Coho Salmon enrich the entire ecosystem of their spawning streams, sustaining algae, aquatic insects, streamside plants and wildlife, and the next generation of young fish. Coho spawn in steep head water streams.

"The whole riparian ecosystem depends on salmon carcasses."

Mayfly nymph is a common resident of clear mountain streams.

Two of the "most wanted macroinvertebrates" are "the body builder mayfly" and "the michelin man caddisfly". They are very sensitive to pollution and thus may indicate high water quality in a stream sample.

 

What is the difference between a pond and a lake? A pond is a body of water shallow enough to support rooted plants. Many times plants grow all the way across a shallow pond. Water temperature is fairly even from top to bottom and changes with air temperature. There is little wave action and the bottom is usually covered with mud. Plants can, and often do, grow along the pond edge. The amount of dissolved oxygen may vary greatly during a day. In really cold places, the entire pond can freeze solid.

Cattails are a familiar site in North America. Cattails are aquatic plants common in creeks, ditches, and ponds.

 

The scum found on ponds are algae. They are the green hairy growth on things found underwater objects. Algae releases oxygen into the water as it manufactures it food. Algae forms the broad base on which the food pyramids in ponds and lakes is built. In manufacturing food, algae release oxygen, increasing the amount dissolved in the water.

However, when algae becomes overabundant the decaying algae depletes oxygen levels. So during the summer, when conditions for growing algae are ripe, oxygen levels may decrease, causing "summerkill" for aquatic plants and animals.

Some wetlands are temporary and seasonal.They occur for a few weeks at a time and then disappear until they are refilled with water. Other wetlands are always under water.

Wetlands are more important than you think!

 

Lotus plants can grow in the wetlands along with lilies and other plants that require lots of water.

- Wetlands are often nesting grounds for               migratory birds.

- Wetlands help control flooding by retaining water during storms.

- Wetlands act as natural filters for water pollutants. They trap sediment that may harm water quality.

Bogs in the Alaskan tundra.