2.3. Impairment of Water Quality

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is resuspension?

   Hint

   Think about what happens when storms occur in lakes.

2. 2.

   Define bioturbation.

   Hint

   Consider how organisms move through the sediment.

3. 3.

   What is total suspended solids (TSS)?

   • A measure of dissolved oxygen
   • A measure of particulate matter in water
   • A measure of sediment temperature

   Hint

   Think about what measurements reflect water clarity.

4. 4.

   True or False: Bioturbation only occurs in freshwater systems.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider where organisms might live.

5. 5.

   Explore a case where sediment disturbances led to a pollutant spike in a river system after flooding. What were the causes and the long-term implications?

   Hint

   Consider how physical changes from flooding influence sediment behavior.

6. 6.

   Develop a model to predict how bioturbation impacts contaminant transport in a lake after a heavy rainfall. Include variables for sediment type and organism density.

   Hint

   Think about how each variable interacts to impact the sediment's behavior.