

Answer 10

zooplankton - abundant in lotic flowing waters

eat diatoms

Question 11

what dominates in freshwater

Answer 11

macro-ivertebrates: insects
dominate in species number, biomass and productivity
they eat the zooplankton

Question 12

what are some vertebrate species in freshwater

Answer 12

frogs - around 200 species

fish including Murray cod and lungfish

Question 13

what are the threats to inland aquatic flora and fauna

Answer 13

habitat loss
salinity - increases in salinity
harvesting of fish and flora
pest species: rock snot, carp fish, noxious weeds