| I. |
Aquatic Ecology |
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a. |
Abiotic |
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1. |
Influence of water’s chemical properties on aquatic
organisms |
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2.
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Influence of water’s physical properties on aquatic
organisms |
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3.
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Influence of the surrounding land on a stream |
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4.
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Influence
of the water cycle on the aquatic ecosystem |
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5. |
Identification
of watersheds and river systems in Pennsylvania |
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6. |
Identification
of stream order within a watershed |
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b. |
Biotic |
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1. |
Identification
of aquatic organisms |
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2.
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Life cycles of
aquatic organisms |
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| 3. |
Adaptations of
aquatic organisms |
| 4. |
Habitat needs
of aquatic organisms |
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c. |
Community |
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1. |
Identification of aquatic and wetland environments |
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| 2. |
Functions and
values of wetlands |
| 3. |
Physical,
chemical and biological changes in the stream continuum |
| 4. |
Functional
feeding groups of aquatic organisms and their niche in
the stream continuum |
| 5. |
Energy
flow in aquatic food chains |
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| II. |
Aquatic Resource
Issues |
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a.
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Human effects
on the aquatic ecosystem |
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b
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Impact of water
pollution on aquatic communities |
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c.
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Threatened and endangered species and their impact on
biodiversity |
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d. |
Introduced and invasive species and their effects on the
aquatic ecosystem |
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| III. |
Aquatic Resource Management and Protection |
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a. |
Commission roles |
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b. |
Water quality assessment |
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| c. |
Water quality
improvement |
| d. |
Aquatic habitat
enhancement |
| e. |
Restoration of
aquatic organisms |
| f. |
Aquatic resource
protection at home and school |
Learning Objectives |
| *Correlated with the Academic Standards and Assessment Anchors for Environment and Ecology. |
| After completing study on this issue, students will: |
| 1. |
Aquatic Ecosystems
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a. |
Abiotic |
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1. |
Determine pH, dissolved oxygen and alkalinity of a given
waterway or sample using chemical test kits and explain
how each property influences a particular aquatic organism. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.12.C
*4.6 Ecosystems and their Interactions - 4.6.7.A, 4.6.10.A |
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2. |
Determine stream velocity and explain how stream velocity,
water temperature, water turbidity and surface tension
influence a particular aquatic organism. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.7.C, 4.1.10.B, 4.1.12.C |
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3. |
Explain how surrounding land influences water flow, channel
shape and habitat types in a stream. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.10.B, S11.A.3.2 |
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4. |
Identify three specific parts of the water cycle and describe
their influence on the aquatic ecosystem. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.7.A |
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5. |
Identify Pennsylvania’s six watersheds and their
related river systems and locate them on a map. |
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*4.1. Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.7.B |
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6. |
Identify the stream order of three or more given watercourses
in a particular watershed. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.12.A |
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b. |
Biotic |
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1. |
Identify common fishes, amphibians (to include calls),
reptiles and aquatic macroinvertebrates without the use
of a key and identify specific or unusual species through
the use of a key. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.7.C, 4.1.7.D, 4.1.10.C |
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2. |
Describe the life cycle of three or more specific aquatic
organisms. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.7.C |
| 3. |
List three adaptations
of a specific aquatic organism and explain the advantage
of each. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.7.C, 4.1.10.C
*4.6 Ecosystems and their Interactions - 4.6.7.A
*4.7 Threatened, Endangered and Extinct Species - 4.7.10.A, 4.7.10.B |
| 4. |
Describe the habitat
needs of three or more specific aquatic organisms. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.10.C |
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c. |
Community |
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1. |
Identify six specific aquatic or wetland environments
given their physical, chemical and biological characteristics. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.7.D, 4.1.12.B |
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2. |
List three functions
or values of wetlands. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.7.D, 4.1.7, E, 4.1.10.D, 4.1.12.D |
| 3. |
Compare and contrast
a physical, chemical and biological difference found in
a stream continuum from headwater to mouth.. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.10.A, 4.1.10.C, 4.1.12.A |
| 4. |
Identify the functional
feeding group of four or more specific aquatic organisms
and describe their niche in the stream continuum. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.10.C |
| 5. |
Compare
and contrast the flow of energy in two different aquatic
food chains. |
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*4.6 Ecosystems and their Interactions - 4.6.7.A, 4.6.10.A |
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| 2. |
Aquatic Resource
Issues |
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a.
