Aquatic Ecology

Essential Topics

I. Aquatic Ecology

a. Abiotic

1. Influence of water’s chemical properties on aquatic organisms
2. Influence of water’s physical properties on aquatic organisms
3. Influence of the surrounding land on a stream
4. Influence of the water cycle on the aquatic ecosystem
5. Identification of watersheds and river systems in Pennsylvania
6. Identification and comparison of stream order within a watershed

b. Biotic

1. Identification of aquatic organisms
2. Life cycles of aquatic organisms
3. Adaptations of aquatic organisms
4. Habitat needs of aquatic organisms

c. Community

1. Identification of aquatic and wetland environments
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

II. Aquatic Resource Issues

1. Human effects on the aquatic ecosystem
2. Impact of water pollution on aquatic communities
3. Threatened and endangered species and their impact on biodiversity
4. Introduced and invasive species and their effects on the aquatic ecosystem

III. Aquatic Resource Management and Protection

1. Commission roles in management, conservation and protection of aquatic resources
2. Regulations and how they protect aquatic animals and aquatic habitats
3. Water quality assessment
4. Water quality improvement
5. Aquatic habitat enhancement
6. Restoration of aquatic organisms
7. Aquatic resource protection at home and school

*Correlated with the Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology.

After completing study on this issue, students will:

1.Aquatic Ecosystems

a. Abiotic

1. Determine pH, alkalinity, and dissolved oxygen percent saturation of a water sample with given information and explain how each property influences a particular aquatic organism.
   *4.1 Ecology – 4.1.12.F*4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.A, B, C, D, 4.2.12.B, C, D
2. Explain how water flow, water temperature, water turbidity, and surface tension influence a particular aquatic organism.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.A, B, C, 4.2.12.C, D
3. Explain how surrounding land influences water flow, channel shape and habitat types in a stream.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.A, B, 4.2.12.A
4. Identify three specific parts of the water cycle and describe their influence on the aquatic ecosystem.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.A, B
5. Identify Pennsylvania’s six watersheds and their related river systems and locate them on a map.
   *4.2. Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.A
6. Identify the stream order of three or more given watercourses in a particular watershed and compare or contrast the habitats and aquatic animals that are found in each of those ordered watercourses.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.A, C

b. Biotic

1. Identify (to include calls) common and signficant aquatic animals from a given identification list.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.C
2. Describe the life cycle of three or more specific aquatic animals.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.C
3. List three adaptations of a specific aquatic animal and explain the advantage of each.
   *4.1 Ecology – 4.1.10.D*4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.A, C
4. Describe the habitat needs of three or more specific aquatic animals.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.C

c. Community

1. Identify six specific aquatic or wetland environments given their physical, chemical, and biological characteristics.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.B, D
2. List three functions or values of wetlands.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.7.B
3. Compare and contrast a physical, chemical, and biological difference found in a stream continuum from headwater to mouth.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.A, C, D, 4.2.12.D
4. Identify the functional feeding group of four or more aquatic macroinvertebrates and describe their niche in the stream continuum.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.C
5. Compare and contrast the flow of energy in two different aquatic food chains.
   *4.1 Ecology – 4.1.7.A, 4.1.10.A

2. Aquatic Resource Issues

a. Explain the effects of three different human activities on the aquatic ecosystem.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.A, B, D, 4.2.12.A, C*4.5 Humans and the Environment – 4.3.7.B, 4.3.10.B

b. List three types of water pollution, their sources, and explain how they impact an aquatic community.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.A*4.5 Humans and the Environment – 4.5.10.A, C

c. Identify at least six threatened or endangered species, give reasons for their status, and explain how their extirpation or extinction could impact biodiversity.
   *4.1 Ecology – 4.1.10.A, D, E, 4.1.12. D, E, F

d. Identify at least six different invasive species and discuss their habitat, spread, distribution and environmental impacts.
   *4.1 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.C

3. Aquatic Resource Management and Protection

a. Explain three or more ways that the Commission manages, conserves, and protects aquatic resources.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.12.A, B, C*4.5 Humans and the Environment – 4.5.12.C

b. Identify or list at least three specific fishing regulations from the current PA Fishing Summary and explain how each protects aquatic animals or aquatic habitats.
   *4.1 Ecology – 4.1.12.A, E

c. Explain one or more methods to assess the water quality of a stream.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.A, C, D

d. List and describe three or more ways to improve the water quality of a stream.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.C

e. List and describe three or more ways to enhance aquatic habitats.
   *4.2 Watersheds and Wetlands – 4.2.10.D, 4.2.12.D

f. Identify three or more migratory fish that the Commission is restoring and name the watershed in which each can be found.
   *4.1 Ecology – 4.1.12.E

g. Discuss at least three ways that you can protect aquatic resources at home or school.
   *4.1 Ecology – 4.1.10.D, E, 4.1.12.D, E*4.5 Humans and the Environment

