Riparian Habitats & Species Diversity Flashcards
In North America riparian areas have greater biodiversity (variety of plants and animal life) than any other habitat type.
True or False
True
Riparian areas have many niches, or opportunities for different lifestyles. More niches means more species.
True or False
True
Over 90% of Arizona riparian habitat is gone.
True or False
True
Riparian areas vary widely depending on elevation, slope and habitat.
True or False
True
‘Desert Fishes’ is an oxymoron. Fishes do not naturally inhabit the desert.
True or False
False
The Colorado River is largely unchanged and its native ichthyofauna is mostly intact/undisturbed.
True or False
False
The common characteristics of almost all fishes are fins, complete life cycle in water, and mechanism of breathing by extracting oxygen from the water with their gills.
True or False
True
The Colorado River System is about 1700 miles long. It drops ten miles in elevation along its course.
True or False
False
Bonytail chub are morphologically adapted to swift waters.
True or False
True
Check the feature)s) that Colorado River fish share.
___ Small, deeply embedded scales reduce friction with rushing water.
___ Rising water temperatures and levels trigger spawining behavior in fall.
___ Streamlined bodies and wing-like fins help movement in strong currents.
___ Flat sloping head pushes fish downward, so it holds the bottom in swift water.
___ Eyes are large.
_X_ Small, deeply embedded scales reduce friction with rushing water.
___ Rising water temperatures and levels trigger spawining behavior in fall.
_X_ Streamlined bodies and wing-like fins help movement in strong currents.
_X_ Flat sloping head pushes fish downward, so it holds the bottom in swift water.
___ Eyes are large.
Check the way(s) dams and diversions changed the Colorado River system.
___ Cold and clear waters are now warm and murky.
___ Flood regimes are variable and inconsistent.
___ Water supply is depleted; some streams are dry.
\___ Cold and clear waters are now warm and murky.
_X_ Flood regimes are variable and inconsistent.
_X_ Water supply is depleted; some streams are dry.
Check the statement(ss) that describe(s) the Colorado River in its original state.
___ Forceful. It carved the Grand Canyon.
___ Variable, low, slow waters in winter and spring, high floods in summer.
___ Clear waters.
___ Called ‘Colorado’ because it was red with silt.
___ Highly variable temperatures.
_X_ Forceful. It carved the Grand Canyon.
___ Variable, low, slow waters in winter and spring, high floods in summer.
___ Clear waters.
_X_ Called ‘Colorado’ because it was red with silt.
_X_ Highly variable temperatures.
Check the correct statement(s) relating to exotic fish and the introduction of non-native problems.
___ Exotic fish are fish that are not native to a particular region.
___ Ten other trout species have been brought to Arizona since the early 1900s.
___ Exotic trout are disastrous to our Apache Trout by taking its food and space, eating its young and hybridizing with it.
___ Today Apache trout remains in the White Mountains and is a threatened species.
_X_ Exotic fish are fish that are not native to a particular region.
___ Ten other trout species have been brought to Arizona since the early 1900s.
_X_ Exotic trout are disastrous to our Apache Trout by taking its food and space, eating its young and hybridizing with it.
_X_ Today Apache trout remains in the White Mountains and is a threatened species.
