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WorksheetsTexas Aquatic Science Ch. 8 Streams and Rivers
Total questions: 15
Worksheet time: 33mins
Which one of the following terms is not considered a part of a stream?
Riffle
Run
Pool
Basin
What is a key feature of a stream channel?
Faster, shallow flowing areas characterized with small waves at the surface.
Deep part of a stream running downhill with the most current.
Slow flowing deep areas of a stream.
Fast, turbulent water flow pushing up on obstacles/rocks.
Why is it important to have plenty of plants growing alongside a stream in the riparian zone?
acts as a buffer to protest against pollution.
helps cool the water to increase the dissolved oxygen level.
the roots help hold the stream bank together to prevent erosion.
all of the above are true.
The relatively flat land extending outward on both sides of a stream or river is called the _________________________.
riparian corridor
stream bank
floodplain
river channel
East Texas streams have more diverse aquatic communities (biodiversity) than streams in arid West Texas.
True
False
What is one advantage of having a flood alongside a stream or river?
changes the path of the stream or river.
damages property and threatens lives along a river.
allows fish an opportunity to populate ponds located in a floodplain.
distributes nutrients throughout the soil of the floodplain which helps grow crops.
Check on the most common stream fish in Texas.
minnows
darters
walleye
catfish
trout
Which major river in Texas forms our border with Mexico in the south and west and is the 2nd longest river in the US?
Rio Grande River
Colorado River
Red River
Sabine River
What special adaptation have darters developed in order to live in fast flowing streams?
Streamlined bodies
Evolved with no swim bladder and larger pectoral fins
Stronger dorsal fins and thinner heads
Bigger gills and camouflaged markings
What do first-order streams have in common with high-order streams/rivers?
high population of shredders
low amounts of collectors
large amounts of algae
fewer rooted aquatic plants
As you travel from the headwaters of a stream (first-order) to the deeper more turbid higher-order streams, what can you determine about the different species of fish that live in the rivers?
bottom dwelling fish numbers decrease
biodiversity of fish decreases in higher-ordered streams
fish tend to become larger as you travel downstream
tend to see more collectors than shredders
The presence of pollution sensitive benthic macroinvertebrate species generally indicates good quality water. Sensitive species are often called ____________________.
indicator species
grazer species
collector species
bottom-dwelling species
The healthiest streams and rivers are those that flow freely and have natural characteristics. Today few if any of Texas’ many rivers and streams remain completely free flowing or free from _________________________________.
over fishing
agricultural water usage
modern dams
pollution
For example, lawn fertilizers can cause problems when washed by rain into a stream. A healthy riparian zone can help absorb the fertilizers before they get into the water creating a ___________________ against pollution.
buffer
channel
run
pool
What is one way you could help conserve the water quality of Texas streams?
