|
WHY
IS IT IMPORTANT?
1. Most aquatic
organisms (plants and animals, bacteria) maintain the same temperature
as the water surrounding them, and there are upper and lower
temperatures beyond which they cannot survive. So warm water
may support different sorts or organisms than cool water. In
addition, the various life stages of aquatic animals sometimes
have different temperature requirements.
| Temperature: |
Organisms: |
| Greater than 69ºF, 20ºC |
Many plants, many warm water fish diseases, most
bass, crappie, bluegill, carp, and catfish. |
|
55ºF to 68ºF, 13ºC to 20ºC
|
Some plant life, some fish diseases, salmon,
trout, stonefly nymphs, mayfly nymphs, caddisfly larvae, water
beetles and water striders. |
| Less than 55ºF, 13ºC |
Trout, caddisfly larvae, stonefly nymphs
and mayfly nymphs. |
2. Temperature
affects the ability of water to hold oxygen, or the solubility
of oxygen in water. Warmer water holds less oxygen, and many
aquatic animals need oxygen-rich water to breathe.
3. Aquatic animals
may have optimal temperatures for such phenomena as growth and
efficient performance of various ativities. Temperature affects
the metabolism of aquatic life. Generally, higher temperature
= higher metabolic rate.
|
|
WHAT
INFLUENCES IT?
1. Summer Urban
Runoff: In summertime, the sun heats urban surfaces such as roads.
Rainwater runs across those surfaces, heats up and ends up increasing
the temperatures of area streams and rivers.
2. Industry:
Industries often pull water from streams and use it to cool manufacturing
equipment. In the process, the water increases in temperature
and is sent back into streams much warmer.
3.Latitude/
Longitude/ Climate/ Weather: All of these factors influence temperature.
4.Time of Day:
Daily cycles of air temperature influence water temperature.
5.Cutting
Down Trees: Plants help shade and cool a river's water.
6. Soil Erosion:
Cloudy water (water with a lot of suspended material) absorbs
the sun's energy more than clear water.
7. Volume:
Smaller rivers are effected by changes in local temperature more
dramatically than larger rivers. For example, on a sunny day
a smaller stream will have a greater increase in temperature
than a larger one.
|
