Students work alongside aquatic biologists to assess the quality of delicate aquatic ecosystems. They also learn to identify aquatic organisms, manage watersheds, and determine non-point source pollution.
Essential Topics
I. Aquatic Ecology
a. Abiotic
- Influence of water’s chemical properties on aquatic organisms
- Influence of water’s physical properties on aquatic organisms
- Influence of the surrounding land on a stream
- Influence of the water cycle on the aquatic ecosystem
- Identification of watersheds and river systems in Pennsylvania
- Identification and comparison of stream order within a watershed
b. Biotic
- Identification of aquatic organisms
- Life cycles of aquatic organisms
- Adaptations of aquatic organisms
- Habitat needs of aquatic organisms
c. Community
- Identification of aquatic and wetland environments
- Functions and values of wetlands
- Physical, chemical, and biological changes in the stream continuum
- Functional feeding groups of aquatic organisms and their niche in the stream continuum
- Energy flow in aquatic food chains
II. Aquatic Resource Issues
- Human effects on the aquatic ecosystem
- Impact of water pollution on aquatic communities
- Threatened and endangered species and their impact on biodiversity
- Introduced and invasive species and their effects on the aquatic ecosystem
III. Aquatic Resource Management and Protection
- Commission roles in management, conservation and protection of aquatic resources
- Regulations and how they protect aquatic animals and aquatic habitats
- Water quality assessment
- Water quality improvement
- Aquatic habitat enhancement
- Restoration of aquatic organisms
- Aquatic resource protection at home and school
Correlated to the Pennsylvania STEELS Standards.
Envirothon students will be able to:
- Aquatic Ecology
- Explain the influence of water’s chemical and physical properties on aquatic organisms.
STEELS: 3.1.3.G; 3.3.K.C; 3.1.3H; 3.1.6-8.L; 3.1.9-12.M; 3.1.6-8E; 3.1.9-12.W; 3.1.9-12.X
- Describe the influence of the water cycle on aquatic ecosystems.
STEELS: 3.3.2.B; 3.3.4.B; 3.3.2.D, 3.3.6-8H; 3.3.9-12.K
- Identify watersheds of Pennsylvania.
STEELS: 3.3.2.D; 3.4.6-8.C
- List and compare stream order within a watershed.
STEELS: 3.4.6-8.C; 3.3.6-8.H; 3.4.6-8.C
- Identify aquatic organisms and describe their life cycles, adaptations, functional feeding groups, and habitat needs.
STEELS: 3.1.3.F; 3.1.3.D; 3.1.3.A; 3.1.6-8.D; 3.1.6-8.E
- Explain energy flow in aquatic food chains.
STEELS: 3.1.6-8.I; 3.1.9-12.H; 3.1.6-8.K; 3.1.9-12.J
- Aquatic Resource Issues
- Analyze human impacts on aquatic ecoystems (pollution, overharvesting, development, engineering practices, movement of invasive species)
STEELS: 3.1.3.H; 3.1.6-8.U; 3.3.K.B; 3.3.K.C; 3.3.K.E; 3.3.5.E; 3.3.5.F; 3.3.6-8.N; 3.3.9-12.Q; 3.4.3-5.F; 3.1.9-12.V; 3.1.9-12.X; 3.1.2.C; 3.4.3-5.A; 3.4.9-12.A
- Identify invasive species and describe the impacts they have on Pennsylvania ecosystems.
STEELS: 3.1.3.G; 3.1.6-8.T; 3.1.9-12.V; 3.1.9-12.X; 3.4.3-5.E; 3.4.6-8.F
- Identify threatened and endangered species and their contribution to aquatic ecosystems.
STEELS: 3.1.3.G; 3.1.6-8.T; 3.1.9-12V; 3.1.9-12.W; 3.1.9-12.X
- Aquatic Resource Management and Protection
- Describe the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s role in management, conservation, and protection of aquatic resources.
- STEELS:4.9-12.A; 3.4.9-12.G
- Identify major aquatic wildlife management practices (habitat assessment, habitat improvement, fishing regulations, stocking programs, water quality improvement) and evaluate their effectiveness.
- STEELS:4.9-12.G; 3.4.9-12.H; 3.4.6-8.G; 3.4.9-12.C; 3.3.9-12.R
- List regulations for fish and aquatic wildlife and analyze their role in resource protection.
- STEELS:4.9-12.G; 3.4.9-12.H
Reference Material – 2025-2026
2025-2026 Species Profile
Students should be able to identify, describe the natural history, determine the wildlife biology, and evaluate habitat for the animals listed below. In the case of macroinvertebrates, they should be able to identify functional feeding groups (predator, scraper, shredder, etc) and whether the animal goes through incomplete or complete metamorphosis. For frogs and toads, they should be able to identify the calls of these animals. For fish, students should be able to identify if they prefer coldwater, coolwater, or warmwater aquatic communities. Students should also recognize which animals are listed as threatened, endangered or as invasive. There are 36 animals and 5 macroinvertebrate orders in the 2025-2026 Aquatics Profile.
