Freshwater ecosystem abiotic factors
Oxygen concentration (g/l - O2/air)
The saturation of oxygen is increased as temperature decreases
Current velocity (m/s)
The speed of water flow will determine the substrate at the bottom of the stream or river. When the current is fast small materials are sent downstream.
Wider channel = slower current and thus material deposition
Laminar Flow - regular and smooth with little mixing
Turbulent Flow - irregular flow with maximum mixing
Transitional Flow - somewhere between the two
pH
Can vary hugely due to: minerals; topography and can vary lots over the course of one day, for example as the sun becomes more available, the level of carbon acid declines.
The most significant aspect to pH is the amount of carbonic acid present – carbon dioxide dissolves in water
to produce the hydrogen
In regions rich in calcium the hydrogen carbonate combines with the calcium to form chalky deposits
The saturation of oxygen is increased as temperature decreases
- When the water is fully saturated, it still contains some oxygen
- The amount of oxygen able to dissolve in water decreases as the temperature of the water increases.
Current velocity (m/s)
The speed of water flow will determine the substrate at the bottom of the stream or river. When the current is fast small materials are sent downstream.
Wider channel = slower current and thus material deposition
Laminar Flow - regular and smooth with little mixing
Turbulent Flow - irregular flow with maximum mixing
Transitional Flow - somewhere between the two
pH
Can vary hugely due to: minerals; topography and can vary lots over the course of one day, for example as the sun becomes more available, the level of carbon acid declines.
The most significant aspect to pH is the amount of carbonic acid present – carbon dioxide dissolves in water
to produce the hydrogen
In regions rich in calcium the hydrogen carbonate combines with the calcium to form chalky deposits