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Explain the effects of three different human activities
on the aquatic ecosystem. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.10.E
*4.3 Environmental Health - 4.3.7.B, 4.3.10.B |
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b
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List three types of water pollution, their sources and
explain how they impact an aquatic community. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.10.E
*4.3 Environmental Health - 4.3.7.A, 4.3.7.B |
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c.
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Identify at least three threatened or endangered species
and give reasons for their status and explain how their
extirpation or extinction could impact biodiversity. |
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*4.7 Threatened, Endangered and Extinct Species - 4.7.7.C, 4.7.10.A, 4.7.12.A, 4.7.12.B |
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d.
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List at least three invasive or introduced species and
discuss their affects on the aquatic ecosystem. |
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*4.7 Threatened, Endangered and Extince Species - 4.7.10.A |
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| 3. |
Aquatic Resource
Management and Protection |
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a.
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Explain three or more ways that the Commission manages
and protects aquatic resources. |
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*4.8 Humans and the Environment - 4.8.7.D
*4.9 Enviornmental Laws and Regulations - 4.9.7.A, 4.9.10.A |
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b
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Explain one or more methods to assess the water quality
of a stream. |
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*4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands - 4.1.12.C |
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c.
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List and describe three or more ways to improve the water
quality of a stream. |
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*4.8 Humans and the Environment - 4.8.7.D |
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d. |
List and describe three or more ways to enhance aquatic
habitats. |
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*4.8 Humans and the Environment - 4.8.7.D |
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e.
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Identify three or more migratory fish that the Commission
is restoring and their particular watersheds. |
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*4.7 Threatened, Endangered and Extinct Species - 4.7.7.C |
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f. |
Discuss at least three ways that you can protect aquatic
resources at home or school. |
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*4.3 Environmental Health - 4.3.7.A
*4.8 Humans and the Environment - 4.8.7.C, 4.8.7.D |
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Assessment Anchors |
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S.11.A.3. 1 and 2
S.11.B.1 and 3
S.11.D.1 |
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Reference Materials List |
| The following resources are available on the
Envirothon Aquatic Ecology CD, except where indicated. |
| 1. |
Books: |
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Pennsylvania Fishes
Pennsylvania Amphibians and Reptiles (ISBN 1-930369-00X)*
Rivers and Streams (ISBN 0-531-11523-2)*
*The PA Amphibians and Reptiles and Rivers and Streams
books are not available on the Aquatics CD. New teams
should contact the PA Envirothon to obtain their copy
of these two books. |
| 2.
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Fact Sheets |
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A River Flows Through It
Basics of Water Pollution
Caddis Flies
Clams and Mussels
Crazy Crayfish
Dobsonfly
Dragons and Damsels
ENA and ELPA
Great Fishing Needs Great Habitat
Macroinvertebrate Feeding Frenzy
Mayflies
Phytoplankton
Pond/Stream Study Guide & Key to Macroinvertebrates
Snails
Stoneflies
Stream Reader
Water Walkers
Zooplankton |
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| 3. |
Select
Pages from PLAY |
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ANS - From Here to There
ANS - PA's Least Wanted
ANS - PA's Ten Least Wanted
ANS - Protecting Pennsylvania
Aquatic Leaf Eaters
Focus on Habitat: Largemouth Bass
Focus on Habitat: Wild Brook Trout (Part 1)
Focus on Habitat: Wild Trout (Part 2)
Six Ways to the Sea
Water Cycle |
| 4. |
Articles |
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A Fish and Livestock Tale
