Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Limnology > Limnology Introduction > Flashcards

Limnology Introduction Flashcards

1
Q

This is the study of inland waters and their many different aspects

A

Limnology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are four examples of continental waters that are studied in limnology?

A

Lakes, rivers, wetlands, streams

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are three types of features of continental waters that are studied in limnology?

A

Biological, chemical and physical features

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Who is considered the father of modern limnology as well as the father of modern ecology?

A

G. E. Hutchinson

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are six fields to which G. E. Hutchinson was important?

A

Limnology, biogeochemistry, paleoecology, radioecology, systems ecology, and population ecology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

G. E. Hutchinson raised the idea of this 30 years before the problem became “popular”

A

Climate change

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

G. E. Hutchinson wrote this four volume set that mixed the biology, chemistry, and geology of lakes - the most extensive literature on limnology ever published

A

Treatise of Limnology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What percentage of the Earth is covered in water?

A

71%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What percentage of Earth’s water exists as ocean water?

A

96.5%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What percentage of Earth’s water is freshwater?

A

2.5%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What percentage of freshwater is groundwater or ice?

A

99%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What percentage of freshwater is available for most human consumption and use?

A

<1%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What percentage of Earth’s total water is usable by humans and the biosphere?

A

.0003%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are six common types of uses of water?

A

Industrial; agricultural; power generation; domestic; recreation; environmental

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the maximum range of water available in rivers per year?

A

22,000-35,000 cubic km per year

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What fraction of water that flows through the hydrologic cycle is available either spatially or temporally?

A

1/3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Water can be lost temporally in populated areas due to these events

A

Floods

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Water can be lost spatially due to this

A

Greater distance from human population center

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

These are when water is diverted/withdrawn from a surface or groundwater source

A

Withdrawals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are three common sources of water withdrawals?

A

Rivers/streams; Aquifers; Desalination

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are two concerns with water withdrawal from rivers and streams?

A

Impacts on water quality and aquatic organisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are two concerns with water withdrawal from aquifers?

A

Extremely long regeneration times and fast withdrawal rates that exceed speed of replenishment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What are three concerns with desalination?

A

Expensive; Difficult to maintain; Excess salt problem

24
Q

This exists between capita water use among countries

25
Increases in this lead to greater water demands
Standard of living
26
What are three examples of necessary water uses in the U.S.?
Drinking, cooking, agriculture
27
What are three examples of luxury water uses in the U.S.?
Washing cars, watering lawns, swimming pools
28
What percentage of water do humans withdraw from geographically/temporally available runoff?
54%
29
What would happen if everyone on Earth used as much water as the U.S. average?
All accessible water would be used - including all water produced by the hydrologic cycle
30
What is a global example of a problem caused by water scarcity?
Political instability
31
What are six examples of direct use values of aquatic ecosystems?
Fish; Agriculture; Fuel wood; Recreation; Transport; Wildlife
32
What are six examples of indirect use values of aquatic ecosystems?
Nutrient retention; Flood control; Storm protection; Groundwater recharge; External ecosystem support; Microclimate
33
What was the monetary value of river and lake systems in 2007?
$2.4 trillion/year
34
What was the monetary value of fisheries in 2007?
$112 billion/year
35
What are 9 possible threats to aquatic ecosystems?
Sediments; Herbicide/pesticide; Runoff; Nonpoint pollution; Mine drainage; Acid rain; Fracking; Urbanization; Damming
36
Few rivers and streams are this
Pristine
37
What percentage of rivers in the U.S. are not affected by dams?
2%
38
What percentage of total U.S. stream miles are under reservoirs?
18%
39
Decimation of this species has significantly altered channel dynamics
Beaver
40
Loss of this type of animals has allowed high impact grazing in riparian zones
Large predators
41
What is the main reason why managing freshwater is so difficult?
Reconciling the needs of humans with the needs of aquatic ecosystems
42
What are four things needed to be able to successfully manage freshwater systems?
Good science; Good management; Protection/conservation; Restoration
43
The foundation of water quality programs in the U.S. is based on this act
Clean Water Act
44
These define the water quality goals for a body of water
Water quality standards
45
What are water quality standards dependent on?
Designated use
46
What are four examples of actions that are regulated by water quality standards and designated use?
1. Reporting of water quality conditions/status; 2. Developing limits on certain water quality parameters; 3. Requiring permits for point source pollution; 4. Setting targets for Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL)
47
What is point source pollution?
Pollution that comes from a specific source that is easily identifiable
48
What are three examples of point source pollution?
1. Animal waste runoff from farms; 2. Emission from plants; 3. Pipes/channels that dump into streams
49
What is non-point source pollution?
Pollution that comes from several locations
50
What are three examples of non-point source pollution?
Agricultural runoff; industrial runoff; Urban runoff
51
Which is harder to manage, point source or non-point source pollution?
Non-point source pollution
52
These are numeric values/narrative statements that represent a level of water quality to support a particular use
Water quality criteria
53
What are two bases of water quality criteria for states and tribes?
Specific water body use and sound science
54
This is a state list of impaired/threatened water
303d list
55
How often are states required to update their 303d lists?
Every two years
56
What are five things that a 303d list must identify?
1. Impairment cause; 2. Site priority; 3. Pollution severity; 4. Water use; 5. Restoration plan

Limnology (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions