6) If most systems are nutrient limited and most organisms need N and P, why is increased runoff of fertilizer and other anthropogenic sources of N and P a problem for aquatic systems?
6) If most systems are nutrient limited and most organisms need N and P, why is increased runoff of fertilizer and other anthropogenic sources of N and P a problem for aquatic systems?
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Use the following to answer question 13:
You are studying anthropogenic effects on a large river and estuary system. During your study, a dam is constructed near the mouth of the river, just upstream of the estuary, creating a reservoir. Most of the water that used to enter the ocean via the estuary is now held the reservoir and diverted for other uses. The reservoir is deep but has a small surface area.
| 13. | Suppose you are comparing changes at a specific location, site A, in order to understand how pre-dam conditions in the river compare to post-dam conditions. Site A is located just upstream from the dam construction site. This site was located in the middle of the river channel before dam construction, but is now in the middle of the reservoir. Use your knowledge of aquatic ecosystems to determine how water flow, ecosystem type, and nutrient levels of the habitat at site A would be affected by the construction of the dam. a) Compared to pre-dam conditions, how would the speed of the water movement at site A be affected by dam construction? b) Following dam construction, would you predict that the river ecosystem found at site A would likely change to a different type of ecosystem? If so, which type? c) How would nutrient levels at site A change following dam construction compared to nutrient levels at site A before dam construction? Why? |