Fish
- Brook Trout
- Rainbow Trout
- Lake Trout
- Muskellunge
- Northern Pike
- Yellow Perch
- Chesapeake Logperch (PA Status: Threatened)
- Lake Sturgeon (PA Status: Endangered)
- Burbot (PA Status: Endangered)
- Sea Lamprey (Invasive)
- Round Goby (Invasive)
- White Perch (Invasive)
- European Rudd (Invasive)
Amphibians
- Wood Frog*
- Green Frog*
- Eastern Spadefoot Toad* (PA Status: Threatened)
- Spring Peeper*
- Eastern Cricket Frog* (PA Status: Endangered)
- Eastern Hellbender
- Mudpuppy
- Spotted Salamander
- Green Salamander (PA Status: Threatened)
- Red-spotted Newt (Red Eft and Adult Stages)
Reptiles
- Eastern Massasauga
- Timber Rattlesnake
- Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
- Eastern Musk Turtle
- Wood Turtle
- Spotted Turtle
- Bog Turtle (PA Status: Endangered)
- Yellow-bellied Slider (Invasive)
- Red-eared Slider (Invasive)
Invertebrates
- Dobsonfly
- Caddisfly
- Cranefly
- Isopod/Aquatic Sowbug
- Dragonfly
- Digger Crayfish (PA Status: Endangered)
- Blue Crayfish
- Red Swamp Crayfish (Invasive)
- Rusty Crayfish (Invasive)
The references are also available on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Activities and Education Portal
1. Books & Guides:
- PA Fishes Book- Pages 1-23, 2025 Species List
*The Pennsylvania Amphibians and Reptiles book is not available electronically. New teams should contact their County Conservation District to obtain a copy of this book. - Fish Habitat Management for PA Impoundments
- Habitat Improvement for Trout Streams
2. Fact Sheets
Caddis Flies
Clams and Mussels
Dobsonfly
Dragons and Damsels
ENA and ELPA
Macroinvertebrate Feeding Frenzy
3. PLAY Issues and Select PLAY
- Dive into Stream Ecology
- Focus on Habitat: Wild Brook Trout
- H2O on the Go
- Pennsylvania FSI: Fish Scene Investigation
- Rivers Run Though Pennsylvania
- Six Legs Underwater
- Vernal Pools
- Water Flows Through Pennsylvania
- Water Water Read All About It
4. Articles & Presentations
- PA’s Threatened and Endangered Fishes
- PA’s Wild Trout Streams
- Lake Shoreline Stabilization Practices
- Trout Habitat Improvement
- Trout Stream Top to Bottom
- Wetlands: The Vital Link
5.Pennsylvania Fishing Summary
The summary book is available interactively on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s website. Teams should review the following regulations or information (in order as they appear in the Summary):
- General Fishing Regulations
- Unlawful Acts
- Commonweath Inlands Waters
- Delaware River and Estuary
- Lake Erie and Tributary Streams
- Reptiles and Amphibians
- Aquatic Invasive Species
- Trout Fishing Regulations
6. Frog and Toad Calls of Pennsylvania
All frog and toad calls can be found on the PA Herps website. Study only the frog and toad calls on the ID list.
7. Herp Sweet Home
8. Threatened & Endangered Species
- Current List of PA’s Endangered, Threatened, and Candidate Species
- Endangered Species and the PFBC
- Bog Turtle Action Plan
- Burbot Action Plan
- Chesapeake Logperch Action Plan
- Timber Rattlesnake Action Plan
- Eastern Spadefoot Action Plan
The PFBC Aquatic Ecology Coordinator can be contacted at 215-968-3631 or RA-seedureach@pa.gov
2025-2026 Species Profile
Students should be able to identify, describe the natural history, determine the wildlife biology, and evaluate habitat for the animals listed below. In the case of macroinvertebrates, they should be able to identify functional feeding groups (predator, scraper, shredder, etc) and whether the animal goes through incomplete or complete metamorphosis. For frogs and toads, they should be able to identify the calls of these animals. For fish, students should be able to identify if they prefer coldwater, coolwater, or warmwater aquatic communities. Students should also recognize which animals are listed as threatened, endangered or as invasive. There are 36 animals and 5 macroinvertebrate orders in the 2025-2026 Aquatics Profile. [Add all species listed below. Remove any other species lists on page]
Fish
- Brook Trout
- Rainbow Trout
- Lake Trout
- Muskellunge
- Northern Pike
- Yellow Perch
- Chesapeake Logperch (PA Status: Threatened)
- Lake Sturgeon (PA Status: Endangered)
- Burbot (PA Status: Endangered)
- Sea Lamprey (Invasive)
- Round Goby (Invasive)
- White Perch (Invasive)
- European Rudd (Invasive)
Amphibians
- Wood Frog*
- Wood Frog*
- Eastern Spadefoot Toad* (PA Status: Threatened)
- Spring Peeper*
- Eastern Cricket Frog* (PA Status: Endangered)
- Eastern Hellbender
- Mudpuppy
- Spotted Salamander
- Green Salamander (PA Status: Threatened)
- Red-spotted Newt (Red Eft and Adult Stages)
Reptiles
- Eastern Massasauga
- Timber Rattlesnake
- Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
- Eastern Musk Turtle
- Wood Turtle
- Spotted Turtle
- Bog Turtle (PA Status: Endangered)
- Yellow-bellied Slider (Invasive)
- Red-eared Slider (Invasive)
Invertebrates
- Dobsonfly
- Caddisfly
- Cranefly
- Isopod/Aquatic Sowbug
- Dragonfly
- Digger Crayfish (PA Status: Endangered)
- Blue Crayfish
- Red Swamp Crayfish (Invasive)
- Rusty Crayfish (Invasive)
The following aquatic resource learning materials are available at the Commission’s new Activities and Education Portal. The following videos are not required resources but will serve as an aid for students preparing for the Aquatics station.
Select Videos
Watersheds, Water Cycles, and Streams Orders
Water Quality of the Susquehanna River
Informational Playlists
Amphibians and Reptiles Playlist
Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Playlist
Aquatic Habitat, Conservation and Pollution Playlist