Reference Material – 2024

The references are found on the PA Envirothon web site unless otherwise noted.  New items are underlined. The references are also available on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s  Activities and Education Portal

1. Books & Guides:

• PA Fishes Book
  *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

 

3. PLAY Issues and Select PLAY

• Crazy for Crayfish
• Dive into Stream Ecology
• Focus on Habitat: Largemouth Bass
• Focus on Habitat: Wild Brook Trout
• H2O on the Go
• Jump into Lake Ecology
• PA’s Most Mighty Migratory Fish
• 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

• Aquatic Plants and Algae in Pennsylvania
• Ghosts of the Ohio River
• PA’s Threatened and Endangered Fishes
• PA’s Wild Trout Streams
• Lake Shoreline Stabilization Practices
• Timbering and Trout
• The Good of Wood
• 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
• Big Bass Program
• Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Bass
• Pymatuning and Conowingo Reservoirs
• Delaware River and Estuary
• Lake Erie and Tributary Streams
• Brood Stock Lakes Program, Catch and Release Lakes, Panfish Enhancement Special Regulations.
• Reptiles and Amphibians
• Aquatic Invasive Species
• Trout Fishing Regulations
• Public Health Advisory

6. Frog and Toad Calls of Pennsylvania

All frog and toad calls can be found on the PA Herps website.

7. Herp Sweet Home

8. Threatened & Endangered Species

• Current List of PA’s Endangered, Threatened, and Candidate Species
• Endangered Species and the PFBC
• Threatened & Endangered Species Pages*

Participants are responsible for knowing the following Learning Objectives for each of these aquatic animals: 1.b.1 (including calls), 1.b.2, 1.b.3, 1.b.4, 2.c

Invertebrates
Clubshell Mussel
Dwarf Wedgemussel
Eastern Pearlshell Mussel

Salamander Mussel

 

 

 

Fish
Atlantic Sturgeon
Burbot
Hickory Shad
Longear Sunfish
Spotted Gar

Amphibians & Reptiles
Eastern Spadefoot Toad
Northern Cricket Frog
Green Salamander

Bog Turtle
Eastern Redbelly Turtle
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
Rough Green Snake

 

9. Pennsylvania Field Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) – PA Sea Grant

• • • Introduction
    • Prevention
    • Species Pages*

Participants are responsible for knowing the following Learning Objectives for each of these aquatic plants and animals:  1.b.1, 1.b.2, 1.b.3, 1.b.4, 2d.

Plants	Invertebrates	Fish	Algae	Reptiles
Eurasian Watermilfoil	Asian Clam	Common Carp	Didymo	Red-eared Slider
Hydrilla	New Zealand Mudsnail	Flathead Catfish	Golden Alga	Yellow-Bellied Slider
Water Chestnut	Rusty Crayfish	Northern Snakehead
Common Reed	Chinese Mystery Snail	Alewife
Purple Loosetrife	Zebra Mussel	Sea Lamprey

 

 

A Fish & Boat Commission Bureau of Outreach, Education, and Marketing

Northwest Region – 11528 State Highway 98, Meadville, PA 16335, 814-336-2426
Southwest Region – 236 Lake Road, Somerset, PA 15501-1644, 814-443-9841
Northcentral Region – 595 East Rolling Ridge Drive, Bellefonte, PA 16823, 814-359-5127
Southcentral Region – 1704 Pine Road, Newville, PA 17241, 717-486-7352
Southeast Region – 101 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA 18940, 215-968-3631
Northeast Region – 5566 Main Road, Sweet Valley, PA 18656, 570-477-2206

 

Identification Study List

*Must know frog/toad calls – Visit the PA Herps website.
Must know clam/mussel and snail life cycle
Must know insect life cycle as ENA (Egg, Nymph, Adult) or ELPA (Egg, larva, Pupa, Adult)

• • ENA (incomplete) – dragon/damselfly, mayfly, stonefly and true bugs
  • ELPA (complete – beetles, caddisfly, cranefly/tipulid, Dobson/fishfly and true flies

Learning Enhancements:

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

All About Fish

Aquatic Resource Management

Bobs Creek Habitat Project

Habitat Project at Minsi Lake

PFBC Musky Program

PA Rainbow Trout Spawning

Raising Your Trout

Turtle Crossing

Watersheds, Water Cycles, and Streams Orders

Water Quality of the Susquehanna River

Wild Trout Survey

Young of Year Walleye Survey

Informational Playlists

Amphibians and Reptiles Playlist

Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Playlist

Aquatic Habitat, Conservation and Pollution Playlist

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

Pennsylvania Fishes Playlist