Rivers & Streams

1. Rivers & Streams By: Lindsey Keiser

2. Introduction What I will Discuss: Geography Structure Physical Condition Biology Human Influence

3. Geography • Channels are formed from rain runoff. • River Basin-area of a continent that is drained by a river. • Ex. Mississippi River Basin. • The River Basins are separated by watersheds.

4. Structure • Pools, runs and rapids change along there Lengths. • The wetted & active channels are found where rivers divided at there widths. • Riparian Zone-transition between the aquatic environment & the terrestrial environment. • The Water surface, water column and the bottom or benthic zone, divide vertically along the river. • Below this zone is the hyportheic zone, where surface water becomes ground water • The Phreatic zone, is where ground water is found.

6. Physical Conditions • Light Penetration • Two main factor: • First being that organic and inorganic matter falls into the river • Second being that the current disturbs the sediments on the bottom and the particles prevent light from getting in. • River Currents • The current does a lot for the river and the river organisms. • The amount of water a river carries is called river discharge. • The health of rivers and streams depends upon keeping the natural flow for a region intact.

7. Biology • River continuum theory, states that in temperate regions leaves and other plant parts are the main source of energy. • The coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM), when entering is attacked by microbes (fungi). • When it is colonized by the fungi it becomes nutritious for the invertebrates. • The invertebrates are dominated by two groups: Shredders and the collectors. • The collectors fed on fine particulate organic matter(FPOM). • This theory predicts that FPOM will be a source of energy when washed downstream. • Most of the invertebrates live on the sediments on the bottom.

9. Examples of animals that live in rivers and streams

10. Human Influence