The Maryland Envirothon Aquatics 2003 Resource Site This is an online study guide for advisors and students participating in the Maryland State Envirothon competition. It is not inclusive of all content you may need to know for the state competition. Web sites provided are for reference only and may not be exactly what students are tested on.
Students are expected to have a general understanding of the ecology of freshwater, estuarine and marine systems. During your study please focus on the following topics:
Here are some websites we strongly suggest you visit:
- Describe how abiotic factors such as temperature, flow, salinity, nutrients, pH, DO, etc. differ in fresh, estuarine and marine environments
- Describe the key values and functions of wetlands
- Describe how would you assess the habitat of a stream
- Describe links between land use and water quality
- Other impacts to aquatic resources from human activity
- Understand management actions that can be taken to protect and restore water quality
- Sketch a food web for a stream, a lake, and an estuary
- Species classification and identification for fish (to species) and benthic organisms (to order)
- Know how to age a fish, describe fish habitat, correctly label fish anatomy
- How to use a key to identify macroinvertebrate and fish organisms
- Describe how air pollution effects water quality
Maryland Streams: Take a Closer Look
Details on Maryland stream physiology, stream assessment and restoration
http://dnrweb.dnr.state.md.us/download/bays/streams/md_streams_wrd.pdf
On-line macroinvertebrate key
Students may be required to use a hard-copy key for the exam, but this is an example of the type of key they would be required to use. http://www.people.virginia.edu/~sos-iwla/Stream-Study/StreamStudyHomePage/StreamStudy.HTML
Characteristics of a watershed
Provides profiles of a watershed's geography, ecosystem condition, industry, planning resources and watershed management activities.
http://mddnr.chesapeakebay.net/wsprofiles/surf/prof/prof.html
Air Pollution and the Chesapeake Bay, 1997
This publication can be ordered on-line from the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Information on how air pollution effects water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.
http://www.acb-online.org/pubs.cfm
Wetlands Management
Information about Maryland wetlands
http://dnrweb.dnr.state.md.us/download/education/wetlands.doc
Recommended literature
Additional references to review
Current Issue websites and information
Information relating aquatics to the Current issue
Other Websites
Other relevant aquatics websites
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