Aquatics Study Guide

The Aquatics station covers many topics relating to water including, but not limited to, water chemistry, the hydrologic cycle, aquifers, watersheds, water pollution, water management, wetlands, biological and chemical monitoring, water regulations, water uses, aquatic invasive species, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and water conservation.

The primary source of written test questions and some hands-on test questions will be from the Aquatics Study Guide links available below. In addition, you should use any local resources available to you, and study the current competition resources listed on the North American Envirothon website.
Once your team has studied, test your knowledge! Additional Aquatics station test questions are available on the North American Envirothon website.

Sample Test
Sample Test Answer Key


Key Point 1: Abiotic Factors

Learning Objectives:
  1. Know the processes and phases for each part of the water cycle and understand the water cycle's role in soil nutrient erosion, salinization of agricultural lands, and climatic influences.
  2. Understand the concept and components of a watershed and be able to identify stream orders and watershed boundaries.  Know the features of a healthy watershed and an unhealthy watershed.
  3. Know how to perform and interpret chemical water quality tests and understand why aquatic organisms and water quality is affected by the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the water.

Resources:
  1. USGS Water Science Basics:  What is the Water Cycle?
  2. Basic concepts on Watersheds
  3. How to Read a Topographic Map and Delineate a Watershed 
  4. Georgia Adopt a Stream Manual on Biological and Chemical Stream Monitoring (pages 21-29)
  5. Salinization
  6. Water Quality Indicators 

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Key Point 2: Biotic Factors

Learning Objectives:
  1. Understand the dependence of all organisms on one another and how energy and matter flow within an aquatic ecosystem.
  2. Understand the concept of carrying capacity for a given aquatic ecosystem, and be able to discuss how competing water usage may affect the ability of the system to sustain wildlife, forestry and anthropogenic needs.
  3. Identify common, rare, threatened and endangered aquatic species as well as Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) through the use of a key.
  4. Know how to perform biological water quality monitoring tests and understand why these tests are used to assess and manage aquatic environments.

Resources:
  1. Introduction to Watershed Ecology and Function (pages 23-28)
  2. The Endangered Species Act: Marine Species
  3. Fish as Biological Indicators in New Jersey
  4. NJ Fish Index of Biotic Integrity
  5. Freshwater Biological Monitoring
  6. Georgia’s Adopt-A-Stream Manual on Biological and Chemical Stream Monitoring (pages 12-19)
  7. Benthic Macroinvertebrate Field Guide
  8. Didymo Information
  9. NJ Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (focus on Reptiles, Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Fish)
  10. Uses of Water
 

Key Point 3: Aquatic Environments

Learning Objectives:
  1. Identify aquatic and wetland environments based on their physical, chemical and biological characteristics.
  2. Know characteristics of different types of aquifers, and understand historical trends and threats to groundwater quantity and quality.
  3. Understand societal benefits and ecological functions of wetlands.
  4. Understand the functions and values of riparian zones and be able to identify riparian zone areas.

Resources:
  1. USGS Ground water
  2. What is an Aquifer?
  3. What are Wetlands?
  4. Types of Wetlands
  5. Wetland Functions and Values (pages 16-18) 
  6. Benefits of Riparian Zones
  7. Riparian Zones:  Managing Early-Successional Habitats near the Water’s Edge
 

Key Point 4: Water Protection and Conservation

Learning Objectives:
  1. Understand how education programs and enforcement agencies are working together to protect aquatic habitats and preventing those who use our waterways from inadvertently transporting Aquatic Nuisance Species ANS from one river to another. 
  2.  Interpret major provincial and /or federal laws and methods used to protect water quality (i.e. surface and ground water). Utilize this information to propose management decisions that would improve the quality of water in a given situation. 
  3. Be familiar with the Federal, Provincial and state agencies that provide oversight of water resources, and understand that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a useful and important tool in the management of water resources. 
  4. Identify global and local sources of point and non-point source pollution and be able to discuss methods to reduce point and non-point source pollution. 
  5. Understand the interaction of competing uses of water for water supply, hydropower, navigation, wildlife, recreation, waste assimilation, irrigation, and industry. 
  6.  Know the meaning of water conservation, and understand why it is important every time you turn on a faucet. 

Resources:
  1. What are Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS)?
  2. ANS Task Force
  3. NJ Invasive Species Strike Team Aquatic Invasive ID 
  4. Clean Water Act summary (no need to know any embedded links) 
  5. Impaired Waters and TMDLs
  6. What is GIS? (video)
  7. GIS and Hydrology
  8. The Quality of Our Nation’s Water
  9. Polluted Runoff: Nonpoint Source Pollution
  10. Competing Water Uses
  11. Water Conservation in NJ (read “Home” and “Why Should You Care?” tabs)​

Current Issue Aquatics Learning Objectives:
  1. Identify and recommend soil and water conservation best management practices in agriculture.
  2.  Describe the role of the federal government in conservation programs that benefit both agricultural producers and the environment.
  3. Explain why land-use planning is important to our ecosystems and to our economy to achieve sustainable agriculture.

Current Issue - Aquatics Resources:
 Farmers Guide to Conservation Stewardship Programs
 http://sustainableagriculture.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/CSP-Farmers-Guide-2015-final.pdf