Fish Habitat and Flow: What's the Connection
Migratory Fish Restoration
On the Road to Extinction
PA's Threatened and Endangered Fishes
Timbering and Trout
Wetlands: The Vital Link |
| 5. |
Pennsylvania Summary of Fishing Laws and Regulations
(The Summary book is not available on the Aquatics Ecology
CD. Please visit the Fishing or Publications page at the
Commission’s website to obtain this resource –
www.fish.state.pa.us) |
|
| 6. |
Frog and Toad Calls of Pennsylvania (New teams
should contact the PA Envirothon to obtain their copy
of this CD.) |
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Learning Enhancements |
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| Completing these
activities is highly recommended. They will enhance learning
and provide the experiences that help students begin to
meet many of the Aquatics objectives. At a minimum, team
leaders should review the background information that
is provided in each activity. |
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| 1. |
Froggy Swamp (from Pennsylvania Amphibians & Reptiles
– A Curriculum Guide) |
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| 2. |
Herp Sweet Home (from Pennsylvania Amphibians & Reptiles
– A Curriculum Guide) |
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| 3. |
Projects and Investigations (from Rivers and Streams book): |
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Stream Walk -
Investigation 1, page 15 |
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How Fast Does
It Go? - Investigation 2, page 19 |
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Creatures in Hiding - Project 6, page 47** |
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Sampling Sandy-Bottomed
Streams - Project 7, page 50** |
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How to Use a
Secchi Disk – Investigation 10, page 76 |
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Invertebrate
Dinners – Investigation 14, page 92** |
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How Clean is
Your Stream? - Investigation 15, page 99** |
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| ** Educators and
students older than 16 years of age must have a valid
fishing license to collect fish (gamefish and panfish),
baitfish (minnows, darters, sculpins, madtoms, etc.) or
fishbait (aquatic insects and macroinvertebrates). Students
may be exempt from the license requirements if their educator
(team leader) applies for and is issued an Educational
Aquatic Field Study Permit. The educator must still have
a valid fishing license. The permit application is available
at the Commission’s Education web page and is free
of charge. Educators should refer to the Pennsylvania
Summary of Fishing Laws and Regulations to obtain information
on closed waters, seasons, sizes and creel limits. |
|
Identification Study List
| Fish |
Amphibians |
Reptiles |
Invertebrates |
American eel
American shad
Atlantic sturgeon
Blacknose dace
Bluegill
Brown bullhead
Brook trout
Brown trout
Chain pickerel
Channel catfish
Common carp
Flathead catfish
Largemouth bass
Muskellunge
Northern pike
Paddlefish
Rainbow trout
Rock bass
Sea lamprey
Smallmouth bass
Striped bass
Walleye
White sucker
Yellow perch |
Bullfrog***
Eastern American
toad***
Eastern gray
treefrog***
Pickerel frog***
Northern green frog***
Northern leopard
frog***
Northern spring
peeper***
Wood frog***
Eastern Hellbender
Jefferson salamander
Longtail salamander
Marbled salamander
Mudpuppy
Northern dusky
salamander
Northern red
salamander
Redback salamander
Red-spotted newt
Spotted salamander
|
Bog turtle
Common snapping
turtle
Eastern box turtle
Map turtle
Midland painted turtle
Red eared slider
Spotted turtle
Wood turtle
Northern coal skink
Northern fence lizard
Black rat snake
Eastern garter snake
Eastern hognose
snake
Eastern massasauga
Eastern milk snake
Northern copperhead
Northern ringneck
snake
Northern water snake
Timber rattlesnake
|
Amphipod (scud)
Backswimmer
Caddisfly****
Crayfish
Cranefly****
Dobsonfly
(hellgrammite)****
Dragonfly****
Freshwater mussel
Freshwater snail
Giant water bug
Isopod (aquatic
sowbug)
Mayfly****
Predaceous diving
beetle
Stonefly****
Water strider
Whirligig beetle
Water boatman
Water penny
Zebra mussel
|
***Must know calls
**** Must know larval and adult stages |
|
PA Fish & Boat Commission
Regional Aquatic Resources Program Specialists |
Northwest Region, 11528 State Highway 98, Meadville
PA 16335
814-336-2426 kedwards@state.pa.us
Southwest Region, 236 Lake Road, Somerset, PA 15501-1644
814-443-9841 dtubbs@state.pa.us
Northcentral Region, 450 Robinson Lane, Bellefonte,
PA 16823
814-359-5193 lgarlicki@state.pa.us
Southcentral Region, PO Box 67000, Harrisburg PA
17106-7000
717-705-7850 astitt@state.pa.us
Southeast Region, PO Box 8, Elm, PA 17521-0008
717-626-9081 chaensel@state.pa.us
Northeast Region, PO Box 88, Sweet Valley, PA 18656
570-477-2206 wdietz@state.pa.us |
