CW2:8299
From Environmental Technology
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G |
| OK |
a. Wetlands are a transitional link between water and land. Characterized by being undesirable, unappealing infestions haboring snakes, insects, and rodents. by vegetation. forested, shrub, and emergent wetlands. Types: marshes, swamps, bogs, estuarine, palustrine
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b. functions: to protect and improve ater quality, control flooding and erosion, and provide a habitat for terrestrial and aquaticc wildlife.
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c.35% loss of forest. There are more than 50 major tree species and more than 2700 plant species.
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d. Functions of forest: to improve water quality, provide habitat for fish and wildlife, help air quality, encourage recreation, and contribute to economy.
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e.autotrphs-producers, heterotrophs-consumers, saprotrophs-decomposers
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f.Mainly unseen by the naked eye, a community made up of predominantly microscopic organisms also fuels the Bay ecosystem. These tiny plants and animals, called plankton, drift at the mercy of the currents and tides. Some of the tiny creatures move up and down in the water column to take advantage of light. Others will drop below the pycnocline, an intermediate layer where the increase in salinity is more pronounced, to avoid being washed out to the ocean.
Phytoplankton are tiny single-celled plants. Like higher plants, phytoplankton require light to live and reproduce. Therefore, the largest concentrations occur near the surface. Salinity affects phytoplankton distribution with the largest number of species preferring the saltier waters near the mouth of the Bay. The amount of nutrients in the water is a major determinant to the abundance of these plants. The largest concentrations of phytoplankton in the Bay occur during the spring when nutrients are replenished by freshwater runoff from the watershed. These high concentrations produce the characteristic brown-green color of estuarine and near-shore waters. Although there are many species of phytoplankton, the major types in the Bay are diatoms and dinoflagellates. When dinoflagellates dominate the water, a red-tinted bloom, called a mahogany tide, may be produced. Mahogany tides typically occur on warm, calm days, often following rain. Diatoms, which are present throughout much of the year, may account for 50% of total algal production. Without these other organisms will die off.
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g.Yes this is a problem and something needs to be done about it. This is not only a Chesapeake Bay problem either. It's both a coastal and inland problem.
