How Water Pollution How Water Pollution Affects the Abundance Affects the Abundance of Submerged Aquatic of Submerged Aquatic

Vegetation in North Vegetation in North CarolinaCarolinaPresented by: Presented by:

Brittany Griffin, Melvin Boyce, Brittany Griffin, Melvin Boyce, Kevin Lee, Ray Baker, and Deon Kevin Lee, Ray Baker, and Deon

PricePrice

Problem StatementProblem Statement

What is the relationship of What is the relationship of poor water quality to the poor water quality to the

decline of submerged decline of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in aquatic vegetation (SAV) in

the estuaries of Northeastern the estuaries of Northeastern North Carolina?North Carolina?

What is SAV?What is SAV? SAV are true vascular plants that have leaf-stem-root systems

SAV grow entirely under the water, relaying on the water for buoyancy to support their stems and leaves

SAV is an underwater garden for juvenile fish and small invertebrates and a barometer of water quality.

SAV produces oxygen and detritus that is exported to other SAV produces oxygen and detritus that is exported to other habitats, and reduces moderate turbidity and turbulence.  habitats, and reduces moderate turbidity and turbulence. 

SAV is extremely dependent on the clarity of the water SAV is extremely dependent on the clarity of the water column for its existence.column for its existence.

There are about 200,000 acres of SAV in coastal North There are about 200,000 acres of SAV in coastal North Carolina Carolina

SAV Species foundSAV Species foundin Northeastern North in Northeastern North

CarolinaCarolinaHorned Horned

PondweedPondweedRedhead Redhead

GrassGrassWidgeon Widgeon

grassgrassSouthern Naid Southern Naid Eel GrassEel Grass

BiosphereBiosphere

The Value of SAV as an The Value of SAV as an Important Fisheries HabitatImportant Fisheries Habitat

Over 150 fish and invertebrate species are known to Over 150 fish and invertebrate species are known to use SAV as adults or juvenilesuse SAV as adults or juveniles

30 of these are important commercial fishery 30 of these are important commercial fishery species. species.

SAV beds provide an excellent nursery area for blue SAV beds provide an excellent nursery area for blue crabs, red drum, pink shrimp, spotted seatrout, and crabs, red drum, pink shrimp, spotted seatrout, and gag.  gag. 

SAV blades provide a surface for post-larval SAV blades provide a surface for post-larval shellfish attachment, especially bay scallopsshellfish attachment, especially bay scallops

Large predators, like flounders, rays, and red drum Large predators, like flounders, rays, and red drum forage around SAV. forage around SAV.

SAV and Water QualitySAV and Water Quality

Water Quality ParametersWater Quality Parameters

Nutrients Sediments Water temperature SalinityDissolved oxygen Chemical contamin

ants

hydrospherehydrosphere

Water Column Ecological Water Column Ecological CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Dissolved Oxygen:Dissolved Oxygen: DO levels< 3 ppm are stressful to most aquatic organisms.DO levels< 3 ppm are stressful to most aquatic organisms. DO levels< 2 ppm will not support fish.DO levels< 2 ppm will not support fish. DO= 5-6 ppm is required for growth and activity of most aquatic organisms.DO= 5-6 ppm is required for growth and activity of most aquatic organisms.

pH:pH: A pH of 6.5 to 8.2 is optimal for most organisms.A pH of 6.5 to 8.2 is optimal for most organisms. Acidic< 6.5pH Basic> 7.5pHAcidic< 6.5pH Basic> 7.5pH

Water Color:Water Color: Yellow/Brown= dissolved organic materials, humic substances from soil, peat, or Yellow/Brown= dissolved organic materials, humic substances from soil, peat, or

decaying plant material.decaying plant material. Blue= transparent water with a low accumulation of dissolved materials and particulate Blue= transparent water with a low accumulation of dissolved materials and particulate

matter, indicates low productivity.matter, indicates low productivity. Red= can be produced by some algae.Red= can be produced by some algae. Green= water rich in phytoplankton and other algae.Green= water rich in phytoplankton and other algae. Mix of colors= may be caused by soil runoff.Mix of colors= may be caused by soil runoff.

What are the sources What are the sources of water pollution?of water pollution?

There are many causes for water pollution but two There are many causes for water pollution but two general categories exist …direct or POINT SOURCE general categories exist …direct or POINT SOURCE and indirect or NONPOINTand indirect or NONPOINT

Point sourcePoint source pollution includes effluent from waste pollution includes effluent from waste treatment plants treatment plants

Nonpoint sourceNonpoint source pollution includes surface and pollution includes surface and ground water that contains sediment, pesticides or ground water that contains sediment, pesticides or other contaminants other contaminants

Nonpoint SourceNonpoint Source pollutants can also enter the pollutants can also enter the water column from the atmosphere. An example of water column from the atmosphere. An example of this in northeastern North Carolina is nitrogen from this in northeastern North Carolina is nitrogen from hog farms.   hog farms.  

  

What are the effects of What are the effects of water pollution on SAV?water pollution on SAV?

Agricultural runoff harms Agricultural runoff harms SAVSAV

AgriculturalAgricultural runoff runoff contain harmful contain harmful chemicals such as, chemicals such as, nitrates, phosphates, nitrates, phosphates, pesticides, and pesticides, and herbicides.herbicides.

Runoff can reach a Runoff can reach a temperature of 90 temperature of 90 degrees before degrees before entering the entering the Stream . Stream .

Water above 70 Water above 70 degrees may be degrees may be harmful to aquatic harmful to aquatic life. life.

