Homework 4 - Due Wednesday, 2/24 12 points Name:

 
Part 1:
Review Inkpen, E and. Embrey, S (1998) and answer the following questions.
1) What is the difference between nutrient yields and nutrient loads in a stream? (2pts)

2) What is listed as the top source of nutrient loading in the Puget Sound Basin? This
isn’t asking which river delivers the greatest nutrient loading. (1pt)

3) Given your answers to questions a & b, and looking at Table 1 from the article
(reproduced below), which river basin do you think will have the highest yields of
fecal coliform bacteria – the Nooksack River or the Samish River? Why? (2pts –
careful, many students have gotten this wrong. Check the units of the table.)

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Part 2
Here is a question I have given on exams in the past. To help you complete it, refer to
the class Power Point, as well as Carpenter S, et al., (1998) and this newspaper article:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/310924_seaweed10.html
4) Fill in the blanks of the model below. Most of the blanks can have more than one
correct answer. There are 5 blanks and one missing arrow (indicating increase or
decrease ). (3pts)
A Conceptual Box Model of Eutrophication

in inputs of in populations of
____________ in growth of zooplankton (aka
to water body _____________ primary consumers)

in penetration of in deposition of
_________ _____________ in respiration
to the bottom to bottom waters

in population of in decomposition
by _________ in oxygen
bottom dwelling concentrations
plants ____________

Did you catch that there is no arrow in this

box indicating increase or decrease in O 2 concentrations?
Make sure to add the correct one.
5) What is a typical additional impact of the process modeled .
above that you can write in the empty box to the right. (1pt)

Part 3
6) Why is the nitrogen cycle out of balance? What has
changed in the last 60 years? (1pt)

7) Nitrate is the most common form of inorganic dissolved nitrogen in fresh water and
the form most “desired” by plant life. Where does this nitrate come from? How is it
formed? [This is a different question than the one above. Think biogeochemistry…]
(2pts)

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