More on Water PollutionMore on Water Pollution

Pollution is caused when Pollution is caused when siltsilt and other suspended and other suspended solids, such as soil, wash off plowed fields, solids, such as soil, wash off plowed fields, construction and logging sites, urban areas, construction and logging sites, urban areas, and eroded river banks when it rains. and eroded river banks when it rains. 

When When sedimentssediments enter various bodies of water, fish enter various bodies of water, fish respiration becomes impaired, plant productivity and respiration becomes impaired, plant productivity and water depth become reduced, and aquatic organisms and water depth become reduced, and aquatic organisms and their environments become suffocated. their environments become suffocated. 

Pollution in the form of Pollution in the form of organic materialorganic material enters enters waterways in many different forms as sewage, as leaves waterways in many different forms as sewage, as leaves and grass clippings, or as runoff from livestock feedlots and grass clippings, or as runoff from livestock feedlots and pastures. and pastures.

How Sewage effects How Sewage effects SAV!!SAV!!

Oxygen-demanding wastes

Suspended Solids

Nitrates Phosphates Toxic metal

compounds

Study AreaStudy Area

Samples that were takenSamples that were taken

Currituck SoundCurrituck Sound

We found that the pH We found that the pH level in Currituck level in Currituck Sound (at the Sound (at the bottom) was 7.84. bottom) was 7.84. This means that the This means that the water is fairly good for water is fairly good for SAV to grow in.SAV to grow in.

The DO was 17.18 (at The DO was 17.18 (at the surface). That the surface). That means that animals means that animals that live in SAV are that live in SAV are able to survive.able to survive.

Locating SAV With GPS!Locating SAV With GPS!

It is very important It is very important to find out were SAV to find out were SAV is located.is located.

Knowing where SAV Knowing where SAV is helps scientist is helps scientist test and come up test and come up with answers to with answers to what type of habitat what type of habitat SAV grows best in, SAV grows best in, and where it grow and where it grow the most.the most.

Collecting dataCollecting data

Going to Retrieve DataGoing to Retrieve Data

Discussing dataDiscussing data

Bringing Data Back to Bringing Data Back to ShoreShore

Ways we can reduce Ways we can reduce pollution !pollution !

Cleaning up. Cleaning up. Recycling.Recycling. Dispose of hazardous household products Dispose of hazardous household products

properly.properly. Use nontoxic household products whenever Use nontoxic household products whenever

possible.possible. Use natural fertilizers.Use natural fertilizers. Avoid over watering lawns and gardens.Avoid over watering lawns and gardens. Maintain septic systems properly.Maintain septic systems properly. Recycle used motor oil.Recycle used motor oil. Be an activist.Be an activist.

SummarySummary

Through this journey we’ve all learned how SAV is affected in Through this journey we’ve all learned how SAV is affected in the different types of spheres. We’ve discussed our problem the different types of spheres. We’ve discussed our problem statement and how to answer that problem. We talked about statement and how to answer that problem. We talked about where to find SAV and its study area. where to find SAV and its study area.

We’ve discussed how pesticides and sewage leaks affect the We’ve discussed how pesticides and sewage leaks affect the hydrosphere where SAV grows. hydrosphere where SAV grows.

We also talked about how silt, which is part of the lithosphere, We also talked about how silt, which is part of the lithosphere, affects SAV growth and water quality.affects SAV growth and water quality.

In the Biosphere we learned that SAV beds provide an excellent In the Biosphere we learned that SAV beds provide an excellent nursery area for blue crabs and many more species of fish. nursery area for blue crabs and many more species of fish.

In the atmosphere we discussed how pollutants can enter the In the atmosphere we discussed how pollutants can enter the water from nitrogen rising in the air and then it precipitates water from nitrogen rising in the air and then it precipitates back down from the sky as nasty pollution and runs right into back down from the sky as nasty pollution and runs right into our water.our water.

Summary Summary

• We as a group went into the water to We as a group went into the water to collect and sample some of the different collect and sample some of the different species of SAVspecies of SAV

ReferencesReferences

www.associtedcontent.com/article/www.associtedcontent.com/article/ www.wikipedia.org/oil_spillswww.wikipedia.org/oil_spills www.wikipedia.org/surfacerunoffswww.wikipedia.org/surfacerunoffs www.learner.org/exhibits/garbage/sewagewww.learner.org/exhibits/garbage/sewage http://wupcenter.mtu.edu/education/streahttp://wupcenter.mtu.edu/education/strea

m/watercheminfo.htmm/watercheminfo.htm http://nationlzoo.si.edu/Education/communhttp://nationlzoo.si.edu/Education/commun

ityoutreach/ColumbiaHeights/Water_Qualitityoutreach/ColumbiaHeights/Water_Quality/Tests?water_temp.cfmy/Tests?water_temp.cfm

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

On behave of our group we would like On behave of our group we would like to give a special thanks to the people to give a special thanks to the people who made this project possible. who made this project possible.

Mrs. NobleMrs. Noble

Dr. PorterDr. Porter

Dr. BottiDr. Botti

Ms. Wiggins Ms. Wiggins

Dr. Pringle Dr. Pringle

Ms. HarrisMs. Harris

Ms. FowlkesMs. Fowlkes

Dr. RossbachDr. Rossbach

And a special thanks to the And a special thanks to the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Summer Burroughs Wellcome Fund Summer WorkshopWorkshop, with out their support there would be no program., with out their support there would be no program.

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

THE ENDTHE END

Created by:Created by: Brittany GriffinBrittany Griffin

Researched by:Researched by: Kevin LeeKevin Lee

Melvin BoyceMelvin Boyce Ray BakerRay Baker Deon PriceDeon Price